Her Soul for Revenge

The novel doesn’t frame violence (insofar as it’s defined as perpetuating physical harm against another person) as inherently evil, instead framing the question of whether physical violence is permissible or malevolent as an issue of consent. This question of consent is expansive in the novel, encompassing issues of sex, combative physical violence, magical connection, and interpersonal connection. The text frames those who encourage consensual power dynamics positively but portrays those who seek exploitative dynamics as antagonists.

The novel’s emphasis on consent in sexual relationships is central in the “consenting non-consent” scenes and the coercive deal that leads to Zane and Juniper’s sexual relationship feeling taboo and alluring without crossing into violation. They engage in sex that includes physical violence that would kill a human (such as when Juniper stabs Zane in the side), but they emphasize that these encounters are consensual via their mutual enjoyment of these acts and their use of a safe word that can end any interaction immediately. Even when striking the initial bargain, Zane insists on Juniper’s clear-headedness when she makes her final decision; though she hopes to brave her way through the choice by drinking, he forces her to be sober when she chooses.