YMMV / The Priory of the Orange Tree

• Cry for the Devil:
  • While Niclays isn't entirely a villain, he is the source of a number of problems for the main cast, including Susa's death and Tané's dragon nearly being killed. But you can't help but feel sorry for him after he gets captured by pirates who take the scrap of parchment that represents his last connection to his lover.
  • Nothing that is revealed about Galian Berethnet paints him in a flattering light, but what Kalyba did to him is monstrous, and his final fate—hanging himself after realizing his beloved "Cleolind" was his own mother—is sorrowful.

• Genius Bonus: The ichneumons in the book are described as mythical creatures that look like giant weasels and hate dragons. Ichneumon is part of the scientific name for the Egyptian mongoose, who kill snakes and were once believed to be able to kill dragons.

• LGBT Fanbase: The book has two canon LGBT relationships as a main focus of the plot, and is a wildly popular choice for lists recommending LGBT fantasy books.

• Squick: Kalyba hypnotizing Galian, who was basically her adoptive son, into entering a relationship with her.

---