on
3.5/5
Non-Fiction
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Rating: 3/5
Pages: 804
Started: 19 June 2022
Finished: 27 June 2022
Summary:
Though Ead has been a faithful servant to Sabran, the Queen of Inys, she's really been on a long-term undercover assignment to protect the queen. Though she longs to return to her homeland, she knows she must stay, just in case the Queen is really the only thing holding back the dreaded Nameless one from returning.
Tanè wants nothing more than to become one of the revered riders of dragons. But after discovering a forbidden trespasser on the shores of her kingdom, she realizes all she has ever dreamed of is at risk.
The Nameless one, a monstrous dragon of yore, is returning. Risks must be taken, alliances made, and magic discovered in order to kill him once and for all.
Thoughts:
This book was pretty average, in my opinion, and not worth it for its length. My biggest issue was that I never felt a real connection to any of the characters. At some points, I vaguely wanted them to succeed, but I never felt any urgency for their safety, or happiness at their interactions. I have had some success with more world-based books before--Patrick Rothfus's The Name of the Wind is one of my favorite fantasy series, and The Lord of the Rings will forever have a place in my heart. But I had so much more investment in those worlds than I did in that of Priory. Honestly, it was kind of disappointing. I had heard such good things, and I was really looking forward to a new fantasy series to start.
But I was just confused the entire time. I couldn't quite keep track of all the different kingdoms, and without any strong emotional attachment to the characters, there wasn't enough to keep me invested. There was a point, maybe 2/3 of the way through, where I started liking the book more--cool magic things were happening, the protagonists were in power, Sabran and Ead were together (I'll admit, I did like them together, and I totally called it from the first few pages that they were going to end up as a couple). But you know it's bad when the great battle at the end, against the mythically large dragon, is met with utter apathy.
I'm going to reread the ACOTAR series now, because I want to remind myself fantasy can feel important, and hopefully either I'll reread Priory at some point, or I'll find a better epic fantasy novel that's better.
Words:
askance (adv) with an attitude or look of suspicion or disapproval
filigram (n) a distinguishing mark impressed on paper during manufacture, visible when paper is held up to the light
pomander (n) a ball or perforated container of sweet-smelling substances such as herbs and spices, placed in a closet, drawer, or room to perfume the air or (formerly) carried as protection against infection
ague (n) malaria or some other illness involving fever and shivering
truncheon (n) a short, thick stick carried as a weapon by a police officer
caudal (adj) of or like a tail
succor (n) assistance and support in times of hardship and distress (suck-err)
anathema (n) something or someone that one vehemently dislikes
redolent (adj) strongly reminiscent or suggestive of
laved (v) washed
mordant (adj) especially of a humor, having or showing a sharp or critical quality; biting
venereal (adj) relating to sexual desire or sexual intercourse
manikin (n) a jointed model or the human body, used in anatomy or as an artist's lay figure
craven (adj) contemptibly lacking in courage; cowardly
partlet (n) a woman's garment covering the neck and shoulders, worn especially during the 16th century
ostensive (adj) directly or clearly demonstrative
rill (n) a small stream
captious (adj) or a person, tending to find fault or raise petty objections
dearth (n) a scarcity or lack of something
heresies (n) beliefs or opinions contrary to orthodox religious (especially christian) doctrine
undercroft (n) the crypt of a church
trefoil (n) a small European plant of the pea family, with yellow flowers and three-lobed clover-like leaves; a plant with three-lobed leaves
moil (v) work hard (archaic)
fess (n) an ordinary in the form of a broad horizontal stripe across the middle of the shield
limpid (adj) of a liquid, free of anything that darkens; completely clear
rutilant (adj) glowing or glittering with red or golden light
priory (n) a small monestary or nunnery that is governed by a prior or prioress
raunt (v) talk in a noisy, exciting, or declamatory manner; to scold vehemently
sloe (n) another term for blackthorn
dowly (adj) dull, low-spirited and dismal
spoor (n) the track or scent of an animal
wherry (n) a light rowboat used chiefly for carrying passengers
rout (n) a disorderly retreat of defeated troops
pavane (n) a stately dance in slow duple time, popular in the 16th and 17th centuries and performed in elaborate clothing
cruet (n) a small container for salt, pepper, oil, or vinegar for use at a dining table
palfrey (n) a docile horse used for ordinary riding, especially by women
regnant (adj) reigning, ruling; currently having the greatest influence
mullion (n) a vertical bar between panes of glass in a window
stanchion (n) an upright bar, post, or frame forming a support or barrier
clement (adj) (of a weather) mild; (of a person or a person's actions) merciful
surfeit (n) an excessive amount of something
swallet (n) a cavity in the ground, especially in limestone bedrock, caused by water erosion and providing a route for surface water to disappear underground
compunction (n) a feeling of guilt or moral scruple that prevents or follows the doing or something bad
contused (v) injure a part of the body without breaking the skin, forming a groove
caliginous (adj) misty, dim; obscure, dark
adulated (v) praise someone excessively or obsequiously
limned (v) depict or describe in painting or words; suffuse or highlight something with a bright color or light
enmities (n) the state or feeling of being actively opposed or hostile to someone or something
vestures (n) clothing; dress
postern (n) a back or side entrance
baselard (n) a type of long dagger or short sword with a hilt shaped like a capital I, usually worn at the girdle by civilians
intransigent (adj) unwilling or refusing to change ones views or to agree about something
sombre (adj) dull or dark in color or tone; gloomy
wroth (adj) angry
vambrace (n) a piece of armor for the arm, especially the forearm
orisons (n) prayers
mudder (n) a horse that runs well in wet or muddy conditions
hearkened (v) listened
carcanet (n) a necklace or ornamental collar, typically made of gold or set with jewels
lucent (adj) glowing with or giving light
impunity (n) exemption from punishment or freedom from the injurious consequences of an action
machinates (v) plot or scheme (mash-in-ate)
palanquin (n) a covered litter for one passenger, consisting of a large box carried on two horizontal posts by four or six bearers
smalt (n) glass colored blue with cobalt oxide
pernicious (adj) having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way
idolatry (n) the worship of idols (eye-DAH-luh-tree)
ensign (n) a flag or standard, especially a military or naval one indicating nationality
gamesome (adj) playful and merry
mangonels (n) a military device for throwing stones and other missiles
peerless (adj) unequaled; unrivaled
truncheon (n) a short, thick stick carried as a weapon by a police officer
erelong (adv) before long; soon
cupshotten (adj) intoxicated; drumk
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