Book Review: A DAY OF FALLEN NIGHT

Alex Faccibene

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The cover of Samantha Shannon's book A Day of Fallen Night

Thank you to Bloomsbury Publishing for sending me a copy of A Day of Fallen Night in exchange for an honest review!

As a sister of the Priory, Tunuva Melim has trained for 50 years to slay wyrms. However, it’s been centuries since the Nameless One appeared, and members of the Priory begin to question its existence.

Meanwhile, Queen Sabran the Ambitious has finally married and saved two realms from ruin in the process. Her daughter Glorian has grown comfortable in the shadows but soon must step into the light. On the other side of the world are those who want to wake the dragons of the East from their slumber. When the Dreadmount erupts, these women must figure out how to protect humanity from a devastating threat.

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Set nearly five centuries before The Priory of the Orange Tree, A Day of Fallen Night is an amazing prequel that expands on the already fantastic world Samantha Shannon created. When she originally announced a return to the Roots of Chaos world, I imagined something much smaller. I should have known better; A Day of Fallen Night clocks in at a whopping 880 pages.

Shannon intends for each book to stand on its own. This allows readers to choose for themself whether or not to read in chronological order. I recommend, however, reading Priory first. A Day of Fallen Night is more politically complex than Priory, the cast is larger and the events span more of the world, so it’s helpful to have some background to ground yourself in.

There are so many strengths I could talk about, but Shannon’s characters are incredible. Even among such a large cast, the three main women stand out with ease. Each develops on a central theme of religion and how it defines history and humanity. There’s Glorian Berethnet, the sole heir to the throne and a religious icon to her people. Tunuva Melim has dedicated her entire life to the Mother, even though she’s seen very little proof of the miracles she prays for. Dumai of Ipyeda is a godsinger, guiding pilgrims up the treacherous mountain where their dragon gods slumber.

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These three women are the heart of the book. Not one point of view in A Day of Fallen Night is less compelling than another. And when their arcs finally weave together, it’s incredibly satisfying. Even before they do, they run parallel, with prominent themes recurring throughout the book. How do you stay true to yourself in a world fighting against you? Is divine purpose or individual happiness more important? These questions ground the fantasy world in human emotion, and Shannon’s skill shines throughout.

Whether you’ve been eagerly awaiting a return to this incredible world or are looking to dive into a new, epic, high-fantasy, A Day of Fallen Night is a perfect read. This slow-burn political fantasy is fast-paced despite its size and will leave you wanting more.

A Day of Fallen Night comes out on February 28 and is available now for purchase from your local independent bookstore or Bookshop.org.

TW: abandonment, animal death, child abuse, death, death of a parent, emotional abuse, fire, grief, gore, illness, mental illness, murder, pregnancy, religious bigotry, sexism, suicide, violence, war

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Alex Faccibene

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