The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

Part of a three way tie for second place in our book club poll is The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon. She calls this novel a "feminist retelling of Saint George and the Dragon." This novel was a finalist in the Lambda Literary Awards 2020.

Regarding location - Google will may say that the Hugh is closed, but it is not. We will meet inside the food court and there will be sign holders on the table with the book cover on it.

From Good Reads:

A world divided. A queendom without an heir. An ancient enemy awakens.

The House of Berethnet has ruled Inys for a thousand years. Still unwed, Queen Sabran the Ninth must conceive a daughter to protect her realm from destruction – but assassins are getting closer to her door.

Ead Duryan is an outsider at court. Though she has risen to the position of lady-in-waiting, she is loyal to a hidden society of mages. Ead keeps a watchful eye on Sabran, secretly protecting her with forbidden magic.

Across the dark sea, Tané has trained to be a dragonrider since she was a child, but is forced to make a choice that could see her life unravel.

Meanwhile, the divided East and West refuse to parley, and forces of chaos are rising from their sleep.