Book Review: "A Day of Fallen Night" by Samantha Shannon

4/5 stars

*Spoiler alert!*

I was a huge fan of The Priory of the Orange Tree, so I knew I had to read its prequel, A Day of Fallen Night. Taking place 500 years before the events of The Priory, Samantha Shannon adds a stellar addition to her “The Roots of Chaos” series.

Because this book is tasked with filling in the puzzle pieces readers wondered at in the events of Priory, it’s a bit of a slow-burn to the action, but by no means does this take away from the outstanding story and complex characters contained in its pages.

We see Glorian Berethnet, ancestor to Queen Sabran the Ninth of Inys, struggling with the obligation to bear an heir to continue the line that is supposed to keep the Nameless One from returning. (Readers who’ve read Priory know that the whole foundation of the Berethnet dynasty is built on lies, but alas, tradition runs strong.)

“Can you imagine what that’s like – to be seen only for the life you could make, not the life you already possess?”

To the south, in the Priory of the Orange Tree, Tunuva is an aging, yet still formidable warrior and partner of Prioress-heir-apparent Esbar. Esbar’s daughter, Siyu, wishes to see more of the world and questions the Priory’s seclusion and secrecy in a time when the Nameless One hasn’t been seen for ages. When Siyu becomes pregnant with the baby of an outsider—something frowned upon, leading to the unfortunate death of her lover—she runs away. Around the same time as all this turmoil within the Priory is when the mysterious mage Canthe shows up.

To the east, in Seiiki, Dumai lives in a temple on the mountain, maintaining the Queen’s Bell, which, if rung, would awaken the gods. The gods haven’t been awakened for centuries. Then, mysterious guests arrive at the temple and change her world forever.

Meanwhile, hot springs and other volcanic sites around the world are acting up, mysteriously boiling at random. Then, the Dreadmount erupts and throws the world into chaos. (Here we go again!)

“You must have learned a great deal about siden,’ Tunuva said, wanting to change the subject. ‘Do you know why the Womb of Fire made a beast like the Nameless One, yet also lights the orange tree?’ Canthe sat back. ‘Siden trees – and mages – are the only natural outlet for the magic in the Womb of Fire. We let it wick away enough to stop itself burning too hot,’ she said. ‘The Nameless One was a miscreation. An affront to nature, made when that magic rose too quickly.’ ‘Then we are not like him, we mages.’ ‘No. We take only what siden is offered.”

No more spoilers, because this book deserves to be read and experienced!

A Day of Fallen Night is a tale that explores in detail the complexity of motherhood, leadership, and all sorts of interpersonal relationships. Like Priory, this book has great LGBTQ+ representation, outstanding worldbuilding, and fully realized characters that I didn’t want to leave when I finished the book. If you’re a fantasy fan, you can’t pass on Samantha Shannon’s “The Roots of Chaos” series.

Happy reading!      

--BookOwl