Welcome to Litsy!

I'm going to vaguely reference some shifts in mood and plot, so if you don't want to risk even the whisper of a spoiler, turn back now!
When I say this book confirmed that I'm not built for epic/high fantasy, I want you to understand that this book was the best case scenario, the one that for a while looked most likely to challenge rather than confirm that theory. 1/?

Courage.

Contradictory account of a historical/mythical/religious female figure as stronger with more agency? Yes, please!

I really liked this book! I always have some difficulties with multiple POV's, but it didn't bother me this time. I liked the characters, I liked the plot, I liked how every chapter made me curious to the next one. Also, it's so nice to have this much of a story in just a single book, instead of having to commit to a series. That being said, I will definitely read the prequel next!

I figured I'm not going to make my reading goal of 100 books this year anyway, so I might as well start this absolutely enormous fantasy tome that I've owned for 3 years and have heard such good things about.

I have other books I need to finish right now, but I made the mistake of cracking this one open tonight. I am captivated. Those other books may have to wait.

“The one who wears the chains is a thousand times greater than the one who wields them.”

“No woman should be made to fear that she was not enough.”

“In darkness, we are naked. Our truest selves. Night is when fear comes to us at its fullest, when we have no way to fight it.”

I am a sucker for beautiful book covers!!!
Any views on this one?

I was in the mood for some fantasy, so this is my new #audiowalk book, but I‘m going to do it a little differently. I have the print version as well, so I‘ll read that at home sometimes. I went swimming today for the first time in over a year and was able to swim 1800 yds without a problem. Yay, me! 😊

850 ish pages, 4 corners of the world, many characters, complicated world building, magic dragons & forbidden same sex relationships; this is not a light fantasy read. I got a little bored and tangled up in the MANY subplots. The story is about secrets, discrimination, gods and fighting a common enemy ultimately breaking the barriers of "race" as they painfully break tradition to create a new world.

Bought myself a birthday present! 🥳

#topbooksof2023 I think it's safe to say I love a kickass Female MC 😏🖤

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Happy Saturday Litsy Lovies I hope you all have a weekend full of 5🌟 reads!
Spending my Saturday reading this amazing tagged book and enjoying the cooler weather.

50 pages in and I am enjoying this soooo much already! I'm glad it's so long because I have a feeling I won't want it to end and I am so excited to see where this goes.

40% in and absolutely loving this book. The world building is brilliant and the story is starting to flow...think it will be a torrent very soon

#BookDragon #Fantasy #ThePrioryOfTheOrangeTree #SamanthaShannon #Booklovers #BookNerds #LibraryMouse #InkDrinker #ReadersLiveAThousandLives #BookWorm
#BookNerdsUnite #BookWitch #BookGeek #ReadABook #LostInABook #BookLover #ReadThisBook #JustOneMoreChapter #LetMeRead #ProfessionalBookworm

A little nervous but mostly excited to start this book this evening.

I finally bought this one!!!! I read the first page and was Sold. 🐉

I've noticed this book tends to put people on the love it or hate it ends of the spectrum, and I fell firmly on the love it end of things. The characters and the bits of mystery surrounding each of their circumstances kept me reading with rapt attention. I can see how it might not be for everyone, but I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it!

My special editions of Priory and its prequel finally arrived from Illumicrate! 🥹💕📚 They're so beautiful I can't even handle it! #illumicrate

I'm only 124 pages in, and not going to lie, I'm struggling ... do I keep going!? This gets so many good reviews, but I'm just not feeling it 😕 Cody the kitten is more interested than I am lol

I really tried, reached two thirds...but it is just extremely boring. I kept waiting in vain for something to happen to catch my attention, for some interesting feelings to be triggered...

It just felt like reading about a mix of elements from a lot of other novels and fairytales put together in a terribly long and distasteful porridge.

Wow, what an epic novel! I enjoyed this story very much and loved the variation between storylines and perspectives. The characters grew and changed over time as the plot moved. Still not a fan of Roos from beginning to end of the book, but every character cannot be on a reader's favorites list.

After hearing wonderful things from my reading friends at work I‘ve been working on this chunkster mini all year. I‘m sad to say I just thought it was okay. There were too many divergent stories at the beginning and by the time they came together it seemed like an afterthought. Sorry Priory lovers, this one just wasn‘t for me. #ChunksterChallenge

I‘ve got some ice cream, 4 hours left in this book, and I don‘t have to drive anyone anywhere tonight. Is life good or what?

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I really enjoyed this!

What I loved: The incredible world building, the strong & diverse female characters, the challenging of beliefs, Nayimathun (dragon), & the bit of closure given for key characters at the end.

Didn't love: The slow start. That some conflicts were too easily resolved, and a few characters too conveniently showed up in the right place at the right time despite their prior circumstances. Some predictability.

After I finished the Moor's Account on Friday, I spent the rest of my weekend with this gorgeous book. Not wanting to review it quite yet. Still savoring. Also in a bit of denial that it has ended.

I estimated it would take between 18 and 20 hours to read, factoring in the number of times I would have to reference the character index or maps, but I finished at 17.5 hours!

Then I ordered the prequel.

Some of the most fleshed-out fantasy I have ever had the pleasure of reading. The characters are complex and beautifully written.

This book is massive! It is a commitment to read it. The world building is phenomenal. The characters are engaging and I found myself rooting for all of them. I have to say I wasn't sure about this book. In the end, I loved it! The only thing I can complain about is,there were too many points of view. It was hard keeping up. I am looking forward to reading the prequel. Read this book!

This came with the other from The Broken Binding. I‘m interested. Has anyone read these? Is there a good order to read them in or does it not matter? No TBR openings for awhile but I‘m interested! They are very pretty together.

I ADORED priory, so it gets an automatic 5 stars from me.

Much less gritty than the worlds of Robin Hobb & GRRM, we are nonetheless plunged into a fully formed, colourful fantasy world.

There's a fair bit of infodumping at the start & several political obstacles work themselves out a bit too conveniently, but I'm rating this one with my heart.

Fierce, feminist, bad-ass, diverse, vivid characters... this is a fantasy must-read 💕

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Didn't quite manage to get to the end of Priory (p678) before the event tonight, but I can squeeze in a few more pages while waiting for my Dad.

With a creme egg deluxe tea latte at the Bird and Blend 😁🫖

Is anyone else reminded of the tagged book when they see this painting? @TrishB @Meshell1313 @AllDebooks

I think one of the best things about reading fantasy fiction is that it gives you new worlds to dream in.

I do, however, have beef with Shannon about something that happened on page 236 😠

I took my time with this one, and it really was excellent. I loved all the characters and hooe to read more stories set in this world. My only complaint is that after almost 800 pages of build up, the major battle scene felt sort of anti-climactic. I can forgive that because everything else was pretty much perfection

Listening to the tagged book and finishing up my hat rather than doing any of the laundry or housework I should be focusing on... #audioknitting

Reading this for the bookclub with my co-workers. I'm reading this massive book faster than I expected. I really wanna try the audiobook too. I also found reading it aloud is a lot of fun #fantasy

Boy, do I have feelings about this book that can‘t be expressed in so few words... Suffice to say, it took me a round year to read it, and I both loved and hated it. (Mostly hated it, though.)

1k-pages-long behemoth that is ridiculously slow to start. One-third in—that‘s 350 pages!—and we‘re still at the inciting incident... Plus, every time you get comfortable in a setting, the POV switches, so you can forget all about it.

If you can be patient for the first 200-ish pages, it really takes off once all the players are established and the threads start coming together. A modern take on traditional high fantasy with female characters that are written like someone's actually met one. I enjoyed the ride and appreciated this was a self-contained story with closure at the end.

This intimidating chunkster has languished on my Audible and Kindle shelves forever. Finally picked it up at the end of 2022 and spent about a month listening / reading the ebook. Shannon's epic world-building is worth the effort. And now I'm diving into my ARC of the prequel, which comes out in late Feb.

#thebibiliophage2022

Glad I got past the first 100 pages. I was ready to quick. It's a good fantasy. Kinda hoped for more dragons but it was still a good one. 😊

#chunksterChallenge2023 @Amiable First “Chunkster” of 2023 complete and what a good one it was!!!! Let‘s see if I can get a “Super Chunkster” soon!

Wow. Just wow. I see what everyone is talking about. What a fantastic book to start 2023! I can‘t decide whose story line I love best-I got attached to each and every character. This is a must read for anyone who loves fantasy and world building but also for anyone who just loves a great story. (This year I‘m going to start giving ⭐️s! Makes so much more sense than just the few options we have below) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 stars for sure!

This book is too heavy to read in bed... i think I'm going to have to get the ebook...

I'm upstairs "doing laundry" and taking some much needed time to myself... these kids are exhausting!

Got some #bookmail today, including this doorstopper. Not going to lie, as excited as I am to read it, the size is a bit intimidating! I'm diving in while my husband plays some game with his work friends.

Now we've reached the end of #12booksofChristmas I'll share my books of the year. What a difficult decision it was!!! I have read some truly outstanding books this year. Here's hoping 2023 is as enlightening, educational and entertaining.
A blessed 12th night to you all x