The Priory of the Orange Tree
The Priory of the Orange Tree -or The Priory of the Orange Tree, by its original English title, is a feminist epic fantasy written by British author Samantha Shannon. The work was published for the first time on February 26, 2016 by Bloomsbury Publishing. Later, it was translated into Spanish and marketed by Roca editorial on September 19 of the same year.
The writer states that her novel is inspired by the legend of Saint George and the Dragon, which tells how the town of Dragon Hill, Uffington, was extorted by a powerful draconian to offer him cattle. When the cattle ran out, the villagers began to offer people until, in the end, they gave up a princess. In the climax, Saint George murders the creature and saves the damsel.
Synopsis of The Priory of the Orange Tree
One thousand years before The House of Berethnet
A long time ago, the evil fire-breathing dragon known as the Nameless One spread a draconic plague and was kept in check by daily human sacrifices. Finally, Princess Cleolinda of Lasia was chosen for the sacrifice. But an Inysh traveling knight named Sir Galian Berethnet intervened in exchange for Cleolinda's hand in marriage and the conversion of her people to her religion.
According to some, the Nameless One was defeated by Sir Galian with the sword Ascalon, created by the Witch of Inysca. Sir Galian then married Princess Cleolinda. His descendants in the House of Berethnet have ruled Inys as queens and leaders of the faith of the Virtues of Chivalry, while dragons and magic are condemned and feared.
The Duel of the Times or Great Sorrow
Five hundred years later, Five dragons from the High West led by Fýredel created a draconic army of half-dragon monsters. They waged war on humanity for over a year, until they suddenly became inactive. Very little is really known about it, and it is likely that the most deeply held beliefs will fall under their own weight when the protagonists are exposed to other cultures.
Configuration of nations in The Priory of the Orange Tree
La epic fantasy The Priory world includes the Eastern, Western and Southern regions, each made up of at least two countries. The culture that defines these regions arises from their attitudes towards dragons and the different stories of the defeat of the Nameless One. The eastern nation of Seiiki closed its borders due to the draconic plague or "red disease."
Because of this disconnect, the West forgot that there are significant differences between Eastern and Western dragons, such as the fact that the former are benign. The nations of the East worship dragons and a select few train as riders. Most nations in the West hate and fear them, so they are banned there.
Approach to faith and narrative style of the work
The faith of the Virtues of Chivalry is predominant in several Western nations, collectively called Virtudom. The Mother faith among the Lasians believes that, instead of Sir Galian, it was Princess Cleolind Onjenyu who banished the Nameless One. For its part, The people of the East worship dragons as gods, and the confrontation of all these beliefs becomes fundamental to the plot.
On the other hand, the narrative style is limited to third-person writing, alternating four points of view of characters: the spy Ead Duryan, the courtier Arteloth Beck, the dragon rider Miduchi Tané and the alchemist Niclays Roos. Each chapter is told by one or more protagonists, and all provide details about the world and culture to which each one belongs.
The current days in Inys
The House of Berethnet has been the ruler of Inys for a thousand years. It is thought that, for peace to continue to exist and the Nameless One not to reappear, a queen must hold power. in this territory. However, the monarch Sabran IX has not yet married despite the fact that she is required to bring the new regent into the world. Meanwhile, Ead Duryan must protect the majesty from him.
At the same time, he must keep his functions a secret as a member of the secret society of magicians of the orange tree priory. In addition, Lord Arteloth Beck, close friend of Sabran, He is banished from Inys on a futile quest by those who wish to weaken the queen. to make the Nameless One resurface.
In the East, where water dragons are worshiped as gods, Miduchi Tané trains to become a horseman, but ends up rescuing a stranger from the West who puts her in danger after taking her to an alchemist known as Niclays Roos.
About the author
Samantha Shannon was born on November 8, 1991, in Hammersmith, United Kingdom. She began writing more seriously when she was fifteen, at which time she created her first story, Aurora, which remains unpublished. After high school He studied Literature and English Languages at St Anne's College, Oxford, and graduated in 2013. A year earlier, he had already signed a six-figure contract with Bloomsbury Publishing,
These competed against other publications to obtain the rights to three books intended to be a series of seven. Having won, they began to publish The Age of Bones. Later, The film rights to the same work were acquired by Andy Serkis' company, The Imaginarium Studios in November 2012. To date, Samantha Shannon's titles have received mostly positive reviews.
Other books by Samantha Shannon
The Age of Bones series
- The Age of Bones (2013);
- The order of mimes (The Age of Bones 2, 2015). Published by Editorial Roca Juvenil;
- The Song Rising (2017);
- The Mask Family (2021)
Related works
- On the Merits of Unnaturalness (2015);
- The Pale Dreamer (2016)
Other works
- The day the sky opened (2023)