I am a huge fan of Samatha Shannon and was super excited to receive an ARC of A Day of Fallen Night. This is a prequel to The Priory of the orange tree. It is a serious undertaking and, whilst I enjoyed it, it just didn't grip me as much as I'd hoped and I struggled to finish it.

Just when you think a series can get any better, your get a new book in the world which made you love Samantha Shannon even more then you already did.

This book is a beast but so worth it. The world is rich and so detailed. The characters have growth in a natural way instead of been forced. There is more rep then you can shake a stick at.

All in all I love this book so much I am going to re - read it

I wished I'd dnfed this.

I found Priory okay, but this book flopped so bad.

it was incredibly slow to start, with hardly anything interesting about the characters that would keep me engaged in reading. the worldbuilding was good, but at times it was a little infodumpy, and i would have liked more of an subtler take.

for such a big book, it was a slog to get through. some of the characters stories felt a bit rushed or they jumped about the story a little. the romances in these books were defiantly rushed and felt a little forced. some of the plot twists were easy to see.

the ending, where I should have been rooting for these characters instead, i was left feeling incredibly disappointed. the outcome of the whole plot, the one thing they were all trying to stop, stopped on it's own. there was nothing the characters really did that furthers the plot or tried to stop the main conflict. they were suffering and dying, and yet no one came up with any idea on how to stop it, instead all they had to do was wait.

highly disappointing read.

Very well written prequel to The priory of the Orange tree. It’s long and does drag in places , towards the end I found it difficult to finish but overall and great story especially if you love the first book.

Reading this made me seriously regret selling my (signed) copy of ‘The Priory of the Orange Tree’. (I was moving cities and was urgently unhauling, but still. The only sale I’ve ever regretted.) Anyway, I wish I’d at least re-read ‘Priory’ first, so I could have had a bunch of satisfying Captain America “I understood that reference!” moments, but alas.

ADoFN is definitely understandable to read before ‘Priory’, but there are so many small references woven throughout that reading ‘Priory’ first would really enhance the experience. There is so much subtle detail embedded into ADoFN that even just flicking back through for a quote made me spot an in-novel Easter egg.

The themes were really strong and coherent across each POV, and were organically part of each character’s life (as opposed to fitting the character around the theme). This was true for characters in the present narration and the past: motherhood, the power of choices, bodily agency (especially for the royal women’s POVs) and balance. Something that stuck out to me was what the commentary on institutionalised religion and its relationship with agency, and how it shapes society (not always for the better). Through one of the characters, this shows up even in the Priory, which is already established as the religious institute that follows the in-universe truth of what really happened when the Nameless One was first defeated. This theme is most prominent in Inysh society, and there were several heavy moments that still linger in my mind. I don’t really know how to explain it, but recognising these themes overlapping the POVs, thinking about these themes in real life…it grounded the book and made it memorable.

I was also quite invested in the main characters, meaning that the book therefore didn’t drag for me as I do love character-driven scenes too. I also really liked seeing POVs across ages as it gave interesting variation in life experience, goals, etc. and also menopause rep, which was definitely the first I recall seeing in a high fantasy like this. I do have to say that I was markedly most invested in Glorian for the majority of ADoFN, at least until further along in the book and the extent to which hell breaks loose everywhere and pressing questions are finally answered ensured that I devoured each POV with extreme interest. (I flew through that last third!)

Speaking of questions, I felt like some were still left unresolved. For example, what caused the first sterren/siden imbalance? And what caused the second? Aside from questions, I also found certain parts of the story less convincing or a little too tidy. This is a different situation to the things that I’d correctly predicted would happen, because those took forever to come together and hence were really satisfying to see play out. My problem was with parts where the payoff didn’t feel earned, which obviously I can't state here due to spoilers. On the whole though, this issue was very small compared to the rest of the book, and instances like this mainly popped up near the end.

Aside from the great characters I mentioned above, ADoFN was also propelled along by plenty of plot twists, mysteries and conspiracies to unravel. There were more than a few laughs too – something I remember ‘Priory’ shared as well. The worldbuilding too was a feat to behold – again, also seen in ‘Priory’. The anthropologist in me loves books with details on different cultures! I also really enjoyed how queerness was so normalised in this kind of high-fantasy world, including clear aro-ace, trans and non-binary rep! Honestly, I’d actually forgotten that LGBTQ+ existence was so enmeshed in the ‘Roots of Chaos’ until I read about Wulf’s two fathers who are both Inysh noblemen as well. (I guess I’m still used to clearly queer-coded high fantasy books being the exception rather than the norm, but I know that’s gradually changing.)

Character relationships-wise, I was less invested in the romances on all fronts, especially when compared to ‘Priory’. The one I had real hope for unfortunately overdid the slow-burn, leaving too little room for their actual romance which ended up largely tell over show, which was such a shame. The platonic and family relationships really shone though, and even remembering them now makes me a bit emotional!

Of course I can’t review this without mentioning one of the biggest selling points: the DRAGONS. The draconic elements were unsurprisingly great, and it was cool to see a much different situation than ‘Priory’ (where the dragons had all been around and active for a while). Seeing the Seiikinese Rainbow Throne on-screen would be fabulous too…TV adaptation when?!

All in all, finishing 800+ pages and still wanting more is no small thing – I’ll have to tide myself over with a ‘Priory’ reread before Book 3 comes out!

After reading The Priory of the Orange Tree, it was not certain if A Day of Fallen Night can be better than that. But, this book is equally good with all the events, characters and many twists and turns. The world-building was very good, however, the book seemed much longer than needed. Overall, a recommended fantasy read for all!

This is going to be a relatively short review for a very long book.

To my surprise, I actually ended up liking A Day of Fallen Night even more than Priory of the Orange Tree, which I also rated 5*s. Unlike with Priory, I immediately latched onto the characters and the story, and I would actually recommend reading ADOFN first. Even though it did still take me a while to read, at no point after starting the book did I feel weighed down by the length of the novel; the pacing was perfect for me, and the storylines so compelling that it was always a joy to pick up the book.

If I have one small criticism (not even enough of a criticism to affect my rating), it's that the ending doesn't wrap up as neatly as Priory did. The story in the East throughout felt a bit disconnected from the rest, and I found its resolution a bit confusing as well (which is a shame as I loved Dumai, the enemies to loves romance, and the East in general as a location). Everything else about the ending was great though, and the rest of the story was so strong that even an absolute stinker of an ending wouldn't have dropped my rating below 4*s.

I can't wait to see what else Samantha Shannon will bring to this world.

I just love Shannon's world building and writing. This was long (maybe a little bit to long for the story), but I flew through it. Very impressive way to tell a story and tie all bits together.

Obsessed with her first book and this is a fairly good prequel, but just didn't have the same va va voom of the first. Still very much worth a read though

"A Day of Fallen Night" by Samantha Shannon is an exhilarating prequel that takes readers back into the enchanting universe of the acclaimed novel, Priory of the Orange Tree. With its immersive storytelling and compelling characters, this book not only stands on its own but also serves as a captivating addition to Samantha Shannon's richly imagined world.

The narrative unfolds through the lives of four remarkable women, each with their own distinct stories and destinies. Tunuva Melim, a devoted sister of the Priory, questions the purpose of their existence as the wyrms they have trained to slay have vanished. Meanwhile, Sabran the Ambitious, ruler of the Queendom of Inys, grapples with her new role as queen and the weight of her realm's survival. Her daughter, Glorian, seeks her own path in the shadow of her parents' legacy. And Dumai, a young woman in a Seiikinese mountain temple, is thrust into a fate-altering encounter from her mother's past.

Samantha Shannon's prose is captivating and immersive, effortlessly transporting readers into a world brimming with dragons, magic, and richly developed cultures. The intricate interweaving of these women's lives, against the backdrop of impending doom and violence, creates a sense of urgency that keeps readers on the edge of their seats.

The characters in this book are multi-dimensional and relatable, their hopes and fears resonating with readers. From Tunuva's unwavering dedication to protecting humankind to Glorian's desire to forge her own path, their journeys are both inspiring and emotionally compelling.

As with her previous works, Samantha Shannon excels at crafting a meticulously detailed world, filled with intricate mythology and history. The eruption of the Dreadmount serves as a catalyst for an age of terror and violence, and the way in which these women navigate the ensuing chaos is both thrilling and thought-provoking.

Overall, "A Day of Fallen Night" is a masterfully written prequel that not only expands the world of Priory of the Orange Tree but also stands on its own as a captivating and enriching read. Samantha Shannon's storytelling prowess shines through, making this a must-read for fans of her work and anyone seeking an immersive fantasy experience filled with dragons, destiny, and the resilience of extraordinary women.

This is an incredible and epic prequel. If you enjoyed Priory then you will enjoy this. They can be read as standalone and in any order really but I’m glad I read priory first as I feel I understood the magic system better.
An incredible book.

This is a precursor to the authors first novel The Priory of the Orange Tree and is set 500 years prior to that story, focusing on the awakening of the ancient evil which is vanquished in Priory.
The novel weaves in the stories of three women, Dumai, Glorian and Tunuva from the main regions of the world - East, West and South. The names, particularly Glorian are familiar from the Priory era were they have become legends or points of historical reference. In this story we get to view them as people and it is interesting to see how time can transform perceptions of a person and smooth away inconvenient history or character traits.
The narrative alternates between protagonists, which for me led to some confusion when trying to pick up threads of the individual stories and tying them together. However overwhelmingly the main themes of love and discovering your true self and how this manifests for the characters kept me turning the pages.
On the whole I enjoyed this book, though occasionally I found the pacing lumpy. It is a standalone that adds richness to the world already created by the author.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for access to this ARC, all views are my own.

Sadly, I have decided to DNF this book 60% in since I've realised it's extremely repetitive and I can't deal with reading the same thing for 300 more pages.

I also love and hate how toxic the priory situation is and I can't take anymore of Esbar putting a tree before her partner thank you

Huge thanks to netgalley and Bloomsbury for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review

This book is honestly incredible.

Set in the same world as Priory but many years before, we follow the stories of Dumai, Tuva, Glorian and Wulf, as their paths weave together they must find the strength to protect humankind, after the Dreadmount erupts and the world nears its end.

It's hard not to compare it to Priory as obviously it's set in the same world and some of the characters come from the same lineage, but I have to say I loved this even more. I found it even more engaging, the characters were written perfectly, pace was much faster, and because I was already familiar with the world, it felt a lot easier to get into.

Shannon is amazing when it comes to world building and giving us strong, fierce but very human female characters. The depth of emotion and strength of human relationships is so powerfully portrayed, I am going to miss them all. Sometimes in dual narratives I find myself drawn to on storyline over others, but safe to say this did not happen as all were equally absorbing. I also commend her on not being fearful to kill off characters (so prepare yourselves!) but with a cast that large and a book this long, it would be impossible not to lose some along the way, especially with fire breathing wyrms and corrupt animals storming the world.

I cannot imagine how much brainspace this world must have taken to create, I'm so grateful she has shared it with us. I cannot think of a bad word to say about it!

ARC provided by NetGalley.

Samantha Shannon has done it again! Another sweeping epic set I the world of the Priory of the Orange Tree.

A Day of Fallen Night is set around the time of the Grief of Ages. Encompassing the entire world, the story follows North, South, East, and West. I absolutely love the world building in this series! The intricacies of the countries and societies Samantha Shannon describes really draw you in and create a depth to the world that many books lack.

While it took me a while to get into the switching locations as the book jumps from West to East to South and back again, I did gradually start to enjoy how the story manages to show characters on opposite sides of the world experience simultaneuous events.

Powerful women are central to the book, ruling Queendoms, leading armies, and slaying dragons. I also enjoyed the LGBTQ+ representation Samantha Shannon wove into the story. Nothing felt shoehorned in and it was refreshing to see this representation in fantasy.

This book is a must read for any fans of The Priory of the Orange Tree or anyone who loves stories about dragons and strong women!

A highly anticipated addition to the Priory of the Orange Tree universe! This prequel to the beloved fantasy standalone explores the history predating the events of Priory of the Orange Tree; we are catapulted back in time to the destructive Grief of Ages. With more of Shannon's fantastical world-building and a new cast of characters and settings - this is a novel I would recommend to any fantasy lovers, irrespective of whether you have read the first one or not!

Just reading Priory now and cannot wait to read this.
Premilinary 5 star review as I'm obsessed with book 1 already!

Truly incredible! I loved the Priory of the Orange Tree and adored going back to the world just as much!

While I really quite enjoyed and liked the first published books in the Roots of Chaos series, The Priory of the Orange Tree, I didn't love it. This one though? I loved it. A Day of Fallen Night was epic. I was engrossed in every single page. The storytelling, the characters, all magnificent - I loved it all. Even though I have read Priory, this book was still able to keep me engrossed in the plot and fearing for the characters lives, the writing was that compelling. Could've read another 1,000 pages of this.

Wow Knowing that this book was was a prequel to Priory, I decided it was time I rectified that.
What I got was one of the most stunning and captivating worlds I have ever come across with the most complex yet lyrical writing throughout. An astonishing masterpiece.