Buddy Read/Discussion for The Priory of the Orange Tree

[Theresa]

I decided to set this up because 2 or 3 of us are reading it right now, others have read it and indicated mixed thoughts about it, and I'm discussing it in my Feminerdy Book Club on Sunday January 9th. Seems like this could be an interesting discussion.

I'm about half way through it. Definitely a fast easy enjoyable read but is it awesome? Jury still out.

If anyone has this on their TBR - join us, or if you have already read it - would love to hear your thoughts. I will be done in a few days.

[Joanne]

I am looking forward to the reactions on this one-keeping quiet til then

[Tien]

I'm reading it very slowly, Theresa... I'm reading with a few others and one is doing it by audio so we're going by her pace (abt 150 pages per wee).

I'm only on ch 8 so still very early on; finding it slow though - complex world building so we'll see if this improves which from what you said, it may.

[Theresa]

Tien wrote: "I'm reading it very slowly, Theresa... I'm reading with a few others and one is doing it by audio so we're going by her pace (abt 150 pages per wee).

I'm only on ch 8 so still very early on; findi..."

Hmmm - not sure I'd find it as enjoyable if dragged over too long a period.

Yes, a lot of world-building, but pretty accessible. I'm on Ch. 36, almost the end of Part 2. There are spurts of intense action, and I'm sure it is building to some huge extended action packed denoument.

I'm not much of a high fantasy reader - or a fantasy reader at all - but have certainly read a few in my time: GRRM's Song of Ice and Fire, LOTR, The Belgariad, Juliet McKenna's Tales of Einarrin, and several of the early Guy Gavriel-Kaye. I tend to like ones I can read the way I read historical fiction and adventure, not too heavy on the magic and such. I've of course fallen in love with Temeraire and will be reading that series over time - I mean, Napoleonic Wars! I also have Robin Hobb on my shelves -- Ship's Assassin and Bastard King are in TBR Towers right in front of me where they have resided for years.

Let's hide discussion behind spoilers so those reading more slowly can easily skip if they want.

[Joanne]

Theresa wrote: "Tien wrote: "I'm reading it very slowly, Theresa... I'm reading with a few others and one is doing it by audio so we're going by her pace (abt 150 pages per wee).

I'm only on ch 8 so still very ea..."

When you get to Hobb, be sure to read her in the correct order-I can help with that ;)

[Theresa]

I finished and it was a fun read. Nice to read a chunkster quickly - last two years my chunkster was the slow going Proust...made me rethink my ability to read through such doorstoppers quickly.

My review is here - rather than hide with spoilers: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I will say now that reading about a world where all have to put aside differences and work together to survive was rather perfect to read during a global pandemic where we need to put aside our differences and band together to defeat it. Fiction does a better job of that than we are doing at this stage.

I'll let you all know how the Feminerdy discussion goes on this on Sunday.

[Theresa]

Yesterday my Feminerdy Book Club met virtually and had a lively discussion of The Priory of the Orange Tree. There were 8 participants - all women - and all liked the book a lot, even though we all agreed there were problems and disappointments. General comments - needed better editing, great world building, loved the dragons and how depicted especially Tane's relationship with hers, generally lots of positive comment. Most of us really liked that it was a stand-alone, not part of a series, which never seems to happen in fantasy any longer.

(view spoiler)[ Some specifics discussed - how much all of us liked the feminist equality and matriarchies portrayed and how natural and inclusive the story and the writing really were. We also all shared some of the same disappointments in stories being neglected or characters not given sufficient space - i.e. the Unceasing Emperor and the whole final land battle. There was some split on some of the characters - i.e. not everyone like Niclays and his story - I came to appreciate his story as the book evolved. All felt the end was rushed, the final battle should have been drawn out more and the land war shown.

One commented that she really liked how the author handled Loth's storyline after he was at the Priory and before Ead arrives there -- that his viewpoint completely disappeared and when we finally see him again pages and pages later, we learn he was drugged to forget who and what he was, so his absence made perfect sense. That was a sublety I had not figured out and have to agree. We also talked about how well the author showed how each group was similar to others, and allowed them to explore these commonalities.

We also discussed that the title, which I originally thought was not appropriate or at least is misleading, is actually the serious tip-off to what the intent of the book is: to tell the story of these 2 religions and how they are based in the same myth but evolved so differently due to mythos, storytelling, politics and ego.. Now they have to come together again, with the lies and misconceptions revealed, differences put aside to unite in battle to save the world, or the world as they know it will be destroyed by The Nameless One. Though there is a complex world with many characters and events barely mentioned, things we the reader want further explored, the story being told is that of the foundation of The Priory. (hide spoiler)]

We all hope she tells more stories in this world. We all agreed we would absolutely read more of her work, especially as she matures as a writer. <

[Joanne]

Yes, I would for sure read her again, and would also like to see more of this world.