Intricate and epic, A Day of Fallen Night sweeps readers back to the world of A Priory of the Orange Tree, showing us a course of events that shaped it for generations to come.
Tunuva Melim is a sister of the Priory. For fifty years, she has trained to slay wyrms – but none have appeared since the Nameless One, and the younger generation is starting to question the Priory’s purpose.
To the north, in the Queendom of Inys, Sabran the Ambitious has married the new King of Hróth, narrowly saving both realms from ruin. Their daughter, Glorian, trails in their shadow – exactly where she wants to be.
The dragons of the East have slept for centuries. Dumai has spent her life in a Seiikinese mountain temple, trying to wake the gods from their long slumber. Now someone from her mother’s past is coming to upend her fate.
When the Dreadmount erupts, bringing with it an age of terror and violence, these women must find the strength to protect humankind from a devastating threat.
Samantha Shannon is the bestselling author of The Bone Season series. She continued to make waves in 2019 with her fourth novel, and the first one not in her New York Times and Sunday Times bestselling The Bone Season series, The Priory of the Orange Tree. Now, readers can return to the world of The Priory of the Orange Tree in its prequel, A Day of Fallen Night.
If you’re a fantasy fan, then you’ve probably read The Priory of the Orange Tree. It’s immersive, powerful and shows off Shannon’s sensational world building. Shannon’s intention was for this to be a one-off standalone novel, but it’s clear there’s so much more to this world, and Shannon had more to tell. I loved it and have been (im)patiently waiting for the release of this prequel.
A Day of Fallen Night is set five centuries before the events of The Priory of the Orange Tree. It ticks all the boxes: takes established fans to new heights and depths, while allowing new fans to be immersed in this intricately crafted world. With a larger cast of characters, the world building and lore intensified, and being more politically complex, I can’t recommend this prequel enough.
Set against the backdrop of a fantasy dragon war, A Day of Fallen Night follows four protagonists, each with their own POV. Each of their journeys and relationships are explored independently yet woven together. Shannon has created a host of expertly crafted characters, and every single one of them shines in their own way here.
There are some tough themes in this novel: grief, war, tragedy and mental health, but Shannon’s writing is clear and intentional, merging these themes with family, legacy, innocence and female empowerment. You’ll laugh and cry, smile and scream, but the rollercoaster ride is well worth it.
It’s a big book – 846 pages to be exact – but it’s really no slow burn. It’s a page-turner the whole way through, and the last 100 pages will have you racing to the finish line. Despite knowing what the future holds (if you’ve read The Priory of the Orange Tree), Shannon still manages to deliver a heart-racing climax. This prequel is just as exciting as it is epic.
Both A Day of Fallen Night and The Priory of the Orange Tree shine as standalones, while elevating and complementing one another when read together. If you haven’t read it yet, this is a must-add to your fantasy TBR list.
Leave a Reply