The style of writing in each Kingdom was so distinct, that I knew immediately where I was (no reading ahead and then back again to figure out where I was! Set in the same universe as the feminist epic, steeped in dragonriders and intricate mythology, A Day of Fallen Night follows four women and the ways in which their choices shape Shannon's narrative forever. It's a sweeping tale that spans the Grief of Ages (a time Priory readers will recognise from the world's history) with perspectives from all across it's vast map.

Every other vendor I previously bought from shipped these books in thin bags with no protection, and they all arrived damaged. In a book with such an epic scope it's hard to find a place to start when reviewing, but I will nevertheless attempt explaining how infatuated I am with this book in my mere words. This richly detailed epic roars to a satisfying conclusion; both Priory devotees and newcomers are in for a treat. If you love detailed world-building, fantasy royalty, politics and dragons, this is definitely the book for you. Ordinarily, the reader would then be treated to several chapters of them out scheming the opposition in turn.Secondly: the fact that the Berethnet queens are all over six feet tall is my favourite tidbit from this book. Dumai holds engrossing relationships with all those around her, a devoted bond with her mother, a heart-warming friendship with Kanifa, a complex and entertaining relationship with the silver-tongued Nikeya.

I’m reluctant to say more, for fear of spoilers, but the ways that their stories intersected and referenced one another absolutely thrilled me. At its core, A Day of Fallen Night is a story about mothers and daughters, and that visceral, unbreakable connection.And among all this chaos, the best solution that the 16-year-old Queen Dumai decides is to have an heir! Thank you Netgalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review. It is truly such a brilliant read and I now love Samantha Shannon and the world of Priory even more. My main issue with The Priory is how the final conflict felt rushed and glossed over, but there were probably 10+ conflicts in Fallen Night and I thought the majority of them were believable and paced well. It’s just that there’s lots of different pieces in this world, and it takes some time to get used to them all.