A Day of Fallen Night Summary, Characters and Themes
A Day of Fallen Night by Samantha Shannon is a prequel to her fantasy novel The Priory of the Orange Tree. It takes place 500 years before the events of the first book and introduces us to the ancestors of some of its characters.
The world is threatened by the return of monstrous dragons called wyrms, and the story follows four main characters: Glorian, a young queen who must learn to rule in a time of crisis; Dumai, who discovers she’s the secret heir to an empire and must fight the wyrms; Tuva, a warrior nun who protects a sacred tree; and Siyu, a young woman who breaks the rules of her order. As the wyrms return and wreak havoc, these characters must find a way to work together and use their unique strengths to save the world. The story explores themes of feminism, power, sacrifice, and the fight for survival.
Summary
A Day of Fallen Night by Samantha Shannon takes place 500 years before the events of Priory of the Orange Tree. The world is threatened by the return of the monstrous wyrm, the Nameless One.
In the West, Queen Glorian III of Inys struggles with the burden of her lineage. The Berethnet bloodline is said to keep the Nameless One at bay, but with the world in chaos, Glorian resists marriage to secure alliances.
In the East, Dumai discovers she is the secret daughter of Emperor Jorodu. He trains her to take the throne and combat the Kuposas, a power-hungry family. Dumai befriends the dragon Furtia Stormcaller who sees potential in her.
Tunuva Melim, a warrior sister of the Priory of the Orange Tree, awaits the Nameless One’s return.
When the Dreadmount volcano erupts, five wyrms escape, shattering the belief in the Berethnet line’s power.
With the Dreadmount’s eruption, Glorian becomes Queen with a regent to guide her. Tragedy strikes when a gigantic wyrm attacks her parents’ ship, leaving her orphaned.
Pressured to secure an heir, she accepts a betrothal with an old prince.
Wulf, her father’s loyal housecarl, arrives to protect her and proposes a solution: have a child together, freeing her from the unwanted marriage.
Dumai works with Furtia to fight the wyrms. They travel across the land, encountering an alchemist who suggests a fundamental imbalance is causing the wyrm uprising.
Meanwhile, Siyu, Tuva’s partner’s daughter, runs away after her lover’s murder. Tuva disobeys orders to chase after her, witnessing another wyrm’s destruction.
She is saved by Canthe, a mysterious guest at the Priory, who reveals a hidden power.
Dumai climbs a mountain to find the astronomer Tonra, who possesses a mysterious stone. During a storm, she summons a white light, aiding Furtia and Nikeya. The stone strengthens dragons against wyrms.
Dumai dreams of Glorian, but Canthe deceives her into a journey north.
Glorian hides her people from the wyrm armies led by Fyredel.
Wulf travels north seeking reinforcements and encounters Dumai, Nikeya, and Furtia. Tuva and Canthe arrive, with Tuva battling Furtia.
Canthe attempts to steal the stone from Dumai, revealing herself as the Witch of Inysca who stole Wulf as a baby.
Tuva and Esbar kill Canthe, taking her matching stone to use against the wyrms.
Dumai returns to find her father murdered and the Kuposas in power. She establishes her own court to protect her people.
As a prophesied star approaches, the final battles begin.
Glorian gives birth and immediately joins the fight against Fyredel. The star weakens the wyrms, forcing them to retreat.
In the South, Siyu, Esbar, and Tuva defeat a wyrm using their combined magic and skills. Dumai sacrifices herself and Furtia to kill another wyrm using the stone’s power.
The world rebuilds.
Glorian reigns as a strong queen, Wulf finds his path, Tuva grieves but finds solace, and Nikeya leads Seiiki, honoring Dumai’s memory.
Characters
Glorian III
Glorian III, the young queen of Inys, is initially portrayed as a figure struggling to find her place in a world filled with expectations and responsibilities.
The weight of her lineage as part of the Berethnet queens, believed to keep the Nameless One shackled, looms heavily over her.
Glorian idolizes her father, King Bardholt, but feels disconnected from her mother, Queen Sabran. Her journey towards embracing her role as queen is marked by personal loss and the burden of impending marriage.
Her leadership skills are put to the test when she navigates the kingdom through the chaos brought by the eruption of the Dreadmount and the attack of the wyrms.
Glorian’s character arc culminates in her assuming her role as a strong, decisive ruler, particularly demonstrated by her strategic use of Inys’s cave networks to protect her people and her active participation in the final battle against Fyredel.
Dumai
Dumai’s narrative is one of discovery and empowerment.
As the secret daughter of Emperor Jorodu, she is thrust into a world of political intrigue and danger.
Dumai’s journey from Mount Ipyeda to the court is fraught with challenges, including confronting the legitimacy of her claim and navigating her tense relationship with Nikeya.
Her connection with the dragon Furtia Stormcaller and her discovery of the stone with mysterious powers are pivotal to her development.
Dumai’s transformation is evident as she evolves from a hidden daughter into a formidable leader, fighting against both the River Lord and the golden wyrm Taugran.
Her ultimate sacrifice to kill the wyrm underscores her courage and dedication to protecting her people.
Tunuva Melim
Tunuva Melim, a sister of the Priory of the Orange Tree, embodies the virtues of loyalty and resilience.
Her role as an advisor to the Prioress and caretaker of Siyu highlights her nurturing nature. The grief over her lost son and her partner Esbar’s struggles form a core part of her character’s depth.
Tunuva’s pursuit of Siyu and her eventual confrontation with the wyrm at the Dreadmount showcases her bravery. The revelation that her lost son is Wulf adds a layer of personal redemption to her story.
Tunuva’s involvement in the battle against the wyrms, using the magical stone, emphasizes her integral role in the broader conflict.
Wulf
Wulf, initially a housecarl of Bardholt, undergoes significant personal and relational growth.
His survival of the attack by Fyredel and his journey to report Bardholt’s death to the new king marks the beginning of his transformation.
Wulf’s offer to father Glorian’s child to save her from an unwanted marriage and his subsequent protection of Glorian and their daughter illustrate his sense of duty and compassion.
His discovery of his true identity as Tunuva’s lost son and his brief reunion with his mother provide a poignant exploration of his past and identity.
Wulf’s return to Inys to protect his new family highlights his evolving sense of loyalty and purpose.
Esbar
Esbar, Tunuva’s partner and the new Prioress of the Priory, is characterized by her strength and leadership. Her relationship with Tunuva and their shared grief over their lost son adds emotional depth to her character.
Esbar’s determination to protect the Priory and her involvement in the final battle against the wyrms demonstrate her unwavering commitment to her duty.
The discovery of her son’s abduction by Canthe and her subsequent actions to defeat the wyrms and protect the Priory reflect her resilience and resolve.
Nikeya
Nikeya’s character arc is intertwined with Dumai’s journey.
Initially skeptical of Dumai’s legitimacy, she evolves into a trusted companion and ultimately a lover. Her presence in Dumai’s life and their developing relationship add emotional complexity to the narrative.
Nikeya’s growth is marked by her increasing trust in Dumai and her eventual role as the leader of Seiiki after Dumai’s sacrifice.
Her mourning of Dumai and her acceptance of leadership responsibilities underscore her strength and adaptability.
Canthe
Canthe, the mysterious guest at the Priory, is revealed to be the Witch of Inysca, adding an element of intrigue and betrayal to the story.
Her initial portrayal as an outcast claiming to protect a destroyed magic tree in Inys sets the stage for her true intentions.
Canthe’s interactions with Tuva and Esbar, and her eventual confrontation with them, highlight her manipulative and deceptive nature.
Her quest for the stone and her ultimate defeat reveal the depths of her ambition and the consequences of her actions.
Themes
Feminism and Matriarchal Power
“A Day of Fallen Night” prominently explores feminist themes, particularly through its depiction of matriarchal societies and powerful female characters.
The realm of Inys, ruled by the Berethnet queens, highlights the strength and resilience of female leadership. Glorian III’s journey from a reluctant princess to a determined queen underscores the challenges and responsibilities women face in positions of power.
Despite societal expectations and the impending chaos, Glorian carves out her path, exemplifying autonomy and defiance against patriarchal pressures.
Similarly, the Priory of the Orange Tree, a society of warrior women, showcases a world where women are not just equal but central to the defense against the existential threat of the wyrms.
The narrative’s focus on female agency and the diverse roles women play in governance, warfare, and spiritual guidance underscores a broader commentary on the capabilities and strengths of women in various societal roles.
Autonomy and Identity
The characters’ struggles with identity and autonomy are central to the novel’s narrative.
Glorian’s resistance to her betrothal and her subsequent rise to power illustrate her fight for personal autonomy in a world that seeks to dictate her choices.
Dumai’s revelation of her true lineage and her journey to assert her legitimacy in the emperor’s court is another significant exploration of identity.
Her confrontation with the River Lord and the power struggles within the court reflect her determination to forge her path despite external manipulation and expectations.
Tuva Melim’s grief over her lost son and her dedication to the Priory’s mission further emphasize personal sacrifice and the search for identity within the framework of duty and loss.
Each character’s journey reflects a deep exploration of self-discovery and the quest for autonomy in the face of societal and familial pressures.
The Battle Between Good and Evil
The classic fantasy theme of the battle between good and evil is vividly portrayed in the conflict against the wyrms and the Nameless One.
The eruption of the Dreadmount and the subsequent rise of the wyrms symbolize the ever-present threat of malevolent forces. The characters’ united efforts to combat these forces highlight the novel’s exploration of courage, sacrifice, and the fight for survival.
Dumai’s alliance with the dragon Furtia Stormcaller and their quest to awaken the dragons of Seiiki demonstrate the unification of diverse forces against a common enemy.
The final battles, where characters like Glorian, Wulf, Tuva, and Dumai confront the wyrms, encapsulate the epic struggle between light and darkness.
The sacrifices made and the victories achieved underscore the enduring theme of resilience and the eternal fight against evil, emphasizing that even in a world fraught with danger, hope and bravery prevail.