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The Priory of the Orange Tree,
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Samantha (Bookwyrmsam)
I would say it depends on the reader. I don't typically put my age on the internet, but I will say that I was 15 when I read it and had no trouble. There is a little bit of sex, but it is nothing explicit (I've actually seen YA titles with worse). As far as gore and death go, it does discuss war, but so does almost every fantasy book. Definitely depends on the maturity level of the person.
Krissa
I’m 30 now, but I would have absolutely devoured this book as a 10-12 year old. Yes there is sex and violence, but none of it is particularly explicit (think “heat between her thighs”, “the pleasure of their joining,” and similar poetic description.) Obviously it’s up to your discretion as a parent/educator and the maturity of the child in question, but I personally think it’s appropriate for the maturity and skill level of most bookish 12 year olds. Proficiency wise, if they can handle Lord of the Rings, this is simple.
♛
Definitely not! PRIORY is advertised as an adult fantasy novel because of its very adult themes (sex, gore, death, and the like), not to mention the vocabulary is way above a 12 year old’s level & the thickness of the plot is something a young teen would struggle to follow.
Carmen
Read it at age 12/13 but really depends on how advanced their vocabulary and span of patience is
Anea
I was 13, the vocabulary wasn’t a problem (and English is my second language) but it depends on how sensitive the reader is
Sof
Absolutely! I’m 15 and it was an amazing book, my favorite actually. effy is kinda wrong. There’s violence but that’s the norm in fantasy books. There’s also sex but it’s very implicit and believe me, probably your 12 y/o has read “worse” stuff.
Laure Vellichor
Absolutely. I read a lot more explicit when I was much younger than 12, and I’ve seen a lot more explicit in YA books.
The language isn’t very complicated, and the story isn’t very complicated. I think Effy is really underestimating 12 year olds.
Source: I had read all of Ann Mccaffrey Dragon Rides of Pern and all of Lord of the Rings before I was 8.
The language isn’t very complicated, and the story isn’t very complicated. I think Effy is really underestimating 12 year olds.
Source: I had read all of Ann Mccaffrey Dragon Rides of Pern and all of Lord of the Rings before I was 8.
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