Through the years, I’ve always been planning to pick up Samantha Shannon’s The Bone season series due to a lot of raving reviews from my fellow book bloggers. But such plan was forgotten after life got in the way and my other hobbies took over. Fortunately, in this year of 2025, fate has other plans for me, and I came across this ARC while I was browsing the Netgalley titles. It was not the author’s name that caught my attention at first but that lovely cover had me giddy and so when I checked it out, the giddiness became an excitement because the author’s name was familiar. I was like, holy shit, this is a sign from the book gods. And so, there I was immediately putting in a request for Among The Burning Flowers. It did not matter that it’s a prequel for her ongoing The Roots of Chaos series.

I’m glad that as my first Samantha Shannon series, Among The Burning Flowers did not disappoint. It’s a novella but I enjoyed it nonetheless even though the first few pages were difficult to get into. I understand that if I have just read the The Priory of the Orange Tree, I wouldn’t have encountered such difficulty. Anyway, once you get the hang of Shannon’s manner of writing and you already get the hang of the important characters, the story becomes more and more thrilling as it progresses. In Among The Burning Flowers, there were three main POVs: Marosa’s, Melaugo’s, and Aubrecht’s. All have wonderful narratives although Melaugo’s kind of weird because her POV does not add anything of value to the story’s plot. Yes, her perspective and her journey as an orphan-pickpoket-smith apprentice-culler-etc was interesting to follow, I just find it weird because her story seems out of place and anti-climatic even. I don’t know if her story would somehow be relevant to the main novel of the series but if we are talking about this novella only, I was left hanging with Melaugo’s story. Anyhow, this small issue will surely be answered once I read Book 1 of the series since I’ve read some of the reviews that in order to fully understand this book, one must read The Priory of the Orange Tree first.

Melaugo’s confusing POV aside, I really enjoyed Marosa’s and Aubrecht’s perspective. Marosa, a princess and the heir of the Yscalin Kingdom is a prisoner of her own father. Though she may appear meek and obedient, she’s actually hiding a silent cunning to free herself from her father’s cold manipulation of her life. And Aubrecht, the unfortunate heir to the Mentendon Kingdom, is Marosa’s fiancé whose only dream was to protect his loved ones and get to know Marosa well. Such interesting characters. Shannon has done well by getting away from making stereotypical bratinella princesses and arrogant princes. But the best thing about Among The Burning Flowers is its plot wherein the world is being beseeched by the Draconic Army, composed of dragons, wyverns and their monstrous underlings, to wreak havoc onto the world. What’s more bewitching is that the series’ plot centrally revolves about the battle of religions and yet, this did not feel sanctimonious and preachy. It was rather dark, bleak, and hopeless, a tone that I like in a fantasy story. I just wish that the author added more bloody scenes in the book to make it more palatable. Heh.

Summing this up, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and couldn’t wait to get my hands on the The Priory of the Orange Tree and A Day of Fallen Night. I sincerely hope that I would enjoy them as much as I enjoyed this book with its interesting cast of characters, endearing dark fantasy story, and vicious dragons.

Samantha Shannon returns with a mesmerising prelude to The Priory of the Orange Tree in Among the Burning Flowers, a beautifully crafted and emotionally charged tale that sets the stage for epic destruction and courage. With fire-breathing dragons stirring once more, the threat to humankind is imminent, and the shadows of war begin to creep across Yscalin's sunlit valleys and fields of lavender.

At the heart of this sweeping tale is Marosa Vetalda, trapped in a gilded cage beneath her father’s harsh rule, and her betrothed, Aubrecht Lievelyn, whose ideals shine bright across the mountains of Mentendon. Their hope for a new and better world burns alongside the darker threads of Estina Melaugo’s quest, as she tracks the ancient beasts whose awakening may doom them all. The looming presence of the great wyrm Fýredel adds weight and urgency to an already tense and intricate world.

The writing is lyrical and compelling, rich with history, emotion and depth. What truly elevates this book are the illustrations, which are simply stunning. Each one captures the majesty, danger and beauty of Shannon’s world with striking detail and atmosphere. They are a joy to linger over, adding an extra layer of immersion to an already unforgettable story.

Among the Burning Flowers is a powerful, sorrowful and richly imaginative beginning to the saga. It is a must-read for fans of fantasy and for those who already cherish The Priory of the Orange Tree.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

I absolutely loved Among the Burning Flowers by Samantha Shannon! If The Priory of the Orange Tree and A Day of Fallen Night left you spellbound, this prequel is going to sweep you right back into that incredible world.

Set two years before Priory, this novella explores the lives of three characters who were more in the background in Priory, and it brings them to the forefront with intensity and heart. Shannon’s writing is, as always, masterful; her worldbuilding rich, her tension gripping, and her ability to blend history, politics, and personal stakes utterly brilliant.

In just a few chapters, she made me feel everything: grief, curiosity, frustration, awe. This story adds so much emotional depth to the world we already love.

I was lucky enough to meet Samantha a while back and get one of my books signed—not this one, sadly—but she is one of the most genuine and relatable authors I’ve had the pleasure to meet.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with a copy of Among the Burning Flowers.

This book was excellent and I was able to jump straight back into the world after quite a bit of time since reading the other two Roots of Chaos novels.

I loved that this was a shorter more focused read on an important event within the Roots of Chaos universe whilst still maintaining the beautiful writing and world building that Samantha Shannon is able to achieve so flawlessly.

I really enjoyed making all of the connections between the characters and references as someone who has read both other books in this series, but it’s also great that you don’t need to have Read any at all making it a great entry point into the universe, especially if you are a little wary of the size of the other two books.

I was surprised at first that this was going to be much shorter but it worked so well and is just as effective as the other two much longer books and it feels like so much depth is achieved even with the shorter word count.

Well worth the read if you enjoyed the other two books or if you are looking for a shorter taster of the series without committing to the longer novels.

4.5 stars

I loved this so much and it was such a treat to read a shorter novel set in this world. Being back in the world of the Priory was brilliant and I loved having Marosa as our focus, I found the world of Yscalin very intriguing in Priory and this is such a great introduction to Priory and it’s events for those who are intimidated by the size of Priory.

The writing is beautiful and the world-building rich and immersive. The fall of Yscalin is so brilliantly wrought and filled with emotion and pathos. As it is about the fall, there is a lot of sadness and sorrow, especially at the climactic ending. I think Marosa’s character development and story arc is so gripping. We also get Aubrecht some way into the novel which is great. He is an absolute sweetheart and must be protected at all costs.
I knocked a 0.5 star off because while Estina’s story was gripping and gave us some context for the cullers, it didn’t feel like a natural fit in a novel this short. I also found my brain tripping over the fact that she is only referred to by her surname Melaugo which, to my neurodivergent brain, is visually similar to Marosa and I had to keep double checking whose chapter I was reading at the start.

Overall, Samantha has done it again and if you are a fan of the Roots of Chaos books then you’ll love this return to this world just as much as I did 😊

Among the Burning Flowers by Samantha Shannon is a beautifully written and thought-provoking tale that captures the imagination from start to finish. Shannon’s storytelling is captivating, blending lush world-building with compelling characters and high-stakes drama. The setting is vivid and rich with detail, transporting readers to a world that feels both fantastical and grounded in real emotional stakes.

The characters are multifaceted and well-developed, each facing personal struggles and growth throughout the story. Shannon masterfully weaves themes of power, love, and sacrifice into the narrative, making every decision and interaction feel meaningful. The pacing is strong, though at times, the plot could have been a little tighter in certain sections.

Overall, Among the Burning Flowers is a fantastic entry in Shannon’s work, filled with rich emotion, intrigue, and well-crafted world-building. It’s a must-read for fans of high fantasy and those who enjoy stories that challenge and inspire. I can’t wait to see where the author takes this world in the future.

Thank you to Bloomsbury Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book. Really, thank you. I have been obsessed with the Roots of Chaos series ever since I first read Priory, and this story—set slightly before and right at the beginning of it—was just so good. Here, we see the rise of Fyredel from an entirely different viewpoint, primarily that of Marosa Vetaldas. As the Princess of Yscalin, she provides a first-hand account of how the dragon comes into power again. I absolutely loved her as a side character in Priory and was ecstatic to find out that I’d get some of her backstory. Shannon does not disappoint—Marosa's viewpoint is engaging and highly compelling. It was also interesting and fun to read the POVs of Estina Melaugo and Aubrecht Livelyn, who were also side characters in Priory.

I recommend this book to all Roots of Chaos fans, you will not be disappointed. If someone is unfamiliar with the Roots of Chaos books, I would not suggest starting with this one though, as I found that my knowledge of Priory (and A Day of Fallen Night) helped me understand the story better.

This was an amazing read and a definite 5 stars for me. I cannot wait for the next book in the series!

A deeply satisfying sidequel to the original Priory tale, Burning Flowers explores some of the beloved side characters - namely the Donmata Marosa, a beleaguered princess - and explores the events from their perspective, allowing an enjoyable recontextualisation. It's best enjoyed after reading the original work, but contains just as much action, spectacle, and heart as the other pieces in the Roots of Chaos tapestry.

Summary: this is a great addition to the Roots Series. It's full of emotion, tension, and action. I can't wait to read this again with the beautiful illustration artwork alongside the artwork that is Samantha Shannon's writing.

With three different points of view, the narrative structure was surprising for such a short novel - yet it worked well. The introduction of characters felt a little long for a 300-page book, but once the story gained momentum, it became an intense and gripping read.

Some scenes are unforgettable. There is one around around half way, in particular, that stood out for its vivid and haunting imagery - I'm still thinking about it weeks after reading it. I also enjoyed the perspectives SS chose to tell the story of Yscalin, Morosa in particular. It added even more depth to the series’ lore. And I'm always down for more Roots of Chaos lore. (I desperately want the full story of Kalyba, but that's something else entirely.)

Emotionally, this book is hard-hitting. It’s dark, full of dispear and hopelessness. But in a good way. And I didn't go into this book expecting otherwise.

I’m unsure how effectively this book functions as a standalone or entry point for the series. It gives a lot of spoilers and references to adofn. Like, a lot. But this is the down side to prequels/mid-series additions, you already tend to know the ending.

This story reignited my love for The Priory of the Orange Tree and left me curious to see how readers who experience the series in a different order will interpret it. It's also really encouraged me to do a re-read of the series as whole.

Overall, Among the Burning Flowers is a powerful, if bleak, addition to the Roots of Chaos universe, and I can't wait to see what other people, both already in the fandom and new to it, will think. As well as the illustrations, I can't wait to read this again with all the artwork alongside!

I don’t think it’ll shock anybody to discover that I adored this one - I’m a sucker for anything Samantha Shannon writes. You can imagine how excited I was to be approved for a galley!

This is set a couple of years before the events of Priory of the Orange Tree and details the awakening of the wyrms. It added so much more context and detail to an already very rich world that Samantha created and also gave my favourite side character some much appreciated page time (love u Donmata Marosa).

I think if you’ve never read the series before, you could totally use this as a (relatively short) entry point, but I do think you’d miss a lot as opposed to if you’d already read Priory or even A Day of Fallen Night! This has just fuelled my desire to re read the others now, which is doing my ever-increasing TBR no favours.

Ritornare nel mondo di A day of fallen night era un mio desiderio da quando avevo finito il libro, ma il priorato mi intimidiva per la sua mole; ecco in soccorso Among the burning flowers.
In questo breve racconto veniamo introdotti alla trama principale, ossia quella di The Priory of the orange tree e facciamo la conoscenza di alcuni attori che saranno presenti nelle sue vicende. Più che un libro o racconto a sé questo volume può essere considerato come un'introduzione, una piccola infarinatura per chi ancora deve leggere il successivo oppure un'aggiunta per quelli che sono in pari con le letture.
I personaggi principali di questo racconto sono 3: Marosa, Aubrecht e Melaugo. Le loro storie si intrecciano senza mai sovrapporsi e ci mostrano la vicenda da 3 diversi luoghi e 3 diversi punti di vista.
Lo stile di Samantha Shannon è sempre molto affascinante da leggere, alterna lunghe e poetiche descrizioni a discorsi carichi di tensione.
L'unica pecca che ho trovato è che, visto che ho letto una versione in anteprima, non erano presenti mappe o lista dei personaggi e questo mi ha creato un po' di confusione, almeno al principio.
Comunque è stata una bellissima lettura e mi ha fatto venire una gran voglia di iniziare il prossimo volume (prima di dimenticare di nuovo tutti i nomi).
Grazie a Tandem collective global, Bloomsbury publishing e NetGalley per la copia in anteprima.

This was an ambitious novel that didn’t always hit the mark, but I admired its reach. It takes risks with structure and perspective that mostly pay off. Imperfect but compelling.

Among the Burning Flowers is a novella that is set in a time between A Day of Fallen night and The Priory of the Orange Tree, and what an incredible addition this story is!.

We are introduced to some new perspectives throughout this book, that of Yscalin, Donmata and Estina. All of whom are given their own unique, captivating voices and various viewpoints on this fascinating story. As expected, the storyline is so immersive and had me invested to the very last page. I adore Samantha Shannon's writing style and the ways in which she really brings a character to life with her storytelling.

I loved this book, but I honestly expected nothing less!

I didn't read the others two books of this series when I read this one and I don't regret doing it like this.

I actually owned the others two books as paperback for a few months now but was always put off by the size of them. You definitely need time and energy to go through it if Among the burning flowers is any proof of this. The book is around 200 pages so way less than the others two. And in my opinion, a good way to start with this series, to be sure you are in a mood for it before reading the massive books in the series then.

It's detailed, descriptive, heavy in politics and world building. A map could be great but as I read an Arc version it's not the definitive vision. Hopefully it will be added in the final version.

Great characters development and diversity. I liked most of the main female characters and how they are built. Lot of depth and substance.

I'll definitely read the other two massive books because this story is awesome. It's rich and well written. Its poetic and darkly beautiful. The feeling are well exposed and the world building seems to be massive if I based my impression on this shorter book.

If you like a good high fantasy with lot of politics, mythical creatures, knights and monster hunters, princesses (though those ones are pretty badass and not the patriarchal and sexist traditional kind) who own their wit and great plots, then go for it. I totally recommend this book and I'll go for the test of the series myself soon with pleasure.

I’m not usually a reader of novellas but I will read anything to do with the Roots of Chaos!
Among the Burning Flowers offered a great glimpse into a different area of this world. It is mostly based around how Yscalin fell under draconic rule and follows primarily Marosa Vetalda. We also get a few chapters from Estina Melaugo’s and Aubrecht Lievelyn’s point of view.
I would have loved to see more of Estina story. I felt her part did not really show us much or lead anywhere.
I liked Marosa’s story and character and really enjoyed the insight into this part of the story right before Priory starts.
All in all, it was as good as can be expected from a novella and of course Samantha Shannon’s beautiful writing and strong female characters made this a worthwhile read!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC!

Samantha Shannon returns to the world of The Roots of Chaos with Among the Burning Flowers, a novella that’s short in length but rich in atmosphere, emotion, and slow-burn political drama. This story delivers exactly the kind of grounded, character-driven storytelling Shannon does so well.

Set mostly in Yscalin, the novella follows three characters whose lives are quietly but inevitably pulling the world toward chaos. There’s Marosa Vetalda, a princess trapped in a gilded cage, whose strength is subtle but steady. Her isolation and resilience really hit home—she’s not your typical fantasy heroine wielding a sword, but her quiet resistance is powerful. Then there’s Estina Melaugo, a dragon-hunter carrying a whole lot of grief and grit, and Aubrecht Lievelyn, a prince with big political ambitions and more emotional complexity than we got to see in Priory.

What’s impressive is how this story deepens the world without feeling overwhelming. If you’ve read The Priory of the Orange Tree, you’ll pick up on a lot of cool context and foreshadowing, especially around Fýredel and the unraveling politics of Yscalin. But Shannon doesn’t over-explain—it flows naturally, and the emotional throughlines are strong enough to keep you hooked even if you don’t remember every little detail from the main books.

The writing, as always, is gorgeous—lush, lyrical, and full of quiet tension. The dragons are terrifying (in the best way), the palace intrigue is sharp, and the emotional stakes feel real, especially in Marosa’s chapters. Her journey was definitely my favorite—there’s something about watching someone so powerless slowly reclaim their agency that really resonates.

If I had one small complaint, it’s that I wanted just a bit more—more scenes between Marosa and Aubrecht, more space for certain twists to breathe. But that’s kind of the point of a novella, right? It’s a glimpse, not the full epic. And for what it is, it really delivers.

Whether you’re a longtime fan or just hungry for more dragon-fueled feminist fantasy, Among the Burning Flowers is a beautifully written, emotionally charged story that adds a lot to the world of Roots of Chaos. Quietly devastating and deeply satisfying.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read.
I’ve read the other two books in this series and was interested to see where this would take us. The answer: nowhere new.
This felt pointless, the plot was same as the others - rightful female ruler is suppressed and wants to show her worth, then the dragons emerge and destroy everything.
The conversations, the descriptions and the plot were just world-building. All very serious and dull.

“I am a winemakers’ child – I will not waste the fruits of my labour by tipping them on to the ground. So tell me, can you offer me a cup?’

‘It frightens me that our faith can be twisted so.’
‘As all faiths can in the wrong hands.’

I’ve had the Roots of Chaos duology on my shelves for the longest of times and met @sayshannon thanks to @jonathanballpublishers but actually starting these was so intimidating. As a guest of honour at Bloombsury Big Night In, I was ecstatic to read this early as Samantha had suggested Among the Burning Flowers as a softer entry into the world. This was simply mind-blowing. Being high fantasy, the world building is intricate and complex, and it takes a bit more time to fully understand the machinations of the characters and the wyverns. But once you understand, you are immersed in the lives of the 3 characters through those points of view, this story is told. You feel every desperate moment that they live through, every loss that they experience, the torture of every decision and the impact thereof. The writing is exquisite and the plot, brutal and violent. The sheer evil of some of the characters is astounding and your lips curl at every scene involving them, hating their very existence. It has piqued my interest, why is Fýredel behaving in the manner he is? What is the background to Yscalin’s history and is it really what has been communicated to the people? An impetus to pick up The Priory of the Orange Tree and a Day of Fallen Night as soon as possible so that I can have answers.

And how gorgeous are these covers? Among the Burning Flowers is going to illustrated by @rovinacai which is just another reason to pick this up when it releases in September this year.

Pick this up if you are wanting an epic high fantasy that you can read in a shorter space of time, although you are bound to spend time as I did, savouring the nuances of this fabulous read.

Among the Burning Flowers is one of my most anticipated releases of the year! I was ecstatic to find out it would be part of Bloomsbury’s Big Night In and we’d get to read it so early.

🐲Novella (288 pgs)
🐲Prequel to Priory of the Orange Tree
🐲Kingdoms and politics
🐲Dark and dangerous times
🐲Multiple povs
🐲Dragons!

The good news is that you don’t need to have read The Priory of the Orange Tree to read this – but you will definitely want to after! Among the Burning Flowers focuses on three side characters, who appear briefly in Priory, and their kingdoms and the events that unfold there. As always with Shannon, the world and culture building is superb; reading is a completely immersive experience. Also, there were even a few intriguing mentions of the “roots of chaos”. I’m really hoping there’s a follow up!

Shout out to the newly unveiled cover design! So eye-catching. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that there will be some beautiful special editions to match the other books in the series.

🐲 Among the Burning Flowers is out on 11th September 🐲

This was an engaging expansion on one of the events happening in The Priory of the Orange Tree, and I enjoyed reading about the POVs of these characters that are side characters in Priory. There are three POVs, with Marosa’s being the main one, while the other two act as supporting POVs. I feel like I really got to know these characters. The only thing I wish we got was that we actually got to see Marosa and Aubrecht interacting with each other on page instead of just being told about it. It would have increased emotional investment in their relationship and how later events affect it.
It’s been great being back in this world. I think this short novel works nicely for fans of the series, even though I wouldn’t say it adds much new information to the series as a whole. It just has a closer look at what happened in Yscalin prior to what we see in Priory.
I’m not sure if I’d recommend starting with this instalment without having read at least one of the other two books. It’ll spoil some things for both Priory and A Day of Fallen Night, and the references to events and people from both books will not mean anything to a new reader. They might struggle more because of it. It can act as a little appetizer of what to expect, but I’d advise reading Priory first, to be honest, because it serves as the best introduction to the world of all the books in this series, in my opinion.
The pacing issues I had with the other books in the series weren’t as apparent here, probably due to the much shorter length. Both endings in the other books felt anticlimactic to me. Here I’m fine with how it ends as it pretty much stops where Priory starts off concerning this part of the events.
In general, I’d recommend this series to people who want to: get lost in a rich and detailed world, see the characters navigating and interacting in it, see different (religious) believes clashing, see how differently historical events are viewed by different cultures, explore some mysteries, read about interesting women, and get some queer romantic subplots, dragon content (there definitely could be more dragons) as well as political/court intrigue. If you’re fine being in it for more of the journey, you might really like these books.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.