Glint portrays adversity not as a purely destructive force but as an unlikely catalyst for self-discovery and empowerment. The novel suggests that true strength is forged by confronting uncomfortable truths and embracing one’s own power, rather than accepting a protected but powerless existence. Auren’s capture by Commander Rip’s army paradoxically frees her to develop an identity separate from King Midas, transforming her from a passive object into an agent of her own will. A crucial part of this process is addressing her deep-seated shame about her fae identity and her powers, specifically her ribbons. Her acceptance of her degradation by Midas is inspired largely by the belief he has planted in her that these things are dangerous and should be hidden. Rip’s ownership over his identity and his attempts to force her to overcome her shame are essential in allowing her to reclaim her agency and defy Midas’s expectations of her.

At the start of her captivity, Auren’s identity is wholly defined by Midas. However, her new circumstances force her to act independently for the first time in a decade. Her decision to demand access to the other saddles and her guards is born of her desire to help people, even though it doesn’t directly benefit her. She later places herself into the fight circle to, from her perspective, defend a young boy, asserting her independence in service of what she thinks is right. This autonomy is also cultivated in her verbal sparring with Rip, who relentlessly questions her loyalty to Midas. These confrontations compel her to articulate and defend her own thoughts, laying the groundwork for a sense of self outside of her role as Midas’s “favored.”

However, Auren’s empowerment deepens most as she begins to reclaim the parts of herself she was taught to hide. Her fae ribbons, a source of shame and secrecy, are reframed as a source of strength through her training with Lu, Judd, and Osrik. Judd insists the ribbons are her “greatest asset,” urging her to use them rather than conceal them. This external encouragement, combined with the necessity of defending herself, pushes Auren to embrace her fae nature. Her climactic outburst, “I’M FAE!” is a powerful declaration of identity, transforming what was once a vulnerability into a weapon. Her journey culminates when she turns this newfound power against Midas himself. Faced with re-imprisonment, she unleashes her ribbons to tear her cage door from its hinges, a literal and symbolic act of liberation. When she accidentally hurts someone, he attempts to manipulate her into being ashamed of her power rather than taking responsibility for forcing her into her circumstances. Because of the groundwork by her and Rip, she finally recognizes how Midas’s attempts to shame her are a tool to limit her autonomy. Through this transformation, the novel demonstrates that true agency is not granted but seized, often in the crucible of hardship.