I absolutely loved this book.

I thought it was so interesting to see what happened 500 years prior to THE PRIORY OF THE ORANGE TREE aka 500 years after the slaying of the nameless one. I feel like there's a lot of stuff mentioned in the previous (next?) book that we get the back story for in this book which I loved!

I really liked the characters and I loved the connection between Inys and the Priory - there's a lot more to it than what I was expecting...

Even with how much I enjoyed reading it, I have to admit I was constantly thinking 'why is this book so looooooooong' - I just can't cope with books that are longer than 300 pages, even if I do enjoy them...

Anyway, I am itching for a book set post THE PRIORY OF THE ORANGE TREE!

Netgalley absolutely came through giving me this arc I literally cannot like how did I just read the priory prequel 3 months before release??? This did literally take me an entire month to read but I loved every single second. Sam Shan is a genius and I will read anything she ever decides to write. The world-building is insanely intricate, but didn’t feel overwhelming. Each region was so distinct but I understood how each part played its part in the narrative of this story. The characters from these places interweaving with each-other and seeing the way that they were all affecting each-other was amazing. There was so much going on the whole time. The characters were all incredibly written and the dynamics and relationships between them were some of the best I’ve read for a long time. The way Sam Shan writes her characters is amazing and I always fall in love with them. The general story of this was amazing and I always love reading Samantha Shannon’s works. I look forward to reading more of the world of the priory, but will be sad not to read these characters again.

Summary: Once again, the role of women and their stories are at the heart of this novel.
Worth every second of reading, every second and the muscles that you will build while holding this novel!!
The Priory of the Orange Tree was one of my favourite books back in 2019, and it was an absolute doorstopper of an novel. It took me days to read but was worth every minute and I was eagerly awaiting the publication of 'A Day of Fallen Night' which acts as a prequel of the series.
The world building is complex and there are numerous points of view, each showing a different aspect of the world and life within it. It takes time to become familiar with the world as we learn about names, places, and even histories that explain how the East and Western worlds came to be divided and there are a lot of politics at play. I did find it a little easier to follow the world building in TPoTot and am surprised that it took me so long to settle into read ADoFN as I had expected my previous knowledge to help but this book is indeed a prequel and at some 500 years earlier, with a lot of scene building to create. Of course, having read TPofOT first, it did spoil a few events in the prequel but overall, I think that it did aid my understanding - in short, I feel that you could read the novels in either order and still enjoy the main story arcs without much issue.
Once again, the role of women and their stories are at the heart of this novel.
Worth every second of reading, every second and the muscles that you will build while holding this novel!!

I loved The Priory Of The Orange Tree, so was looking forward to reading this prequel! The author is a great storyteller as I could see from the previous book and this is a great story. I feel like it has a pacing problem and can be frustrating at times. I wish there were more actions in certain parts, especially in the second half, then it would have been 5 stars. But I think this is a great prequel with some amazing characters, so it is worth a read!

A Day of the fallen night
Earc:NetGalley
Publisher:
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc (UK & ANZ), Bloomsbury Circus
Publication Date: 28 Feb 2023 |
Genre:General Fiction (Adult) | LGBTQIAP+ | Sci-Fi & Fantasy

I love the characters in this book. It's excellent, and the story was entertaining. This book is also long. It's a chocker. A thrilling and enchanting prequel to Orange Tree Priory, A Day of Fallen Night follows one of the darkest nights in the fictional world of books and the protagonists who must be saved in the four corners of the world.
I adored the Dumai plot of the story and her character as a strong woman who feels the pressure of family and duty and her desire to fly in Fallen Night even more than I did in Priory. They're all fantastic characters, and the plot was gripping from beginning to end. I'm excited to read more about this world.

Brutal, heartfelt, and full of twisted politics, intense action sequences, and likeable, complex characters.

It felt magical to return to the world of the Roots of Chaos. I couldn't put Samantha Shannon's touching delicate prequel to The Priory of The Orange Tree down.

This book is entirely focused on LGBT relationships. Gay/bi and straight relationships are perhaps the opposites of what you'd expect to see in YA fiction. Most POV characters are gay or bi, with Ace being the sole exception. Despite significant differences between cultures, this is universally true in all nations. Male writers can create fantastic creatures and worlds, but they cannot imagine equality. I believe it is one of the appeals of novels. However, not all relationships are comparable.

The relationship between Tunuva and Esbar felt very real and mature. Dumai is an old-fashioned lover enemy, but Glorian and her partner are.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Bloomsbury for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

#NetGalley #ADayofFallenNight
#sapphic #

This be unpopular to say i preferred the first book over the prequel but Samantha Shannon has done well into turning this into a series. The world is so gorgeous and well-built and the characters so vividly imaginative.

What a stunning follow up! I love the style, the continued character development and the pace! If you are a heavy fantasy fan…. This series is the one for you! THANKYOU ever so much for letting me review this! Can’t wait to see it out in the shops!

*Thank you so much to NetGalley and Bloomsbury for providing me this arc in exchange for an honest review*

I haven't read Priory of the Orange Tree. So I went "blind" to this book. And Oh boy did I enjoy it. This is the prequel of the Priory. I really enjoyed it and if I could read it again for the first time I would (great super power right?). Packed with political intrigue, friendships this book is an unforgettable wild ride. Samantha Shannon is the epitome of creating fantastical worlds. I can't wait to read more. And OBVIOUSLY I'm gonna read Priory of the Orange Tree.

A Day of Fallen Night is the stunning prequel to Samantha Shannon's highly praised Priory of the Orange Tree. Having not read Priory of the Orange Tree, I went into this book completely blind and thought it was an epic introduction to the world of The Roots of Chaos.

A Day of Fallen Night is quite possibly the longest book I've ever read and it took me multiple days of dedicated reading to complete it. Samantha Shannon has a very complex, albeit beautiful, writing style, which resulted in me having to read a lot slower than I usually do or else risk misunderstanding the text. I feel like at times there were unnecessary descriptions, giving the book a rather slow pace. That being said, I just couldn't bring myself to stop reading as the plot and the characters kept me enthralled.

One of the most impressive thing about this book is the world building, which was so rich with detail and beautifully told. I am very eager to jump into Priory of the Orange Tree so I can revisit this incredibly crafted world.

If I could give this book more than 5 stars I would do so, it has immediately joined Priory of the Orange Tree as one of my favourite books ever.

It is hard for me to overstate how much I love these books. When I first read Priory I said that it was the epic fantasy I never knew how much I needed until I discovered it; on a par with Lord of the Rings in terms of depth, scope, and worldbuilding, but also queer, feminist and effortlessly diverse. A world I had been waiting my whole life to discover. All that is to say that for me ADOFN had a lot to live up to but it easily did so, and more.

Like Priory, this is a real epic, spanning nearly 900 pages and several continents, all with richly drawn histories, myths and legends. The sheer amount of work that must have gone into this level of worldbuilding is mindblowing, each region has such depth to it, and they feel distinct whilst clearly belonging to the same world and being affected by the same issue. Samantha Shannon truly is a deeply and incredibly talented crafter of worlds and stories.

I loved each of the main characters whose POVs told the story, often with multiple POVs I have a clear favourite who I can't wait to get back to but in this case I think I adored them all equally. Their stories made me feel such an intense range of emotions, and I know that I'll revisit this book again and again. And again.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Bloomsbury for providing me an eARC in exchange for an honest review

This book is a masterpiece. I don’t even know where to begin. Anyone who knows me knows how much I love Samantha Shannon’s books (especially Priory), and A Day of Fallen Night is no exception.
Returning to the world of the Roots of Chaos felt magical. Samantha Shannon wrote a touching and intricate prequel to The Priory of The Orange Tree, and I simply couldn’t put it down.

As usual, the worldbuilding was amazing. I really enjoyed getting to see the Priory in depth and discovering the North.
The characters’ arcs were developed beautifully, it was very moving to see them grow through the years and hardships. Though I loved all the POV characters, Glorian and Tunuva’s perspectives were my favorites, their arcs were heart-breaking yet so satisfying.

While ADOFN covers a very dark part of the world’s history, there were plenty of soft and hopeful moments, along with two sapphic relationships that I absolutely adored (and I’m so grateful for how queernorm this world is).
Mothers and daughters were a big part of the book, as was resilience and finding oneself amid chaos, making ADOFN a deeply emotional and tender book.

Lyrical and beautiful, A Day of Fallen Night was all that I hoped for and so much more. I can’t wait to hug my copy on February 28th and I'm already so excited for the 3rd Roots of Chaos book

There were parts of this book that i really enjoyed but others that felt like a trial. I have had The Priory of the Orange Tree on my - perhaps one day shelf - for a long time. The chance to read he prequel via aan ARC from Netgalley seemed a real opportunity.
There is obviously some world building in the narrative that takes up quite a large part of this lengthy book. This was, for the most part interesting. There is also a multitude of formative events in getting that "world to the stage of book #1 in the series.
The development and qualities of the characters was well done and I was drawn into their visions for how their worlds were being impacted by events.
However for me there were parts that were just too detailed, long winded almost and definitely difficult to get through. The length of the first book in this series has always been the thing that kept it on my perhaps shelf rather than my TBR. I don't believe that this prequel has done anything to change that situation. I am glad I persevered with this book but don't think i can garner enough desire to continue with the series

A thrilling, absorbing prequel to The Priory of the Orange Tree, A Day of Fallen Night is about one of the darkest nights of the fictional world the books inhabit and about the protagonists at the four corners of the world who find themselves compelled to save it.

Brutal and heartfelt, full of twisting politics, intense action sequences, and likeable and complicated characters, it doesn't quite reach the soaring catharsis of Priory but is still a stunning piece of high fantasy literature.

A tremendous achievement- the kind of book that even despite its size you read slower for fear of it ending too soon. I loved the cast in Fallen Night even more than Priory- I especially adored the Dumai storyline and her character as a strong woman who still feels the pull of family and duty as well as her desire to fly. Truthfully, though, they’re all fantastic characters and the storyline was compelling right through to the end. I can’t wait to read more set in this world.

I absolutely loved The Priory of the Orange Tree so I was over the moon that I got this as an ARC. I was a bit hesitant as I wasn't sure how much I could remember, but as it's a prequel it actually means it doesn't matter at all. As I started reading, more things came back to me about the world, however, for new readers this is also a great book to start with and doesn't require any previous knowledge.

I loved the characters in this book, usually in books with multiple viewpoints I end up having one view point that I prefer but I enjoyed all of these and felt they were all very well written. The character development was great, and I really enjoyed the plot. Although the book is another long one, at over 800 pages, it just flew by as I couldn't put the book down.

Just what I was waiting for! Amazing! I absolutely devoured this book. Thank you so much! Hope you write more.

I read The Priory of the Orange Tree last year and really loved it so I was so excited when I got accepted for this arc! An over 800 page book can be intimidating but this one is 100% worth it.

The pacing of this book is very steady from start to finish. I never once thought that it started to drag or slow down but it also never felt like we were rushing through things too quickly. There were always events happening that kept me intrigued and they all contributed to the overall plot so I was invested throughout. I would describe it as towards the slower side of medium paced.

Every character is interesting, my favourites being Dumai and Wulf, so although I may have wanted to read on in a certain plotline I was never truly disappointed when we switched perspectives. The relationships depicted were really well set up, whether they developed on the page or were already established. The world presented is queernorm and I love to see it.

The range of female characters presented in Samantha Shannon's books are unrivalled compared to the other books I've read. She gives every single character their own strengths, which are not always physical, and challenges to overcome. Which should be normal but we all know it isn't always the case.

The worldbuiling was re-established in this book following The Priory of the Orange Tree, and new elements and places were also added. Samantha Shannon's writing and the way she describes places are just gorgeous and honestly a big reason why I love her books so much. She makes me feel like I am right there alongside the characters in these beautiful places.

Overall, if you enjoyed The Priory of the Orange Tree you absolutely have to give this prequel a try, I think you'll love it!

This review will also be published on @RaenyReads on instagram on the 30th of November 2022.

📚 r e v i e w 📚

A Day of Fallen Night - Samantha Shannon

You know when you read a book and it feels more like a religious experience? An epiphany if you will - that was how I felt with this book. It doesnt matter whether you’ve read Priory of the Orange Tree though if you have you’ll no doubt quirk a smile everytime you come across something referenced later, this simply fills in a bit more of the history and creates an even richer backdrop to the world - something I didnt think was possible.
Simply put - whether you’re already a fan or you’re waiting for this before cracking into Priory, read these books. They are nothing short of breathtaking.
All the stars, flawless.

Thank you @netgalley for the early copy. A Day of Fallen Night is released on 28th Februrary.

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#bookworm #bookblogging #bookblogger #fiction #readerlife #readersofinstagram #bibliophile #bibliophilelife #bookstagram #reading #bookstagrammer #booklover #booksbooksbooks #bookreview

Thank you Netgalley and Bloomsbury for the advanced copy.

I speedily finished the original novel, Priory of the Orange Tree, in order to begin this one, but ultimately I don't think that was necessary as this is a prequel and stands entirely by itself.

Overall, I think this was a much stronger novel than the first. The opening is great, with the author introducing the various origins of the pov characters as well as a lot of background information in a way that wasn't too heavy or dwelled too long. I liked these characters better than the original characters and the theme of parents and children gives me a stronger attachment to them. Then the pace slows right down and I realise there's nearly 900 pages to this book. Are you looking for your epic slow-burn sapphic fantasy read of the year? This one. It's this one.

So. Again. Just too long. In fact some of this story threads could have been pulled out entirely and made into their own novel. Tunuva's plotline is especially a slog as it doesn't really develop into much until halfway through this (900 page) book. The highlights are Glorian's storyline - full of tension over her relationship with her mother and father and what is expected of her. Dumai has an interesting plot on her side of the world. Two different royal courts, but one feels she has no freedom and the other seems to have plenty. Wulf feels a little bit of an odd one out until you realise his connection to other character later on, but he's also probably the most bland character of the set. I found myself skim readng Tunuva and Wulf's chapters to get back to Dumai and Glorian.

Also, this book is full of LGBT relationships - the ratio of gay/bi to straight relationships featured is probably the inverse of what you'd normally see in YA novels. Most of the pov characters are gay or bi, and the only other pov character is ace. This is a world where there is no real objection to women in power, nor any stigma about same-sex relationships. For all the major differences between the various cultures of this world, this at least seems universally true in every nation and it's nice to have a break from typical fantasy novels where real-world misogyny and homophobia is carried over - often uncritically by male authors who can conceive of fantastical creatures and worlds, but can't imagine equality. That's one of the draws of the novel for many readers, I think.

But not all relationships are equally interesting. Tunuva and Esbar's relationship felt pretty real and mature, Dumai and <spoiler> are a classic enemies to lovers trope, but Glorian and her partner... we're told he's the only one she would trust, but I think he's only had about 3 conversations with her over the course of this (900 page) book so that one fell flat even as a platonic kind of relationship.

Anyway, great novel and if it seems like I'm nitpicking it's because I always do with books that stay with me.

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.

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.


How? How is Samantha Shannon so good?

I was nervous reading this book, I adored The Priory of the Orange Tree in fact I would say I have a borderline obsession with that book so this book had a huge boots to fill.

And oh how it filled those boots- this book is so special!

Samantha Shannon’s world building is fantastic, there is so much packed in that these become real places that you can visualise so clearly- nothing is left out we know religions, climate, forms of governance and the sheer quantity of detail could mean that it becomes too much but that’s not the case at all- I could smell, I could feel this world.

This is a big book but the pacing is spot on and at no point did this feel like a laboured read. I found it easier to follow than TPOTOT.

As with TPOTOT you really form a bond with the characters, these characters are so relatable yes they’re in a high fantasy book but they are real people showing their vulnerabilities and doing everything they can to survive sometimes unspeakable situations. There is such a strong thread of friendship, community and family (found and blood) that runs through this book. I went through so many emotions reading this book there were tears lots of tears some of sadness, frustration and some of anger, this is the power you have over the reader when you write such magnificent characters.

The LGBTQIA+ representation in this book is just perfection along with the way that the women are written, the diversity it’s such an important book.

This book is an absolute masterpiece!