Published 2 years ago and 4 years after The Priory of The Orange Tree, A Day of Fallen Night is a prequel that takes place 500 years before The Priory of The Orange Tree. It follows 4 main characters through their experiences during The Great Sorrow, a time in which the wyrms from the Dreadmount return.
Now, this book can be pretty intimidating 😅 but the author does a great job of easing you into the world. I do recommend reading The Priory of The Orange Tree first, because there is more world-building surrounding the different religions and countries that are discussed in both books. It’ll provide more clarity for A Day of Fallen Night, although Samantha Shannon herself has said that it can be read in any order.
Now that the book has been introduced, let’s crack into it! 💥
Guide to Reading A Day of Fallen Night
Below are different tools I used during my read of A Day of Fallen Night – and I highly recommend them to anyone looking to tackle this book! They helped me stay organized and keep the world-building manageable, so trust me, they’re total game-changers.
🐲 Tabs/Sticky Notes: I used tabs to help section out different parts of the book to make it more digestible. With a big intimidating book like this one, attacking it in smaller chunks makes it more feasible, and less likely to put you in a reading slump. Plus, there’s something oddly satisfying about flipping through the pages and seeing your progress laid out in front of you. It gives a real sense of accomplishment and makes each chapter feel like a small victory 🔥
🐲 Bookly App: The Bookly App is always in use whenever I read a book but it is especially helpful with these larger books. You can write down different information about characters, quotes, thoughts you have while reading, and more. Having a dedicated space to quickly get all that information down is such a relief – no more scrambling for pen and paper while you’re deep in the middle of a chapter! Plus, being able to revisit your notes in the app later makes reflecting on the story so much easier and more enjoyable.
🐲Audiobook: Because of its length and my busy school schedule, I found myself picking up the audiobook more than the physical book. It was helpful to be able to work on homework or do chores while listening to this book. The narrators did an incredible job of keeping me engaged and entertained throughout, making it an enjoyable experience despite the hefty 39 hours. Honestly, I was surprised at how quickly the time flew by! So, if you’re someone who enjoys audiobooks, I definitely recommend giving this one a try. (And don’t let that 39-hour audiobook scare you off – it’s totally worth it! 😱)
Now, let’s start our reading session by opening up the Bookly App, getting a drink or snack, finding a comfy spot, and cracking open A Day of Fallen Night! 📖💛
The Best Way to Read A Day of Fallen Night
The rest of this guide breaks down different elements of A Day of Fallen Night, along with a few key details about the story. Just a heads-up – some things are intentionally left out to keep spoilers at bay, so you can experience the twists for yourself!
🐉✨🏰 World Building
When it comes to world building in epic fantasy novels, a lot of information can be thrown at you all at once. Fortunately, Samantha Shannon does a great job of easing you into it. When it comes to world building I would recommend jotting down notes in your Bookly App (or notebook) whenever you come across information you want to remember or that you think will be important. Below are some relevant world building elements that may provide some clarity while you read.
Six Virtues (Virtudom): A religion founded by a Berethnet ancestor also called the Saint. The Saint is said to have vanquished the Nameless One and his line is what keeps him at bay. His line is now the Queendom of Inys.
The Mother (The Priory): A sort of religion founded by Cleolind Onjenyu who is said to have vanquished the Nameless One. She is seen as divine and worshipped under the name ‘The Mother’. Their purpose is to protect the world from the Nameless One. They are not a well-known sect, and their location is unknown to a majority of the outside world.
Eastern Dragons: Eastern Dragons are worshipped in the East as Gods. They are powerful dragons with a multitude of different abilities, but most have an affinity for water. They went to sleep long ago.
Western Dragons: Also called Wyrms, they are the bad dragons.
The Nameless One: A Western Dragon that came from the Dreadmount. He brought a draconic plague with him that killed many people.
Fyredel: A servant of the Nameless One who terrorizes the world during the Great Sorrow.
🐉✨🏰 Characters
All the characters in fantasy books can be hard to follow. Thankfully, Samantha Shannon wrote a character guide in the back of the book to help any readers who get confused. I found myself turning to that section once or twice during the book and it was so helpful!
Also, if you’re like me and love keeping track of characters as you go, the Bookly App has a feature where you can add characters to your book. I use it all the time to keep my thoughts organized, and it’s super helpful when you need to revisit certain details. Here are the key characters to keep an eye on throughout the book:
Dumai: A viewpoint character from the East. Raised on a mountain as a Godsinger, her story brings a unique perspective to the narrative.
Wulfert Glenn: A viewpoint character from the West/North. He was raised in Inys and now serves under King Bardholt.
Tunuva: A viewpoint character from the South. A member of The Priory of The Orange Tree, she guards The Mother’s bones within her grave and is in a relationship with Esbar.
Glorian: A viewpoint character from the West. She is the princess of Inys and daughter to King Bardholt and Queen Sabran.
With so many characters weaving through this epic tale, the character guide and Bookly’s features are essential tools to help you keep up with the action 📱
🐉✨🏰 Maps/Setting/Timeline
Readers of this book are luckily able to reference the different maps that Samantha Shannon has included within the book itself so if you’re ever curious about locations be sure to reference them! I found myself turning to those pages a few times throughout the book when characters were moving around and it helped a lot with understanding the timeline.
The story unfolds across a variety of locations within Samantha Shannon’s meticulously crafted world. The narrative is divided by cardinal directions – North, South, East, and West – with each chapter titled according to these geographical markers. Within each direction, multiple countries and regions come into play, offering rich and diverse landscapes that shape the characters’ journeys. Each direction is explored through the perspectives of the four different characters, providing a multifaceted view of the world and its intricate politics, cultures, and conflicts.
West: Wulfert/Glorian
East: Dumai
North: Wulfert
South: Tunuva
A Day of Fallen Night is set between 509-512 CE, focusing on the lives of the four main characters as they navigate the tumultuous events surrounding the Great Sorrow. This dark and cataclysmic period, which lasts from 511-512 CE, is defined by the return of Fryedel, a powerful and malevolent figure who emerges from the Dreadmount. Fryedel’s mission is to raise an army of wyrms, powerful and destructive creatures, in service of The Nameless One, a god-like force that threatens to consume the world.
As the story unfolds, these characters are thrust into the chaos of war, political intrigue, and the struggle for survival, all while grappling with their personal challenges and connections to the larger conflicts at play. The Great Sorrow marks a turning point in their lives and the world itself, setting the stage for the catastrophic events that ripple throughout the history of the world in The Priory of the Orange Tree. The complex blend of historical fiction, epic fantasy, and profound character development makes this book a gripping and thought-provoking read.
And… That’s a wrap! 🐲
I absolutely loved A Day of Fallen Night and rated it ⭐5 stars. I think it was a great addition to The Priory of The Orange Tree and I hope that Samantha Shannon decides to write more books in this world in the future. While it was an intimidating read at first, I found myself falling into the story and enjoying it immensely. If you are a lover of epic fantasy or high fantasy I think you’ll adore this book. Until next time!
Happy Reading!
This reading guide was written by our Bookly Pro Reader, The Rose Post 💙
Looking for some more bookish inspo?
Whether you’re looking for more fantasy series guides, books to beat a reading slump, or just a little bookish motivation to fly through your TBR, we’ve got you covered. Remember to take notes while reading so that you won’t miss out on any detail, character, or setting you encounter throughout these epic stories.
Don’t Forget to Keep Track of Your Reading Progress With Bookly
Track your reading however you want – a chaotic spreadsheet, a journal with illegible scribbles, a napkin covered in coffee stains – as long as you do it! ✍️
Or, you know… let Bookly handle the hard work. We’ll keep you accountable, track your books, and remind you to actually read instead of scrolling 😌And don’t worry – Bloo’s always here to hype you up and keep you on your reading A-game! 💙
Download Bookly for iOS 👉 https://bookly.onelink.me/t5hz/x4sel69s
Download Bookly for Android 👉https://bookly.onelink.me/t5hz/x4sel69s
