A Curse Carved in Bone

Freya is the novel’s protagonist and archetypal hero, a child of the goddesses Hlin and Hel, and the prophesied shield maiden. Her actions characterize her as courageous, altruistic, and loyal. Despite her overall positive and sympathetic portrayal, Freya has many flaws that she must overcome as the narrative progresses. She becomes petty when angry, leading her to say hurtful things to the people she loves. She’s also prideful, a trait that sometimes causes her to act against her own best interests. Freya’s compulsion to help the weak and innocent can also be a weakness. It makes her predictable and enables her enemies to manipulate and exploit her. Freya’s most persistent flaw revolves around her emotional impulsivity. When she’s angry or afraid, she makes decisions she regrets, like abusing her power to send souls to the underworld.

Freya’s first-person narration gives readers access to her thoughts and feelings, but her understanding of herself is limited. As a method of characterization, this interiority is supplemented by secondary interpretation from other characters. Bjorn recognizes her unconscious motivation—protecting her family, friends, and compatriots, regardless of the cost to her well-being: “Freya risked her life for others without question.