The fact that Tane is set up to seem like the equal lead with Ead at the beginning only to disappear for what feels like half the book, and then to have every interesting or compelling part of her story and development completely skipped over still makes me mad.
I have been trying to read through this book for over a year. I think what bugs me the most was how the exciting parts were written -- they were suddenly over within half a chapter, sometimes a few paragraphs (example: getting back into the castle to the Queen seemed SO easy). I haven't read the ending yet, so I'm pausing your review until later! I should try to finish it this month.
I kept my bookmark in at page 180 where I decided to DNF it, thinking I might finish it some day, but the bookmark has been removed. I hate that, too, because I had such high hopes about this book. I’m glad I wasn’t the only one not caught up in the hype, though, because everyone and their mothers just gushed about it.
I watched this while considering if i wanted to try the second book after listening to Priory like, 6 months ago and having "it was alright" memories... I had forgotten there were othwr POV chapters entirely. Loved the world building, magic and politicing but otherwise? Spot on review ✌🏻
I feel like Nicklays could have been edited out lol. The end of the book was so underwhelming. I still feel the book was good but at the same time could have been so much better.
I just finished this book today and holy shit did it just become a new book from part 4 on. Such great build up then completely threw it all away! the pacing of the end, the characters besides Ead being almost pointless despite them having better stories! And the romance falling so flat!
Yes I agree with this review. I however have started to read the new book and needed a refresher of what happened in this book as I divorced my copy of it. Beautiful covers though.
I've just found your video - and I loved this book. It worked for me because the epic fantasy elements weren't the point. Instead, the novel is about duty, growth, and disappointment. (I also loved the treatment of gay romance in the piece, which I've never seen done before.)
Goodness I love your reviews. Two I would be fascinated to see you review are Empire of the Vampire, I used the audio book (rare for me) then went out and bought the hard back so I can read it again. The second would be Daughter of the Empire, book 1 of a trilogy and a much older fantasy style. For stand alones I often reach for YA with Garth Nix and Patrick Ness often favs to grab.
I cannot wait for you to read Babel, where the end of degree activity all have done for”ever” is shoved to curb and trampled all over to create a faux drama where all sense and reason vanished. To the end where some people who are part of the “group” for less than a week know the secret location and have the secret warning system, but those in it for years are clueless…. And so many other weird plot holes. But yet again an absolute darling of Book Tube that I really really wanted to love 😞
You captured my feelings about this book pretty well. It had some interesting plot threads set up in the 2 and 3rd parts of the book. But ultimately every interesting lead into what felt like the authors outline for the climax that was for some reason published as finished product. The book feels unfinished if I’m being generous. This is the 2nd book tube recommendation I’ve tried and I’ve been disappointed twice now. I’m not sure how these books are so popular and the only conclusion I can come to is that both this book and the other book recommended (Babel) have pretty covers.
I DNFed this book at 400 pages. I honestly just don't think Shannon is a good enough writer to pull off the size and scope of the story she wants to tell 😅 The writing was pretty bland imo, especially the character work
Guilty of buying the prequel just for the beauty of the dang thing. However, VERY hesitant to read it for all the failures you summarized here with Priory. Such a huge commitment for such a high probability of being so disappointed.
I've had Priory of The Orange Tree on my tbr for a while and the more I hear about it from people it just keeps getting bumped further and further down the list... maybe I should just remove it
The fact that Tane is set up to seem like the equal lead with Ead at the beginning only to disappear for what feels like half the book, and then to have every interesting or compelling part of her story and development completely skipped over still makes me mad.
I just read the book for my book club this week and you basically summarized everything I felt about the book.
I have been trying to read through this book for over a year. I think what bugs me the most was how the exciting parts were written -- they were suddenly over within half a chapter, sometimes a few paragraphs (example: getting back into the castle to the Queen seemed SO easy). I haven't read the ending yet, so I'm pausing your review until later! I should try to finish it this month.
I totally agree with you - the pacing overall was one of my main complaints. I hope you enjoy the ending more than I did! 🥲❤️
The pacing is the thing that killed it for me, and the underdeveloped romance. When people rave about it I’m always like WHY?!
Pacing and development issues were definitely the biggest problems with my reading experience! So much potential, and yet so disappointing! 😢
I kept my bookmark in at page 180 where I decided to DNF it, thinking I might finish it some day, but the bookmark has been removed. I hate that, too, because I had such high hopes about this book. I’m glad I wasn’t the only one not caught up in the hype, though, because everyone and their mothers just gushed about it.
I watched this while considering if i wanted to try the second book after listening to Priory like, 6 months ago and having "it was alright" memories... I had forgotten there were othwr POV chapters entirely. Loved the world building, magic and politicing but otherwise? Spot on review ✌🏻
You just saved me 800 pages; thank you for this public service my friend.
Glad I could help! 😅❤
That doggie is cute! 🥰
your dog is the cutest!
She is 🥰🥰🥰
I feel like Nicklays could have been edited out lol. The end of the book was so underwhelming. I still feel the book was good but at the same time could have been so much better.
I just finished this book today and holy shit did it just become a new book from part 4 on. Such great build up then completely threw it all away! the pacing of the end, the characters besides Ead being almost pointless despite them having better stories! And the romance falling so flat!
Yep yep yep! Such wasted potential!
Yes I agree with this review. I however have started to read the new book and needed a refresher of what happened in this book as I divorced my copy of it. Beautiful covers though.
I've just found your video - and I loved this book. It worked for me because the epic fantasy elements weren't the point. Instead, the novel is about duty, growth, and disappointment. (I also loved the treatment of gay romance in the piece, which I've never seen done before.)
Goodness I love your reviews. Two I would be fascinated to see you review are Empire of the Vampire, I used the audio book (rare for me) then went out and bought the hard back so I can read it again.
The second would be Daughter of the Empire, book 1 of a trilogy and a much older fantasy style.
For stand alones I often reach for YA with Garth Nix and Patrick Ness often favs to grab.
I cannot wait for you to read Babel, where the end of degree activity all have done for”ever” is shoved to curb and trampled all over to create a faux drama where all sense and reason vanished. To the end where some people who are part of the “group” for less than a week know the secret location and have the secret warning system, but those in it for years are clueless…. And so many other weird plot holes. But yet again an absolute darling of Book Tube that I really really wanted to love 😞
Oh no, I hope I like Babel more than you did! I’m tired of reading bad books! 😂 I guess we’ll have to see! ❤️
You captured my feelings about this book pretty well. It had some interesting plot threads set up in the 2 and 3rd parts of the book. But ultimately every interesting lead into what felt like the authors outline for the climax that was for some reason published as finished product. The book feels unfinished if I’m being generous.
This is the 2nd book tube recommendation I’ve tried and I’ve been disappointed twice now. I’m not sure how these books are so popular and the only conclusion I can come to is that both this book and the other book recommended (Babel) have pretty covers.
880 pages and giving the readers still feel incomplete perspective is crazyyy
I DNFed this book at 400 pages. I honestly just don't think Shannon is a good enough writer to pull off the size and scope of the story she wants to tell 😅 The writing was pretty bland imo, especially the character work
I wish I had DNFd it at 400!! 🥲 And I agree!
I tried to read it and concluded that this book's success is a triumph of marketing. I could feel myself ageing
Yeah that gorgeous cover helped a lot!
Currently buddy reading this with Karen of Roving Reader. We are about halfway. Loving it so far but we shall see what part three brings!
I hope you both continue to love it!
Ughhhh I want to watch this video, but I also plan on reading the book, so I'll have to come back to this after I read it. 🤣
I’d love to hear what you think of it when you do get to it!
Guilty of buying the prequel just for the beauty of the dang thing. However, VERY hesitant to read it for all the failures you summarized here with Priory. Such a huge commitment for such a high probability of being so disappointed.
I've had Priory of The Orange Tree on my tbr for a while and the more I hear about it from people it just keeps getting bumped further and further down the list... maybe I should just remove it
You should at least try reading A day of fallen night, it's awesome ❤
Lol noooo
I mostly agree with you. Not on everything but when I reached the end I was like “so that’s it?” This book is overrated, imo 😊
I just didnt really care for this book at all
I’m glad I’m not the only one! 🥹