Many thanks to Bloomsbury and NetGalley for the preview. All opinions are my own.
4+ stars

I didn't realize how much I missed this world until I started reading. I particularly loved getting more time in Yscalin with Marosa. That seemed to be the most mysterious place to me while reading Priory, so this was a real treat. I also liked getting Albretch's POV. As the fall of Yscalin is a dark tale, this story is pretty grim; it definitely eased my mind having already read Priory and knowing how things would turn out.

The writing is gorgeous and evocative as always. I can't say that this story stands on its own, or even that it's the best entrance to the world. I think you absolutely get the most out of if if you've already read Priory (Day of Fallen Night is less essential, though it remains my favorite). That being said, I loved all the references to things we already know and getting more backstory.

I know these books can be intimidating, but I really love this world and recommend! This makes me want to do a re-read!

I liked Among the Burning Flowers but I didn’t completely love it. The characters were definitely the highlight for me. I enjoyed getting to know them better and seeing how their stories connected, but overall the plot just felt okay. It didn’t grab me as much as I hoped. I think I’ve reached the point where I’m ready to move on from this world. I’ve enjoyed my time here, but I’m really looking forward to seeing Samantha Shannon create something new and explore a different setting in her next work.

I'm such a big fan of the world of The Priory of the Orange Tree, and I was so excited to read this one, which begins a couple of years before the beginning of Priory and primarily follows Marosa in Yscalin. I really appreciated the additional context this gave Marosa's character in Priory. She has such a tragic story and I really enjoyed her as a character. Being shorter than the other two books in the series, this was a much faster read, but it carried the same emotional weight as The Priory of the Orange Tree and A Day of Fallen Night. There were a lot of claustrophobic moments in this book, with Marosa being trapped in the castle, which made for some really impactful scenes. I didn't care so much about Estina Melaugo's chapters, but it was nice to get some additional context into her chapters.

Once again, Samantha Shannon has done it - crafted a uniquely interesting yet propulsive narrative, this time in the form of a novella. If you are a fan of either books set in this world - PRIORY OF THE ORANGE TREE or A DAY OF FALLEN NIGHT - then it's highly likely that this will be a a must-read for you. Following the fall of Yscalin, this novella fills in the blanks about the kingdom that those previous books hint at. We know what happens but now, we get to experience it. Marosa in particular was a standout character for me - strong-willed yet vulnerable when need be. What I worried most about this book was that it wouldn't carry the same worldbuilding as the others - but this novella is still packed with lore and worldbuilding this series is known for. This can be either a positive or a negative depending on your perspective, as, much like her other books, Shannon doesn't cater to fantasy fans who prefer fantasy that is more of a backdrop than a center (for example, I can see Romantasy fans struggling with the dense worldbuilding here.) But if you're looking for a world that feels more like old-school/"traditional" fantasy but with a modern, fresh, and inclusive spin, I cannot recommend this - and her other works in the series - enough.

The author bills this as a companion book to Priory of the Orange Tree, and I agree with that. While this can be read on its own, I think if you want any sort of closure or continuance on events, you need to read Priory of the Orange Tree to get it. But I do think this highlights the fact that not only can the author write giant 1000+ page epics, she can also write shorter bites of her world's larger history for fans too.

I loved Marosa's viewpoint best of the ones presented here. She carries herself well in the face of everything crumbling around her, and the ending (such as it is, presented here) had me feeling all sorts of things for her. If you've already read Priory of the Orange Tree you already have an idea of what's to come here, but it still manages to catch me by surprise. Aubrecht's viewpoint, too, really hit me in the feels, as he struggles to figure out what to do personally and publicly after Fýredel awakens. The third viewpoint, Melaugo, was interesting, but felt a bit removed from the other two. The author uses her as a window into how events impact the common folk of Yscalin, but it never actually intersects at all with either Marosa or Aubrecht at this point so it just felt a little tacked on.

There is a romance here, because it is Samantha Shannon, but the romance is already established before the book starts, so there's no development or anything beyond some ex- drama that needs resolving.

I did absolutely enjoy this book though, and look forward to more "short" stories in this Roots of Chaos series she's squeezing in amongst her main books.

Among the Burning Flowers is a lush, tragic prelude that burns with prophecy and peril, setting the stage for The Priory of the Orange Tree with sweeping intensity. Samantha Shannon masterfully draws readers into the sun-drenched kingdom of Yscalin, where political tension, forbidden hopes, and ancient threats coil beneath the surface. Marosa’s quiet rebellion, Aubrecht’s idealism, and Estina’s hunt for slumbering dragons all build toward an epic reckoning as the monstrous Fýredel stirs. Shannon’s prose is both lyrical and brutal, painting a vivid world on the brink of destruction. A must-read for fans of intricate world-building and slow-burning dread, this is high fantasy at its most elegant and incendiary.

Samantha Shannon’s pen is directly linked to my heart…and soul.

At this point I am convinced I will love absolutely everything she puts out! Characters? Worldbuilding? Action? THE PROSE?? She gets me so excited from page one, and keeps me excited the entire way through. I would dive into this particular world over and over again if she decided to write about it forever.

I can’t wait to add it to my “Samantha Shannon” shelf, which is currently so big I might need a bigger bookcase soon.

guys, Samantha Shannon has done it again.
i don’t even have that much to say except: this book was another masterpiece. if you loved Priory of the Orange Tree and A Day of Fallen Night, you’re going to love this one too.

it’s beautifully written, dark, and tense. the world she’s built is so expansive and i honestly never want to leave it. each book just makes me fall more in love with the universe and characters she’s created.

i’ve adored every book in this world so far, and this one was no exception.

just… read it. that’s the review. read it. 🛡️🐉🔥🖤

This was a great prequel! From the depths of the earth, it is a 2nd coming of dragons. Samantha Shannon delivers the same beautiful writing as in The Priory of the Orange Tree and A Day of Fallen Night. Beautifully written and she brings all of the heart with the story and the characters. Excellent!!

Compared to Priory and Adofn it felt like a short novella so i have a bit of an issue getting truly into it haha it is mostly about why Priory in the first pace exists and it does make me want to reread priory with all those new information but because i would rethink i never got attached to marosa or estina, i read it more as a history book as it lacked the depth of the first two so it was great but the length made it hard for me to care about those character

First off, thank you to Bloomsbury and NetGalley for providing me this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I am… at a loss for words.

I have not yet read the Priory of the Orange Tree or A Day of Fallen Night (mostly due to their intimidating size) despite the fact that one of my favorite series of all time is by Samantha Shannon herself (The Bone Season).

This… this convinced me I need to dive in. This was the PERFECT size to convince someone to explore this world. This helps to get over the size barrier of the other 2 books. It’s a nice little taste of what is to come.

I read a review that the reviewer believes you need an understanding and prior knowledge from Priory to understand this. I disagree.

I have been influenced.💁🏻‍♀️

Once again, Samantha Shannon proves her prose is always engaging and captivating. I read this in a single sitting. I hardly EVER do that.

I like to give myself breaks between books in a series (so as to not burn myself out on them) but you best believe I’m pulling out and dusting off my Priory book. The question is… to read Priory first, or ADoFN first… we shall see.

This has been pitched to me as a shorter, more accessible entry point to the Roots of Chaos story. While the page count is certainly more manageable, this story is just as dense. It is a very direct prequel to Priory of the Orange Tree and directly references characters and happenings from that book and overlaps it in chronology.

Overall though, I wouldn't call this accessible as far a fantasy is concerned. This is for those who want their fantasy to be deeply epic and rich in history and lore, with extensive world building and a diverse cast of characters from all walks of life. This is the type of world and the sort of characters that could provide endless storytelling if the author wished. It is slow and intentional and so meticulously crafted.

That being said, personally, in my life right now, it's a little bit harder for me to dedicate so much brain power to a story. It's not the book's fault at all. I love almost everything about this series with the exception of the order in which it has been released. I just don't really enjoy jumping around in timelines.

I think I enjoyed Priory the best for the characters and I think it stands really well on it's own. I will continue to recommend Samantha Shannon and her books to my customers and followers. She is one of my favorites and her stories are so unique. I look forward to reading anything she comes out with.

Short but powerful, AMONG THE BURNING FLOWERS has all the charm of Samantha Shannon's PRIORY OF THE ORANGE TREE set in the Draconic Kingdom of Yscalin.

For fans of her other work, Samantha Shannon’s return to the Roots of Chaos world in a more compact format is nothing short of captivating. This book expands the lore and emotional stakes of the series with rich detail, offering new insights that deepen the larger narrative arc.

Marosa, the main character, is handled with grace and emotional precision. Her struggles are nuanced and compelling, making her a standout voice. Readers will also appreciate the perspective of Melaugo, whose sudden narrative disappearance mid-book may leave some longing for more, but nonetheless adds texture to the story’s tapestry.

Whether you’re a longtime fan or diving in fresh, this installment is a brilliant, character-driven addition to the epic world Shannon has created. Highly recommended for fantasy readers who love deep worldbuilding and emotional storytelling.

I think this works well as an introduction to the series for readers who might be daunted by the length of the others. But for someone who has already read Priory, I’m not sure it added enough to the overall story. I think prequels work best when they recontextualize the original story, and I didn’t find that here. There was one character, Melaugo, that I really loved, and I wish the entire story had been told from her perspective. The rest of the series deals so much with royalty that seeing the events unfold from a commoner’s point of view was a fresh take.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the ARC.

Samantha Shannon is one of my favourite authors. I love everything she writes. This book is much smaller than the other ones in this series but it doesn’t lack anything that the other books have.

It’s a prequel to Priory of the Orange Tree, set about 2 years before the events in that book. It’s definitely written in a way that someone could start with this book to get into this series. I’m excited as it will be easier to get people into this series with a book that doesn’t look so daunting.