A Day of Fallen Night: A Roots of Chaos Novel (The Roots of Chaos)

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stars, I LOVE this book and my god what a reading experience it was. Samantha Shannon is a phenomenal epic fantasy writer. The world she builds, the sheer expanse of the story she tells, and the balance of large catastrophic world events with the smallest individual personal life experiences is incredible. If you liked Priory of the Orange Tree, I see no reason why you wouldn't like this book. We know the long line of Berethnet queens from Priory, but there are very few who compare to Glorian. We even know a piece of Glorian's story, from the history of Priory, but there is still much that we do not know. Knowing this piece of her only draws tighter the chains that bind Glorian to her story, she grows evermore imprisoned as we read on and on. The role of queen is not one she desires, the eternal vine of Berethnets is not a destiny she wants to claim.

There's no two ways about it, Shannon's Roots of Chaos books are an undertaking to read. This one was even longer than The Priory of the Orange Tree and while a book being a chonky boi isn't something that generally ever puts me off, I'm well acquainted with the author's writing; there is never a wasted word nor a moment where you can scan over a descriptive passage. She always asks you to engage with every moment. Your reward for this is a fully immersive fantasy experience unlike any other. But if you're in the mood for light, undemanding fare then this is probably not the book for you at this time. Dumai is our perspective in the East. She's a godsinger on Mount Ipyeda, her world a world of snow, harsh winds and perilous climbs. She learns never to goad the mountain, to learn when to reach towards the sky and when to be mindful of the shifting ground beneath her feet. And, inevitably, this is the battle of Dumai's storyline; she is a kite meant to soar with the winds, yet she is tangled in the politics of a land she was not born to understand. She is a secret, she is a legacy, she is the whispering voice, she is the mountain climber, she is the wind, she is the godsinger.A Day of Fallen Night continues Priory’s themes of religion and the role of religion in defining history. If anything, Shannon uses this story to develop those themes even further, exploring the ways that religion influences the lives of every character in her world. Her characters all embody faith in different ways. Glorian Berethnet, the sole heir to her throne and the fifteen-year-old figurehead of her religion; Tunuva Melim, who has dedicated fifty years of her life to the Priory and to her goddess; and Dumai of Ipyeda, whose journey and relationship with the slumbering gods of the East will go on to define history. Tunuva was my other favourite, and again, the relationship she had with Siyu is so wholesome and beautiful, in my eyes, she was a better mother than Esbar. Pre-review: Could this be the best book I've ever read in my lifetime? Right now, I'm thinking A Day of Fallen Night definitely feels like the best book ever. I need some time to sit with my thoughts and feelings, so review to come later (hopefully).

Samamtha Shannon has such an incredible talent when it comes to creating a world with so much depth, detail and variety in landscapes, culture, aesthetic, and history, that made reading A Day of Fallen Night as well as The Priory of the Orange Tree like spending night after night in an ancient library, studying old, dusty texts of the world we get to enter in these books.Shannon introduces us to an entirely new cast of characters in A Day of Fallen Night, which takes place about 500 years before the events of Priory. As in Priory, Shannon excels at creating a strong cast of female characters with excellent queer representation. this was such an incredible fantasy book. the world-building, the lore, and the characters were written so well. it was interesting to read about the different religions and faith in each kingdom. you can tell Samantha Shannon spent so much time on detail and it paid off !! the different kingdoms and povs were so distinct that you don’t even need the chapter heading to tell you where or who you are reading. you just knew bc the author’s writing is that great Wulf is our point of view in the North. He's such an engaging character, an intriguing man trying to escape the mysteries of his past. He serves as a warrior under King Bardholt, fighting against the rumours of the Haithwood, trying to be someone his family will be proud of. Wulf is also an incredibly loyal character, much like Tunuva, a fierce defender of those he loves, and a caring friend. All of the characters are incredible, complex and alluring, and their plotlines are all captivating as they intertwine and parallel and subvert. Unlike Priory, you will be completely immersed in every single character's perspective as your love and adoration for each character only ever grows.