The Priory of the Orange Tree

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with personal experiences.

1. Have you ever faced a moment where you had to take a lead role during challenging circumstances? Could you identify with the situations where the main characters were thrust into leadership roles with far-reaching impact? What did you think of their reactions to this challenge?

2. The novel presents a world deeply divided by belief. Do you think it is possible to find meaningful common ground across differences of belief (political, religious, etc.)? Why or why not?

3. Could you identify with Sabran’s struggle with the pressure of lineage and legacy? Do you think her royal status exacerbates these pressures, or is her struggle a common one?

4. Reflect on the novel’s theme of love and friendship. How has connecting to others transformed your life?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. Discuss the book’s treatment of religion, including its critique of its sometimes detrimental impact on society. What solutions does the novel propose, implicitly or explicitly? What might this look like in a real-world context?

2. Fantasy is often considered a male-dominated genre. How does the novel challenge fantasy conventions by examining women's societal roles and patriarchal structures? How do the novel’s speculative elements contribute to this critique?

3. What does the novel have to say about othering, and what real-world examples parallel this dynamic? Consider, for example, each region’s suspicion and distrust of the others based on their beliefs about dragons.

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. How do the alternating viewpoints contribute to the story’s meaning and reveal the interconnectedness of the characters’ struggles?

2. Discuss Ead, Sabran, and Tané’s struggles with duty and desire. How does the tension play out differently in each character’s life, and what is the cost of choosing one over the other?

3. Analyze the novel's examination of the interplay of myth and history and how both affect cultural identity. Does the novel frame myth as a tool of control, liberation, or both?

4. Explore the symbolism of trees and fruit as they relate to themes of fertility, the passage of time, and connection to nature.

5. Discuss the novel’s examination of the epic struggle of good versus evil. How does the omnipresence of the Nameless One intensify the novel’s exploration of fear, chaos, division, and unchecked human ambition?

6. Examine the author's use of dragons. How does she draw on and expand the lore surrounding this mythological creature, which has influenced cultures worldwide for thousands of years?