Direbound

Within the book’s world building, the social structure is based on typical medieval classes: the nobility, the merchants, and the peasantry (or commoners). Wealth within this structure is unevenly distributed: The nobles live in luxury and opulence, while the peasantry lives in poverty and squalor. The author uses this context and the exceptional case of the Bonded, however, to emphasize how those in power use social classes to cultivate dehumanization and collective societal collapse.

The public’s lack of knowledge of the kidnappings in Sturmfrost’s impoverished neighborhoods signals the dehumanizing impact of social classes. As Meryn narrates, “Kids have been getting kidnapped for as long as I’ve been alive; maybe as long as this entire war has been going on. And we all know who the Nabbers actually are. Siphons, our ancient, monstrous enemy from the neighboring country of Astreona” (24).

Despite their longstanding occurrence, the kidnappings are never considered a social emergency by anyone except the commoners themselves. Though few are aware that the Siphons in question are King Cyril and Killian, the novel suggests that an intentional use of class division helps maintain the royal family’s secret kidnapping scheme. As Meryn discovers, no one in a position to help the townspeople (specifically, the Bonded) is aware of the kidnappings.