Is it possible that this book was even more of a feminist fantasy than the first? Even gayer than the first? Because it 100% is. 

At its core, this book is about motherhood. From the earth birthing new dragons, to Tuneva’s experience of motherhood for her birth son and essentially adopted daughter, to the lady of the woods wanting another child, to Glorian’s unfair duty to have a child, to Dumai’s desire to never have children. 

All of these experiences shape the story, but what I loved most about this is how Shannon explores the different facets of motherhood that are so often ignored in history. From calling out how noble women had zero rights to their own body as their one and only duty was to produce an heir. While simultaneously demonstrating how unjust it is to demand this, she deepens the hurt by explaining how awful it is to force this upon children themselves as well. Throughout Glorian’s story Shannon also uses the book to shed light upon how giving birth is just as akin to a battle as a fight is. But Shannon doesn’t stop with calling out the injustices of forced birth, she ensures to delve into joyful experiences of motherhood, with Dumai’s relationship to her mother and their protectiveness of one another, and continued forgiveness in the face of many grievances. And yet, we still go further by exploring the grief and joy of motherhood experienced by Tuneva. Tuneva’s love for her birth son who she lost and joy upon finding him, as well as her deep love for Esba’s daughter just demonstrate how she is the foil to Sabran’s way of mothering Glorian. And finally we see the lengths someone will take to become a mother when they cannot through the lady of the woods. 

Perhaps the most clever of all of this is the direct comparison of Glorian to Dumai. How in the end, the grand empress is glad her grandchildren do not have to suffer the fate of creating heirs when they do not wish to, whereas Glorian, despite feeling this way all her life, pushes forward to continue the line despite imposing the same thing she feared onto her daughter. 

Altogether it felt like a way to demonstrate the value and boldness of motherhood, as well as the courage and conviction of choosing not to become one as well, and how all of the women’s choices are valid. 

This book also explores grief in a very interesting way, most of this book is full of tragedy for every POV character in some way or another. And there is a major pandemic occurring throughout the book as well. The way Shannon weaves these sad tales into this book, and show through her characters how different people grieve, is very masterful. 

This book in many ways is more impressive than Priory of the Orange Tree, however unlike Priory I have given it a 4/5 rather than a 5/5… only because I believe this book struggled with pacing and combing the stories as well as Priory did. When everything came together for Priory it felt so good, it was truly amazing how everyone came together and how the story wove such an amazing tale for everyone to reach each other. With this story I was unimpressed that the only connection from East, West, North, and South was a dream state, it felt less satisfying, and ultimately did little for the story. That is my only complaint, otherwise I think the Therese of motherhood and grief are honestly better in many ways than the Priory.