When I first heard that this was going to be a prequel I was so concerned I wasn't going to enjoy this book. I usually hate prequels because the author usually needs to spend time introducing characters that, if you read the "first" book to be released you're already familiar with. Shannon successfully dodges this by jumping multiple decades into her world's past, and introduces a new set of characters that have significant influence on the world.
It was an interesting experience at some points, however, where since I knew how the "story" was going to end because I read The Priory of the Orange Tree. I found myself demoralized and unwilling to continue to read these character's tales of struggle since I knew there was going to be another event of destruction far into the world's future. Despite that, I still continued on because I cared deeply for all these characters by that point and wanted to know how their tales ended.
As usual Shannon's done such an amazing job at both writing immaculately described scenery and cultures, while also writing such well developed characters that I feel like I'm friends and family with almost every character in the book. She also does a phenomenal job at inclusivity to where there are characters all over the rainbow that are just allowed to exist in the world. Several non-binary characters just exist, able to live their lives in the book with little drama from other characters over their identity. Everyone just accepts who everyone else is. There are more important things going on in the world than who we choose to love or how we want to be addressed.
Now I can't wait to see if there's another installment in this series!
