Heat of the Everflame

Diem Bellator’s ongoing work to adjust to her half-mortal identity complicates her self-discovery. Heat of the Everflame is the third title in the Kindred’s Curse Saga, but Diem is still adjusting to new truths about her origins. As she continues to have new experiences and face new conflicts, she must navigate the challenges of claiming identity and autonomy.

Since Diem grew up in Mortal City, she was convinced that she was a mortal and raised to despise the Descended. In the narrative present, Diem is now Queen of Lumnos and living amongst the Descended in relative harmony. She therefore feels caught between the girl she used to be and the woman she is still becoming. “Having not been raised as a Descended” (19), Diem still has questions about the extent of her magic and about her relationships with her new friends. She also remains attached to her childhood memories and community in Mortal City. These internal conflicts often leave Diem feeling hesitant about what she ought to do or who she really is.

Diem’s half-mortal identity makes her a member of multiple worlds, and she longs to define herself on her own terms. This division of self feels especially acute to Diem as she travels from realm to realm throughout the novel.