The Priory of the Orange Tree (Roots of Chaos #1) by Samantha Shannon -- Restarting November 3rd 2024

[Wiktoria]

A world divided. A queendom without an heir. An ancient enemy awakens. The House of Berethnet has ruled Inys for a thousand years. Still unwed, Queen Sabran the Ninth must conceive a daughter to protect her realm from destruction - but assassins are getting closer to her door. Ead Duryan is an outsider at court. Though she has risen to the position of lady-in-waiting, she is loyal to a hidden society of mages. Ead keeps a watchful eye on Sabran, secretly protecting her with forbidden magic. Across the dark sea, Tane has trained to be a dragonrider since she was a child, but is forced to make a choice that could see her life unravel. Meanwhile, the divided East and West refuse to parley, and forces of chaos are rising from their sleep.

[Maddie]

Yay! No thoughts on it yet Wiktoria?

[Maddie]

Can you let know the schedule and where we should be up to today?

[Maddie]

Chapter 3 (view spoiler)[Yay seems like we have some trials to look forward to :D And I wonder where Sulyard got to!

Any idea how old Tane is? I want to say they're all around early 20s XD Just to make it relatable. (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Going to head to sleep, should get more read tomorrow, we'll see. I've got a friend coming round.

[Wiktoria]

I'll send it as soon as I get home xD

[Wiktoria]

this is gonna be a loong comment XD

[Heather]

Can I join y’all? I’m afraid I won’t make it through without a buddy read

[Wiktoria]

22-3 : ch 8-10
23-3 : ch 11-13
24-3 : ch 14-16
25-3 : ch 17-18
26-3 : ch 19-21
27-3 : ch 22-23
28-3 : ch 24-25
29-3 : ch 26-28
30-3 : ch29-33
31-3 : ch 34-36
1-4 : ch 37-38
2-4 : ch39-41
3-4 : ch42-43
4-4 : ch44-46
5-4 : ch47-49
6-4 : ch50-52
7-4 : ch 53-54
8-4 : ch 55
9-4 : ch 56-57
10-4 : ch 58-59
11-5 : ch 60-62
12-4 : ch 63-64
13-4 : ch 65-67
14-4 : ch 68-70
15-4 : finish
^^ i hope that's okay?

[Wiktoria]

Heather wrote: "Can I join y’all? I’m afraid I won’t make it through without a buddy read"

yup! no problem hehe

[Wiktoria]

about the thoughts
up to ch5 (view spoiler)[
I was shook that the dragons can talk! I definitely wasn't expecting that lmao I had to reread that line a couple of times for it to register with me XD
I like the two characters we met, Tane and Ead. I can see there's going to be a competition to see who'll be dragon riders and I love that. I was really confused at the end of chapter 4, I'm not too sure what all that was about.
but i am enjoying it so far though (hide spoiler)]

[Heather]

Yessss lol I need to start it

[Wiktoria]

Heather wrote: "Yessss lol I need to start it"

we have a reading schedule if you want to keep to it, no pressure though!

[Heather]

I can definitely do that!

[Maddie]

Yay! I'll try to get to Chapter 11 today, but I highly doubt it as my priority is to finish Wicked King in amongst my friend coming over XD

[Maddie]

Oh definitely no pressure... I'm only on Chapter 4... I've got so much to read, but this is a book I need to take in slowly, so I don't want to sprint with it.

[Wiktoria]

oh god I just realised if forgot to talk about it yesterday
to chapter 11
(view spoiler)[ I'm really enjoying this, the world building is great and I'm becoming less and less confused, which is awesome. I really like Ead, her character is so interesting and I'm curious about the orange tree she keeps mentioning. the fact that the dragons can talk makes this story so much more interesting. Queen Sabran really is a handful and I do hope we get to see more of her in the book (hide spoiler)]

[Marie]

I finished chapter 13, and... (view spoiler)[I don't want Triam Sulyard to die/be tortured because I think his and Trudye's ideas have some truth in them, but then I also don't want the Seiikinese to find out the woman on the beach who helped him was Tane... because that would mean she'll be punished or killed, right? :/ And I really want her to get a dragon!

But anyway, I'm also really enjoying the book now. All the characters seem to have so many secrets, and I'm interested in figuring them all out! (hide spoiler)]

[Wiktoria]

up to ch 13
(view spoiler)[ I'm becoming more interested in Lothe's and Kit's story. I'm interested to see more of Yscalin and it's people.
Sabran accepted the proposal? I'm shook! I guess she realised the danger and how important it is for her to have an heir.
and Turosa! every mc always has to have a mortal enemy who despises them XD for some reason the relationship between them gives me huge Cardan and Jude vibes and I hate that.
and yeah I really hope they don't find out that it was tane who helped him, I really love following her storyline! (hide spoiler)]

[Marie]

Finished chapter 16! (view spoiler)[I almost feel like Sabran is going to call off the marriage last minute, but like, I'm not really sure? But I think there has to be a good reason Sabran kept refusing proposals until now.

And I haven't read The Cruel Prince, but Turosa sure is a giant rival. I'm so happy Ead beat him!! She deserves it, especially after working so hard and stressing herself out so much over it.

I'm also excited we're learning more about the Priory now! I wonder what the important object Judah I hope I got her name right, I don't have the book with me and all I can remember is it started with J discovered before disappearing was... (hide spoiler)]

[Wiktoria]

(view spoiler)[ yes! I'm so happy she managed to beat him! I was so scared that he would end up getting the best of her! She definitely deserves it after practicing so much all the time.
I find that I'm most interested in Ead's story. Every time we go to Lothe and Kit I just want to go back to inyis (is that the name of the queendom?) And I also do love tane's perspective, and once again, same problem with the doctor. There's so many people to keep track of and it's hurting my head! But this is a high fantasy so I signed up for this hehe (hide spoiler)]

[Wiktoria]

^^ for up to ch 16

[Maddie]

Yeah I'm still reading Chapter 4... I've been so busy with other books I know I'll be able to finish this month! I'll read more tomorrow I promise!

[Marie]

No pressure! I only have one other buddy read right now, so I'm not as swamped with books.

[Wiktoria]

I wish I could say the same! I'm in the middle of 7! i have no self control :')

[Marie]

oh... oh dear... XD

[Wiktoria]

priory is my priority though since I'm buddy reading it so I'll stay on top with it! XD

[Marie]

Up to chapter 18! (view spoiler)[I agree that there are a lot of people to keep track of... but I've been taking a few notes and sometimes refer to the list of characters at the back.

After reading these two chapters, I have to say I'm now more interested in Loth and Kit's story! Things with Queen Sabran and Ead are also getting more exciting, and I find myself feeling more and more sorry for Sabran? I wouldn't want such nightmares at night, and now Arebella is dead too...

I think Ead might take Arebella's place as... what's the title called... Lady of the Bedchamber? (hide spoiler)]

[Wiktoria]

Marie wrote: "Up to chapter 18!
(view spoiler)[ yeah I do agree with you about Lothe and Kit. When the princess told Lothe that they don't actually worship the nameless one, I became so much more interested! I'm finding Niclays' story very boring now. I wonder if the four characters stories will mash or if they'll stay separate stories. I'm really enjoying it now though! (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Yeah I'm in the middle of 4 current reads still. Plan to get another one down today, as well as a bit of Priory, but it's so intimidating and I really have to concentrate to read it!

[Marie]

Up to chapter 21: (view spoiler)[Okay. So. I was reading the Loth and Kit part, and I while I was reading I was thinking about the friendship between them and how I wanted to see that grow because I was really liking that, and then... and THEN Kit, of course, goes and dies.

I mean, I wasn't super attached to him yet, but their friendship had so much potential and I'm...

aaaaah. no.

I'm really wondering what's in the iron box now! I think that maybe towards the end of the book the characters will meet, maybe?

Right now they need to stay separate to show the different parts of the world they are living in, but I feel like each one has a part of the... puzzle that needs to be solved? Not puzzle, but like, you know, the whole plot that's going on. Loth has the iron box, Ead is from The Important Priory, and Triam/Niclay have other pieces of knowledge and ideas about an alliance. (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Sorry I'm failing so much!! I'll try to read more tomorrow but honestly who knows

[Wiktoria]

Finally finished ch21! (view spoiler)[ yeah my thoughts were the same! I was so excited to read more about them and their friendship and BAM! Curiosity about that box is killing me! I hate not knowing things it makes me so anxious hahaha. These chapters really flew by though and I'm becoming more and more interested in Loth's story, especially this 'mission' he has to go on. And the fact that the country doesn't actually worship the nameless one, I'm still fascinated by all of this. So far it's living up to the hype, except for Niclays his story is really boring me (hide spoiler)]

[Marie]

Finished chapter 23! (view spoiler)[Yeah, not much has been happening in Niclays's story, but his POV isn't coming up as much now. I guess he'll become more important later.

I feel bad because I think Loth is going the wrong way... He's trying to find Chassar, but Chassar is really in Inys with Ead now. So Loth's going to get to his destination and find out that he went through all this danger for nothing. And then how will he get the cure for the blood plague he now has?

Also, we're in the second part of the book now! Making slow but steady progress! (hide spoiler)]

[Wiktoria]

up to ch 23 ^^
(view spoiler)[ omg! I didn't even think of that! this really will be a problem, guess we'll get through it when it happens haha.
also, the wedding actually happened! It was so interesting to read about it.
I was so confused when I first saw "south" I was sure we'd get another perspective or something but turns out its just Lothe.
Ead got promoted to the lady of the bedchamber. I was kind of expecting that because they've been becoming closer in the last couple of chapters.
ah excited to read on haha (hide spoiler)]

[Marie]

Up to chapter 25 (view spoiler)[I just have to say I'm really impressed with all the worldbuilding in this book... all the myths and stories, and terminology, the kingdoms, etc, and I wonder how long the author was working on the book haha.

The story of the Lady of the Woods is really intriguing, and I wonder how it is going to tie in to Sabran's story. I don't have a good feeling about her pregnancy...

It's getting more and more probably that Ead is going to be exposed for letting Sulyard in, so I'm just gonna sit here and... hope... that everything ends up okay :/ (hide spoiler)]

[Wiktoria]

I'm not feeling well today and just don't have the time to read anything, ill try and catch up tomorrow! sorry!

[Marie]

No worries, it's totally okay!

[Maddie]

I will read sometime!! Maybe tomorrow xD

[Wiktoria]

up to chapter 25
(view spoiler)[ yes! im so worried that she actually will be exposed for it! im praying she'll be okay, I really love her story and her as a character in general.
going into that town definitely isn't a good idea. I'm starting to be terrified that something will happen to Sabran, or the prince (even though I still don't like him much haha)
and Niclays is just annoying me, leave my Tane alone XD
and I do agree about the world building. it's really phenomenal! and the lore and stories the dragon shared with Tane! (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Wiktoria]

Maddison wrote: "I will read sometime!! Maybe tomorrow xD"

hope to hear your thoughts soon!

[Marie]

Up to chapter 28: (view spoiler)[Omg so, so much happened in these chapters! I never suspected that Truyde was one of the people behind the assassins being sent out??? And Aubrecht is dying/dead??? And now Ead has revealed herself as being able to fight, which will probably have consequences???

I confess I am confused by the words Truyde said before the chapter ended, that she just wanted to make Sabran listen to her? Does that mean Truyde already tried to talk to Sabran about allying with the East, and Sabran refused, and that's why Truyde and whoever else organized to have people who appeared sympathetic to the Nameless One try to kill her, to scare her? But that doesn't entirely make sense to me... And they killed Linora!

Also Tane's dragon is so like... wise and awesome and majestic. I'm now so relieved, because I think with the dragon on her side, Tane won't get punished, or if she does, it'll be much lighter. Niclays is annoying, but I can see the source of his desperation even if I like Ead. I mean, the person he loved died, he's been exiled and alone for years...

Alsooo we have another important clue: the piece of paper Jannart had. I have so many questions??

And who knocked out Loth? (I'm assuming he was knocked out, so he could be taken somewhere?) Are they sympathetic to his cause or not?

Aaaaa XD (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

We will see when that is XD It's like I don't even want to read it anymore now that I've started. I don't know XD Is it good?

[Wiktoria]

Maddison wrote: "We will see when that is XD It's like I don't even want to read it anymore now that I've started. I don't know XD Is it good?"

I mean I'm loving it so far, the characters are great, the world building is phenomenal and the story is also great. i'd definitely recommend you give it a chance haha

[Maddie]

Haha I will read it for sure. I just need to concentrate on it so much

[Wiktoria]

it does require concentrating haha

[Maddie]

Yes it does, hence why I've gotta be in a right head space to read

[Wiktoria]

up to ch28... I will catch up today! XD
(view spoiler)[ yes! so much happened in these chapters!! damn!!
I can't believe that the prince died (or is dying). I didn't like him much but it still shocked me, especially seeing how much Sabran seemed to like him. the fact that Tryude was behind the attack? who would've thought!! I don't know if she'll survive much longer after this.
--
now that the dragon knows about Tane's crime, and that she doesn't consider it a crime, I don't think she'll be punished, these people can't disobey a dragon and I doubt she'll let them hurt Tane. and don't get me started on Niclays -_-
--
I sure do hope the person who knocked him out isn't with the nameless one or something. let's hope they bring him to the guy he's looking for
(i still haven't learned all the names and there's so many people i get so confused sometimes)
(view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Marie]

This weekend has been so busy already, I probably won't be able to read today, but I'll catch up Sunday or even Monday.

[Wiktoria]

hey im not able to catch up either so how about we just skip a day?
like, say that tomorrow's supposed to be 29-33 and so on?
unless you wanna keep going as it is