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 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!