Theodore Ariti, the King of Varya, serves as the deuteragonist whose arc is defined by the conflict between duty and desire. Initially presented as the epitome of a ruler—controlled, austere, and unwaveringly dedicated to his kingdom—Theodore’s internal world is thrown into chaos by his love for Imogen. He has been groomed by his chancellor, Eftan, to believe that “There is no devotion so rapturous as the devotion between a king and his crown” (18). This maxim has governed his entire life, forcing him to suppress personal feelings for the good of Varya. His relationship with Imogen challenges this core belief, forcing him to confront the hollowness of a life lived solely for duty and to question the nature of his power and kingship.

Theodore’s primary motivation shifts from protecting his kingdom to protecting Imogen, a change that sets him in direct opposition to his council and the political alliances he is sworn to uphold. His refusal to properly bind himself in marriage to Halla, altering their contracts to create a “sham of a marriage” (151), is a radical act of rebellion. This decision, driven by his hope for a future with Imogen, demonstrates the theme of Love as an Act of Resistance, where personal love becomes a political defiance against a system that treats marriage as a strategic transaction. Furthermore, Theodore’s initial abhorrence of magic transforms into a willingness to engage with it for Imogen’s sake. He pores over forbidden texts and ultimately learns to perform a death spell himself, a sacrifice of his principles that emphasizes the depth of his devotion and his acceptance that love requires embracing the world as it is, not as he wishes it to be.

By the end of the novel, Theodore completes his transformation from a king defined by his crown to a man defined by his choices. He recognizes that the power Eftan and his council want him to protect is a cage, one that has made him “comfortable or numb” but not truly alive (334). He completes this arc of rebellion and self-determination by abdicating his throne entirely in the novel’s Epilogue. In giving up his crown, he reclaims his own autonomy and chooses a life with Imogen over a life of rule. This final choice proves that he values love and personal freedom over the immense political power he was born to wield. He finds his true strength in his capacity to love fiercely and to build a life of his own making.

Halla is a complex antagonist and a foil to Imogen, developing from a seemingly fragile victim into a determined and morally ambiguous figure. Introduced as the timid princess of Obelia, her body is a map of her suffering, covered in scars from the flesh offerings she and her mother have made to Eusia. This physical manifestation of her lifelong exploitation positions her as a sympathetic character, a pawn in her mother’s ruthless political games. However, as the story progresses, Halla reveals a deep-seated ambition and a complex relationship with power. She is not merely a puppet; she is a character driven by a desperate need for validation and relevance after a lifetime of being told she is “ordinary” and worthless.

Her motivations are rooted in the abuse and indoctrination she has endured. Having been used by her mother, Empress Nivala, and rejected by her saint, Eusia, Halla develops a deep resentment for those who possess power effortlessly, especially Imogen. Her fixation on securing her marriage to Theodore and bearing his divine-blooded child fulfills more than a contract; it satisfies her need to become valuable and powerful in a world that has only ever taken from her. Her inability to perform the death spell on Eusia reveals the lasting strength of her ingrained devotion, showing that she cannot bring herself to destroy the source of power she has been taught to revere. 

However, Theodore and Imogen constantly push Halla to reconsider her goals and alliances, with Imogen paralleling their experiences as living sacrifices for others’ ends. Ultimately, Halla’s decision to perform the death spell on her own mother violently secures her self-liberation, seizing control by eliminating her primary oppressor and positioning herself to become the new empress. Her arc demonstrates a darker path to The Reclamation of Bodily Autonomy, achieved by seizing another’s power rather than investigating one’s identity without it.

Eusia is the primary antagonist, an ancient, physically ruined deity who embodies The Corrupting Nature of Power. Once the sister of the Great Goddess Ligea, Eusia was born without divine gifts and has spent millennia accumulating power through magic, sacrifice, and the consumption of others. She tells Imogen, “Kindness does not keep one alive, Imogen. Magic does” (113). This belief drives her every action, from draining her own sister of her divinity to creating the nekgya, an undead army of Sirens. Her motivations stem from a deep-seated feeling of inadequacy and a relentless hunger for the power she believes she was denied. She seeks to possess the three forms of power in the realm—that of a Goddess, a queen, and a Mage—believing this will make her unassailable.

Physically, Eusia is a monster of her own making. Her body is proof of the cost of magic: shrunken and withered, with gills, fish-like eyes, and a gaping wound in her torso. She is dependent on her pools of water and the life force of others, like Ligea and Agatha, to sustain herself. As an antagonist, her influence is both physical and psychological. She creates a parasitic bond with Imogen, allowing her to access Imogen’s lure and manipulate her desires. This invasion of Imogen’s mind and body makes Eusia a deeply personal and insidious threat, representing a force that seeks to consume not just life, but identity itself. Her ultimate defeat comes from the combined efforts of those she has wronged, symbolizing that even the most determined pursuit of power cannot withstand the collective will of those who fight for love and freedom.

Lachlan Mela, Commander of the Varian guard, is a key ally and a dynamic character whose loyalties are tested and ultimately redefined. Initially, he is wary of Imogen, viewing her as a dangerous and chaotic influence on Theodore and the kingdom. His pragmatism leads him to abstain from voting against her proscription, a decision that secures her status as a criminal. However, his character pivots entirely when he learns that his long-lost love, Agatha, has been captured by the empress. This revelation ignites a fierce, unwavering loyalty in him, and his primary motivation becomes saving her at any cost.

Lachlan’s journey aligns with Love as an Act of Resistance. He commits treason by helping Imogen escape and commandeer a royal ship, demonstrating that his personal devotion to Agatha outweighs his duty to the crown. His relationship with Imogen transforms from one of animosity to a deep, if begrudging, trust. He becomes her confidant and protector, agreeing to a pact to kill her if her power becomes uncontrollable. This alliance, forged in desperation, highlights his capacity for subtle judgment and his willingness to fight alongside someone he once considered an enemy for a greater cause. His sardonic wit and moments of levity provide a necessary counterbalance to the story’s dark tone, but he demonstrates loyalty and sympathy for others beneath his roguish exterior.

Agatha is a steadfast and resilient character who serves as Imogen’s mentor and moral anchor. Described by Imogen as “metal-spined, uncompromising, untouchable” (217), Agatha’s strength lies in her unwavering resolve and fierce loyalty. Her abduction by Empress Nivala serves as the central catalyst for the plot, launching Imogen and Lachlan on their perilous journey. During her captivity, Agatha’s body is physically exploited to sustain Eusia, a violation that makes her a living symbol of the struggle for bodily autonomy. Despite the immense physical and psychological trauma she endures, her spirit is not entirely broken. Upon her rescue, though weakened and terrified, she finds the strength to seek revenge. Her decision to perform the death spell on Eusia is proof of her inner fortitude and her determination to reclaim her agency by destroying the source of her violation. Her eventual reunion and decision to settle down with Lachlan provide a hopeful resolution, rewarding her years of suffering with peace and love.