Samantha Shannon returns to the lush, intricate world of The Priory of the Orange Tree with Among the Burning Flowers, a visually stunning and emotionally charged prequel that captures the first sparks of chaos before the great war with dragons. With exquisite illustrations by Rovina Cai, this short novel serves as both a bridge and a lens into the world that Shannon so meticulously built in her Roots of Chaos universe.
The Setting and Story
Set in Yscalin, a land of sunlight, lavender, and looming fire, Among the Burning Flowers tells the story of the kingdom’s fall and the awakening of dragons after centuries of slumber. The book follows three main characters Marosa Vetalda, the sheltered daughter of a cold and power-hungry king; Estina Melaugo, a fierce dragon hunter fighting for survival; and Aubrecht Lievelyn, a prince with dreams of a better world. Through their intersecting paths, Shannon paints a tragic yet beautiful picture of ambition, faith, and loss as the Draconic Army rises once again.
At its heart, this is a story about resilience in the face of inevitable destruction. The tone is heavy, melancholic, and charged with a sense of dread. Shannon’s prose is as lyrical as ever, evoking vivid imagery: cities built among fields of flowers, rivers of lava winding through sunlit valleys, and skies darkened by wings of fire. The world feels both ancient and immediate, as if history is coming alive before your eyes.
Writing and Structure
Divided into two parts, Before and After, the book presents the fall of Yscalin through alternating perspectives. The first half gives us Marosa and Melaugo’s views of the kingdom on the brink, while the second follows Marosa and Aubrecht as they face the aftermath. This structure provides a sense of scope and consequence, but also leaves a bittersweet gap Melaugo’s storyline fades midway, and readers may feel her arc deserved more closure.
Despite being much shorter than Shannon’s previous epics at about 60,000 words Among the Burning Flowers still carries the same depth and complexity. However, this compact format makes the dense worldbuilding feel occasionally overwhelming for newcomers. Readers unfamiliar with The Priory of the Orange Tree or A Day of Fallen Night might struggle to fully grasp the lore, geography, and political dynamics that shape this world.
Themes and Impressions
One of Shannon’s greatest strengths lies in her ability to intertwine grand fantasy with human emotion. Among the Burning Flowers explores themes of oppression, religious control, and female autonomy within systems of power. Marosa’s transformation from a confined daughter to a woman facing the destruction of everything she knows is one of the most poignant aspects of the novel. The despair and inevitability that fill the second half are written with heartbreaking precision.
Readers who love her dragon mythology will find much to appreciate here. The dragons are not just beasts of destruction; they are intelligent, ancient entities that challenge humanity’s hubris. Shannon continues to redefine how dragons function within epic fantasy, turning them into symbols of both chaos and truth.
Final Thoughts
Among the Burning Flowers is not a light read, despite its shorter length. It is a beautifully tragic prelude that enriches the Roots of Chaos series while deepening our understanding of the fall of Yscalin. While it may not function perfectly as a standalone, it is a must-read for fans who want to witness the history behind The Priory of the Orange Tree.
For longtime readers, this book offers emotional closure and a return to a world that feels as alive as ever. For new readers, it provides a haunting glimpse into what makes Samantha Shannon one of the most ambitious voices in modern fantasy.
If you’re ready to step once more into a world of fire, faith, and fierce humanity, you can find Among the Burning Flowers here:
👉 Buy on Amazon
