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Welcome to the April "Main" Buddy Read!
starts 1-April-2025, ends 30-April-2025

As we step into April, we are excited to announce our Formal Buddy Read for this month, inspired by the dynastic forces and King's Day! This month, we’ll explore themes of royalty and power, where kingdoms clash, and loyalties are tested amid epic tales of dragons and love.

The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

A world divided. A queendom without an heir. An ancient enemy awakens.

The House of Berethnet has ruled Inys for a thousand years. Still unwed, Queen Sabran the Ninth must conceive a daughter to protect her realm from destruction �� but assassins are getting closer to her door.

Ead Duryan is an outsider at court. Though she has risen to the position of lady-in-waiting, she is loyal to a hidden society of mages. Ead keeps a watchful eye on Sabran, secretly protecting her with forbidden magic.

Across the dark sea, Tané has trained to be a dragonrider since she was a child, but is forced to make a choice that could see her life unravel.

Meanwhile, the divided East and West refuse to parley, and forces of chaos are rising from their sleep.

When using this Buddy Read to get Bonus Points for a Challenge, please check with the mod running the Challenge for any posting requirements not listed below!

🚀 2025 (Impossible) Solar System Challenge: While there's no specific post count requirement, your participation should go beyond simple statements like "I liked the book." Quality of contribution matters more than quantity, so focus on crafting well-considered responses that add value to the discussion.

I am starting this honker 🤣

I'm giving this one a try. I won't finish in one month though...

going to start this after my current read!

I started this last night, and read just the first chapter and I think it's going to be great!

Ok so I am mostly listening to the audio while at work and I am not gonna lie. I have had to repeat many chapters. It was a bit hard to get into because so much info was thrown at you. I am currently on chapter 47 and I am aiming to finish by end of weekend with a goal of not having to repeat aanyore chapters. I think I will finish the book I got from the library as I feel looking at the summary and characters is easier there than on the KU version.

So in conclusion, YES I have absolutely read on kindle, book, and audio.....so Cliche🤣

I started this a couple of days ago, and am really enjoying it. There is an awful lot of information and characters to keep track of though!

I think I'm going to write down characters as though I were reading a Russian novel...

Or, not. I just looked, and there is a complete listing of characters at the end of the book followed by a glossary and a timeline. I'm glad I found that before I set off!

I need to wait until tax season is over to start this one. Not enough free brain space until then to handle this book. I want to give it it's due and appreciate it.

Catherine wrote: "Ok so I am mostly listening to the audio while at work and I am not gonna lie. I have had to repeat many chapters. It was a bit hard to get into because so much info was thrown at you. I am current..."

I actually own this book - and let me tell you - it's a DOOR STOPPER. It is NOT floppy and it feels like holding a brick, so I switched to a kindle copy for my wrist health (hahaha). I knew audio was out, since I could tell the world-building would be hefty, and I can't seem to follow that well on audio.

I can see why you would use all reading methods, Catherine!

I don't own the book but got it from the library and it is heavy! I also have the audiobook and am hoping to have the ebook soon so I can also read on Kindle as well. Multi-source reading this one🤣

I have about 7 hours left but because I am me, I have to read other books as well to mix things up. Hoping to focus on it more tonight or tomorrow and finish.

I have a small start on this. Enjoying so far.

I'm nearly halfway through and I am really enjoying it so far. It took a while to properly grab me, but it's definitely got me now!

Catherine - I do that too. I can never one book at a time, lol. :)

got to chapter 8 today and immediately hooked. I am enamored in this world already.

I think I'm enjoying Kit and Loth's dynamic so much because they remind me of Geralt and Dandelion from the Witcher. All the characters we follow really have me hooked but them especially because I am enjoying their banter so much

seacat wrote: "I think I'm enjoying Kit and Loth's dynamic so much because they remind me of Geralt and Dandelion from the Witcher. All the characters we follow really have me hooked but them especially because I..."

Oh no, have you gotten to the part yet? Are you OK?

I'm on chapter 53 and waiting patiently for something to happen.
My fault I read The Book of Azrael at the same time 🤣

Catherine wrote: "seacat wrote: "I think I'm enjoying Kit and Loth's dynamic so much because they remind me of Geralt and Dandelion from the Witcher. All the characters we follow really have me hooked but them espec..."

OH NO IM SCARED NOW. I got to chapter 14

OK I am finally done and rated ⭐⭐⭐⭐ because it was so long. Perhaps cold have split into 2-3 books but very good writing overall. Also, the further along the more you understand all the different story lines.

Hoping to finish the first book tonight. Really enjoying this!!

I will also finish book 1 tonight! It's soo entertaining. I think Loth is my fav (view spoiler)[which makes me scared because his death flags are SOO high rn (hide spoiler)]

I've just finished the last-but-one Part. I didn't think I would be able to get through it, but it's good. My favourite character is (view spoiler)[Tane. (hide spoiler)]

Just got to chapter 35 and (view spoiler)[Sabran is really rising to the top of list of favorite characters. The whole time she was getting married I was just screaming; "SOMEONE SAVE HER, SHE DOESNT WANT TO DO THIS". I feel so bad for her constantly because no one truly sees her as Sabran. They see her title and thats it. It breaks my heart constantly what she is forced to do. Giving up her anatomy for her kingdom and that same kingdom so quick to throw her away for her daughter. (hide spoiler)]

I finished this. Really couldn't put it down.
(view spoiler)[My favorite character was Tané followed closely by Ead. I was SOOO happy when Tané saved her dragon from the pirates. That was probably my favorite scene. Nayimathun is so majestic and amazing. I was a bit surprised there wasn't more about Tané's royalty once that was disclosed. And I didn't understand the final scene where she woke with blood on her side - ?
All in all, a very well constructed world that I believed in, and with characters I cared about. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 62 - (view spoiler)[LOTH AND TANE ARE SO CUTE ALREADY!!! I hate how close I am to the ending now! I don't want to leave this world and characters yet!! (hide spoiler)]

I'm ready to take the plunge - I have to very heavy book, the audiobook and the kindle book - all options covered🤣

@seacat - I know how you feel! I especially loved Tané.
@Bernadette - smart woman. You go!

Finished! ��

I loved it so much but now I'm sad to say goodbye to this world and characters.

My Review: /review/show...

About 12% through and I’m enjoying it for the most part. I’m beginning to get the hang of the characters, thank goodness for the character list at the back of the book, and where each of them belongs. Not much has actually happened yet��..While I enjoy a good fantasy book, it’s not one of my primary genres and this is my 5th Fantasy book in the last month �� way above my usual fantasy reading level.

Catherine wrote: "seacat wrote: "I think I'm enjoying Kit and Loth's dynamic so much because they remind me of Geralt and Dandelion from the Witcher. All the characters we follow really have me hooked but them espec..."

I agree with Secat and like to dynamic of Kit and Loth.

From Catherine - "I'm on chapter 53 and waiting patiently for something to happen" - Catherine, I'm on chapter 33 and wondering the same thing. It's going to take that long!😲 Not seeing how everything connects yet.

I absolutely love the idea of a Queendom👑 - women rule!

I am very slowly working through this, so I've only made it to around Chapter 15/17 something like that. I am enjoying it. I like Kit and Loth, I'm annoyed by Queen Sabran, and very intrigued by Ead. I think my favorite character might end up being Tane, but it's still early!

That was long! I totally understand why people love this book; but I’m not one of them. I mentioned earlier than Fantasy in not one of my primary genres. It took me a while to get into the book and when I got the hang of it, I just wanted to finish it.

I enjoyed it for the most part. The book has four “story-tellers�� but I think Ead's story was stronger more central story of the book. It was refreshing to see women treated as capable and strong and competent in positions you usually see occupied by men in fantasy books.

Bernadette wrote: "I totally understand why people love this book; but I’m not one of them. "

This made me laugh out loud Bernadette!