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    Fantasy

    The Priory of the Orange Tree

    by Shannon, Samantha
    “The Priory of the Orange Tree” by Samantha Shannon is an epic high fantasy novel set in a divided world where dragons and ancient threats loom. The story follows multiple protagonists, including Queen Sabran IX of Inys, who must produce an heir to secure her queendom, and Ead, a secret mage sworn to protect her. Meanwhile, in the East, dragonrider Tané grapples with loyalty and destiny as an ancient enemy, the Nameless One, stirs. The narrative weaves political intrigue, mythology, and feminist themes across continents, blending European and Asian-inspired lore. At 848 pages, it’s a standalone tale of magic, war, and resilience, praised for its intricate world-building and diverse characters.
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    The Priory of the Orange Tree

    Forty-Three

    by Shannon, Samantha

    Ead pre­pares for a per­ilous jour­ney to con­front Kaly­ba, the ban­ished and feared Lady of the Woods. Armed with weapons and clad in the white cloak of a pos­tu­lant, she is seen off by Chas­sar and the ich­neu­mon Aralaq. Chas­sar express­es con­fi­dence in Ead’s abil­i­ties but warns her to retreat if the dan­ger becomes too great. Aralaq, though gruff, pledges to pro­tect her, high­light­ing the bond between them. The chap­ter sets the stage for Ead’s quest, empha­siz­ing the risks posed by Kalyba’s dark mag­ic and the unre­solved ten­sion sur­round­ing her past at the Pri­o­ry.

    As Ead and Aralaq tra­verse the for­est, the nar­ra­tive delves into Kalyba’s enig­mat­ic his­to­ry. Once a mys­te­ri­ous fig­ure at the Pri­o­ry, Kaly­ba claimed immor­tal­i­ty and pos­sessed unset­tling pow­ers not derived from the sacred orange tree. Ead recalls Kalyba’s abil­i­ty to enchant and manip­u­late, such as trans­form­ing her fin­gers into feath­ers, which cap­ti­vat­ed Ead and her friend Jon­du. The rea­sons for Kalyba’s ban­ish­ment remain shroud­ed in rumor, includ­ing sus­pi­cions that she poi­soned the for­mer Pri­oress. These mem­o­ries under­score Kalyba’s duality—both allur­ing and dangerous—and fore­shad­ow the chal­lenges Ead will face.

    Dur­ing their jour­ney, Ead reflects on her past and her unre­solved feel­ings for Sabran, the Queen of Inys. She grap­ples with guilt over her decep­tion and won­ders if Sabran still trusts her despite the lies. These intro­spec­tive moments reveal Ead’s vul­ner­a­bil­i­ty and her long­ing for redemp­tion. Mean­while, Aralaq’s gruff yet loy­al nature pro­vides a coun­ter­bal­ance, as he ensures her safe­ty and sus­te­nance. The inter­play between Ead’s inner tur­moil and the exter­nal dan­gers of the for­est deep­ens the chapter’s emo­tion­al stakes.

    The chap­ter cul­mi­nates with Ead and Aralaq near­ing Kalyba’s domain, the Bow­er of Eter­ni­ty. As they cross the treach­er­ous Minara Riv­er and endure the ele­ments, Ead steels her­self for the con­fronta­tion ahead. Her deter­mi­na­tion to uncov­er the truth about Kalyba—and per­haps herself—drives her for­ward. The chap­ter mas­ter­ful­ly blends action, mem­o­ry, and intro­spec­tion, paint­ing a vivid pic­ture of Ead’s resolve amidst uncer­tain­ty and dan­ger. The stage is set for a cli­mac­tic encounter that will test her courage and loy­al­ty.

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    FAQs

    • 1. What significant changes in Ead’s status and equipment mark her transition at the beginning of this chapter?

      Answer:
      The chapter highlights Ead’s transition through both symbolic and practical changes. She is now dressed in the white cloak of a postulant, representing her maturation into womanhood, contrasting with the olive cloak of her childhood. The armorer provides her with four key weapons: a monbone bow, an iron sword, an axe with Selinyi prayers, and a wood-handled dagger. These tools signify her readiness for a dangerous mission. Chassar’s mention of the future red cloak suggests this is a rite of passage toward becoming a full-fledged member of her order, though Ead remains apprehensive about surviving the journey to face Kalyba.

      2. How does the chapter characterize the relationship between Ead and Aralaq, and what does it reveal about ichneumons?

      Answer:
      Ead and Aralaq share a bond of deep loyalty masked by surface-level gruffness. Though Aralaq calls Ead a “fool” for her mission and claims ichneumons “do not lead little sisters into danger,” his actions prove otherwise—he hunts for her, provides food, and transports her swiftly through the forest. Their dynamic reveals key traits of ichneumons: they are fiercely protective, faster than horses, and possess human-like intelligence (shown through speech and sarcasm). The line “This is only because you fed me as a pup” underscores their lifelong bonds, blending duty with reluctant affection.

      3. What contradictory qualities does Kalyba possess based on Ead’s memories and the Priory’s accounts?

      Answer:
      Kalyba is portrayed as both enchanting and sinister. Ead recalls her as a redheaded figure with “bottomless dark eyes” who could manipulate her body (elongating fingers into feathers) and inspire childlike trust. However, the Priory’s rumors paint her as the “Lady of the Woods,” a bloodthirsty figure who may have poisoned Ead’s mentor, Zāla. Her magic is described as unnatural—stemming not from the orange tree but a hawthorn tree, with additional “unsettling gifts.” This duality makes her unpredictable: simultaneously knowledgeable, charismatic, and lethally dangerous.

      4. How does the chapter use Ead’s reflections about Sabran to develop her internal conflict?

      Answer:
      Ead’s thoughts about Sabran reveal guilt and unresolved emotional tension. She agonizes over whether Sabran believes the dukes’ accusations of her being a “sorceress and traitor,” acknowledging she betrayed Sabran’s trust by hiding her true identity. The mention of their physical intimacy (“shared a bed”) contrasts painfully with this deception. Ead also worries about Sabran’s political vulnerability, showing her protective instincts persist despite their separation. These reflections humanize Ead, emphasizing the cost of her dual loyalties between the Priory and Inysh court.

      5. Analyze how the setting of the Bower of Eternity contributes to the chapter’s atmosphere.

      Answer:
      The Bower of Eternity embodies mystery and peril. Described as enchanted to “trick the eyes,” it reflects Kalyba’s deceptive nature. The journey there—through dense forests, waterfalls, and the treacherous Minara River—creates a sense of escalating danger. The warm rain and persimmons add sensory richness, grounding the adventure in vivid detail while contrasting with the ominous goal. This setting mirrors Ead’s internal journey: physically arduous, emotionally charged (with memories of Kalyba resurfacing), and fraught with uncertainty about what magic or truths await her.

    Quotes

    • 1. “Kalyba is a dread creature, but not as strong as she was. She has not eaten of the orange tree, for twenty years, and so will have no siden left.”

      This quote reveals crucial information about the antagonist Kalyba’s weakened state and the source of her power (the orange tree’s siden). It sets up the central conflict while hinting at the magical system of this world.

      2. “What would you become, little sisters, if you could become anything?… I could strike the wyrms down for the Mother, even as they flew.”

      This flashback dialogue shows Ead’s childhood aspirations and introduces the thematic tension between her past innocence and current mission. It also foreshadows her role as a dragon-slayer.

      3. “She might have already chosen another Lady of the Bedchamber… Did Sabran still trust her? She hardly deserved it. They had shared a bed, shared their bodies, but Ead had never told her the truth of who she was.”

      This introspective passage reveals Ead’s inner conflict about her deception of Queen Sabran, highlighting the tension between duty and personal relationships that drives her character arc.

      4. “The Witch of Inysca will make meat of you… She will tell you lies… Or she will vaunt her knowledge. She has enough of it.”

      This exchange between Ead and Aralaq captures the dangerous nature of their quest while showcasing their relationship dynamic. It also establishes Kalyba’s character traits before their confrontation.

    Quotes

    1. “Kalyba is a dread creature, but not as strong as she was. She has not eaten of the orange tree, for twenty years, and so will have no siden left.”

    This quote reveals crucial information about the antagonist Kalyba’s weakened state and the source of her power (the orange tree’s siden). It sets up the central conflict while hinting at the magical system of this world.

    2. “What would you become, little sisters, if you could become anything?… I could strike the wyrms down for the Mother, even as they flew.”

    This flashback dialogue shows Ead’s childhood aspirations and introduces the thematic tension between her past innocence and current mission. It also foreshadows her role as a dragon-slayer.

    3. “She might have already chosen another Lady of the Bedchamber… Did Sabran still trust her? She hardly deserved it. They had shared a bed, shared their bodies, but Ead had never told her the truth of who she was.”

    This introspective passage reveals Ead’s inner conflict about her deception of Queen Sabran, highlighting the tension between duty and personal relationships that drives her character arc.

    4. “The Witch of Inysca will make meat of you… She will tell you lies… Or she will vaunt her knowledge. She has enough of it.”

    This exchange between Ead and Aralaq captures the dangerous nature of their quest while showcasing their relationship dynamic. It also establishes Kalyba’s character traits before their confrontation.

    FAQs

    1. What significant changes in Ead’s status and equipment mark her transition at the beginning of this chapter?

    Answer:
    The chapter highlights Ead’s transition through both symbolic and practical changes. She is now dressed in the white cloak of a postulant, representing her maturation into womanhood, contrasting with the olive cloak of her childhood. The armorer provides her with four key weapons: a monbone bow, an iron sword, an axe with Selinyi prayers, and a wood-handled dagger. These tools signify her readiness for a dangerous mission. Chassar’s mention of the future red cloak suggests this is a rite of passage toward becoming a full-fledged member of her order, though Ead remains apprehensive about surviving the journey to face Kalyba.

    2. How does the chapter characterize the relationship between Ead and Aralaq, and what does it reveal about ichneumons?

    Answer:
    Ead and Aralaq share a bond of deep loyalty masked by surface-level gruffness. Though Aralaq calls Ead a “fool” for her mission and claims ichneumons “do not lead little sisters into danger,” his actions prove otherwise—he hunts for her, provides food, and transports her swiftly through the forest. Their dynamic reveals key traits of ichneumons: they are fiercely protective, faster than horses, and possess human-like intelligence (shown through speech and sarcasm). The line “This is only because you fed me as a pup” underscores their lifelong bonds, blending duty with reluctant affection.

    3. What contradictory qualities does Kalyba possess based on Ead’s memories and the Priory’s accounts?

    Answer:
    Kalyba is portrayed as both enchanting and sinister. Ead recalls her as a redheaded figure with “bottomless dark eyes” who could manipulate her body (elongating fingers into feathers) and inspire childlike trust. However, the Priory’s rumors paint her as the “Lady of the Woods,” a bloodthirsty figure who may have poisoned Ead’s mentor, Zāla. Her magic is described as unnatural—stemming not from the orange tree but a hawthorn tree, with additional “unsettling gifts.” This duality makes her unpredictable: simultaneously knowledgeable, charismatic, and lethally dangerous.

    4. How does the chapter use Ead’s reflections about Sabran to develop her internal conflict?

    Answer:
    Ead’s thoughts about Sabran reveal guilt and unresolved emotional tension. She agonizes over whether Sabran believes the dukes’ accusations of her being a “sorceress and traitor,” acknowledging she betrayed Sabran’s trust by hiding her true identity. The mention of their physical intimacy (“shared a bed”) contrasts painfully with this deception. Ead also worries about Sabran’s political vulnerability, showing her protective instincts persist despite their separation. These reflections humanize Ead, emphasizing the cost of her dual loyalties between the Priory and Inysh court.

    5. Analyze how the setting of the Bower of Eternity contributes to the chapter’s atmosphere.

    Answer:
    The Bower of Eternity embodies mystery and peril. Described as enchanted to “trick the eyes,” it reflects Kalyba’s deceptive nature. The journey there—through dense forests, waterfalls, and the treacherous Minara River—creates a sense of escalating danger. The warm rain and persimmons add sensory richness, grounding the adventure in vivid detail while contrasting with the ominous goal. This setting mirrors Ead’s internal journey: physically arduous, emotionally charged (with memories of Kalyba resurfacing), and fraught with uncertainty about what magic or truths await her.

    Note