I finally read a Samantha Shannon novel! After meeting her in the flesh for her tour celebrating the publication of Among the Burning Flowers, I knew I needed to. As I have just started my third year at university, it probably would not be the best idea to start the 1000 page Priory of the Orange Tree. That's why it is so awesome Among the Burning Flowers also acts as an entry point into this world!

“We cannot turn back time, but we can keep on living.”

The Draconic Army has disappeared from sight for generations since The Age of Grief. The survivors build defences, but they have since been neglected in the belief that the land is now safe… how wrong they were. As nightmares of the past reappear, chaos reigns.

Samantha Shannon has a lyrical, immersive writing style that is focused on characterisation. There is a different rhythm depending on the character we are following. We have three central PoV's who I believe will mainly be familiar to those who have read The Priory of the Orange tree, but I do not know if they are the main characters of Samantha Shannon's first novel in this world...

I loved the landscape and unique fantastical setting. Dragons are awesome, yet have somehow been underutilised in fantasy. Of course we have classics like Tolkien's dragons, but for the most part they feel like they have not been explored in different forms. The dragons here take a variety of shapes, from bestial creatures similar to other animals but more dangerous, to some in the higher echelons of the Draconic Army that more closely resemble Tolkien's dragons that are intelligent, powerful and able to converse with humans.

This is only a short novel, so there is not too much to dive into. But, I have definitely found Samantha Shannon's writing style to my liking. I cannot wait to dive into The Priory of the Orange Tree and see this story continued.

4/5 STARS