septoirss

[septoirss]

THE PRIORY OF THE ORANGE TREE by samantha shannon

rating : ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

„we may be small, and we may be young, but we will shake the world with our beliefs.“

this novel is set in a world divided by political and religious tensions. it follows a large set of characters, each in their own situations and conflicts. the world is divided into the north, east, south and the west. each country represets a different culture with its own beliefs and history. the west being scared of dragons and seeing them as the absolute evil, while the east worships them as their gods. however an ancient dragon threat is looming, the nameless one is about to wake up from his long sleep. a dragon which caused terror and war all over the continents.

ead duryan, a mage of the priory, lives in inys as a lady-in-waiting while secretly protecting queen sabran, whom she comes to love despite their opposing beliefs.

tané miduchi, a dragon rider from the east, pursues glory but makes a crucial mistake. nonetheless fate entangles her in the fight against the nameless one.

niclays roos, a bitter alchemist in exile, who seeks immortality clings to past failures and ambitions, his actions shaping events in unexpected ways.

and loth beck, sabran‘s loyal friend, uncovers dangerous truths about the world’s history on a dangerous journey. as their fates intertwine, they must set aside differences to stand against the nameless one.

to be honest starting this 800 pages long novel was very scary, since I believed, I would probably never finish this. however, I am so glad I did. it‘s one of the greatest books i’ve ever read, which is why I can confidently rate it 5 stars. I do have to admit, it was kind of hard to understand the characters relations and also the worldbuilding in general, but no need to worry since there‘s a map and a character description included! so that definitely made it easier.

there are so many things I love about this book. I got attached to the main characters, their personalities, behaviours and decisions so quickly. they all have to deal with cultural and religious differences, and learn to accept other beliefs, since only in unison they can defeat the nameless one. I also really adore the different representations, for example queen sabran and ead and niclays and junart being queer. it felt so refreshing to have a really interesting plot and queer relationships just following along and not being the main focus. and interestingly, every country in the priory of the orange tree embodies a different ethnicity, the east symbolising asia, the south being inspired by african countries and their culture, the west signifying europe and / or america and the north beeing similar to scandinavia.

all in all, it felt like I was really absorbed into this epic dragon fantasy world. so if you enjoy reading about political and historical fantasy with just a hint of queer love stories, then this book is exactly what you should read next!

listening to all the star by sza during eads and tanés fight against the nameless one was truly a core memory for me.

© SEPTOIRSS

[septoirss]

▊▍ ADELAINE KINGSTON - „the stargirl“

WHO IS SHE ??

ada is seventeen & a scorpio. she is one of branwells most influential legacy students. captivating, but distant with every step she takes. moving through shadow and starlight.

Like a garden regrowing after a storm, Adelaine saw this year as a chance to bloom again. The past had been cruel—whispers twisting into accusations, a betrayal that left her abandoned, her name stained with a lie. Worst of all, the one person who should have believed her didn’t.

But that night, under the glow of bright party lights and music-thick air, she met Isla. Too kind, too warm—exactly the type to make her forget, if only for a little while. There was something about her, something Adelaine couldn’t name but felt deep in her bones, a pull like gravity.

Then the night cracked open. A missing girl. Her ex-girlfriend, vanished into the dark.

At first, the disappearance felt like a cruel twist of fate. But as she and her friends chased after shadows—puzzle pieces slipping through their fingers like sand—something more sinister began to take shape. The messages weren’t just warnings; they were invitations. And the deeper she dug, the more she realized—this wasn’t just about her ex. It was about her.

Branwell Academy’s ghosts whispered her name long before she ever set foot on its grounds. The patterns, the disappearances, the secret society playing their game of cat and mouse—none of it started with her.

But somehow, it was all meant to end with her.

now playing . . . life of the party the weeknd, haunted beyoncé, strangers ethel cain, touch it ariana grande, all the stars sza . . .

© SEPTOIRSS

[septoirss]

BRANWELL ACADEMY IS HAUNTED !?

— by who?

branwell academy, one of the most prestigious boarding schools in america. one could only imagine partying in the old dormitories, studying in the huge library or attending the lunar gala.

it‘s the first day back at the academy and with that, the first party of the year! the school band is performing, the stoners are smoking in a dark corner and the disco ball is spinning and spinning, reflecting every light in this room.

however, the fun didn‘t last. one girl didn‘t make it back to her dorm that night, and any night after.

this mystery creates a new bond between friends, a group of people who couldn‘t be any more different. . . together they search for clues of what could have happened. only to discover a much bigger threat.

who would of imagined a secret society spinning their webs in branwells shadows? and this sacrifice disappearance is only the start.

© SEPTOIRSS

[septoirss]

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