The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

There are fantasies that feel like stories — and then there are fantasies that feel like worlds. The Priory of the Orange Tree belongs to the second kind. It’s a sweeping, dragon-filled epic about queens, mages, and ancient prophecies, but beneath the scale and splendor beats a deeply human heart.

The novel follows several intertwined lives: a queen haunted by legacy, a dragon rider bound by duty, and a mage carrying the weight of forbidden magic. Their threads cross in a world divided by faith, history, and fire-breathing dragons — but what lingers isn’t just the grandeur, it’s the tenderness. Shannon writes with elegance and empathy; her prose flows like music, and her world feels alive down to the smallest petal and scale.

What stands out most is how modern it feels. Women lead every front of this story — warriors, lovers, scholars, queens — and queerness is not questioned but celebrated. It’s fantasy that remembers its roots yet grows toward something braver, broader, and beautifully inclusive.

By the end, you feel as though you’ve traveled continents and centuries — and come home a little changed.

Rating: 💫 (5 / 5)