66 pages • 2-hour read
Jennifer L. ArmentroutA modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Meet the key characters, with insights into their roles, motivations, and relationships—spoiler-free.
Penellaphe, widely known as Poppy, is a 19-year-old former Maiden from Solis who has recently married into the Atlantian royal family. She possesses mysterious, god-like magical abilities and strongly senses the emotions of others. Thrust into a position of authority she did not seek, she struggles with changing physical traits and her growing magical strength. She is deeply compassionate and strongly opposes the unnecessary loss of life.
Wife of Casteel Da'Neer
Friend of Kieran Contou
Sister of Ian Balfour
Daughter of Coralena Balfour
Daughter of Leopold Balfour
Daughter-in-Law of Queen Eloana
Daughter-in-Law of King Valyn Da'Neer
Best Friend of Tawny
Enemy of Queen Ileana
Casteel is an elemental Atlantian and the Prince of Atlantia. He possesses immense physical strength, speed, and a fiercely protective nature regarding his wife. He carries deep emotional wounds from his past captivity in Solis, which drive his intense hatred for the Ascended. Casteel supports his wife's freedom of choice, refusing to force her into political roles against her will.
Husband of Penellaphe Balfour Da'Neer
Brother of Malik Da'Neer
Son of King Valyn Da'Neer
Son of Queen Eloana
Best Friend of Kieran Contou
Enemy of Alastir Davenwell
Kieran is a wolven and the lifelong best friend of Casteel. He acts as a loyal protector and advisor. Following a shift in magical bonds, he develops a unique telepathic connection with Penellaphe. Kieran provides a level-headed contrast to Casteel's intensity.
Friend of Penellaphe Balfour Da'Neer
Best Friend of Casteel Da'Neer
Son of Jasper
Son of Kirha
Brother of Vonetta
Queen Eloana is the co-ruler of Atlantia. She previously survived the War of Two Kings, a conflict initiated by the actions of her first husband. She carries heavy burdens from past political decisions and struggles to balance her responsibilities to her kingdom with the changing dynamics brought by her son's marriage.
Wife of King Valyn Da'Neer
Mother of Casteel Da'Neer
Mother of Malik Da'Neer
Mother-in-Law of Penellaphe Balfour Da'Neer
Former Wife of Malec
King Valyn is the co-ruler of Atlantia and the father of Casteel and Malik. He takes a pragmatic and sometimes ruthless approach to leadership, prioritizing the safety and future of his kingdom above all else. He is willing to go to war to eliminate the Ascended threat in Solis.
Husband of Queen Eloana
Father of Casteel Da'Neer
Father of Malik Da'Neer
Father-in-Law of Penellaphe Balfour Da'Neer
Former Associate of Alastir Davenwell
Malik is the first-born Prince of Atlantia and the original heir to the throne. He has spent decades as a captive of the Ascended in Solis. His prolonged imprisonment raises questions about his physical and mental state, leaving his family anxious about his return.
Brother of Casteel Da'Neer
Son of King Valyn Da'Neer
Son of Queen Eloana
Prisoner of Queen Ileana
Ian is Penellaphe's older brother who was recently forced to become an Ascended in Solis. He now possesses the dark eyes and pale skin common to vamprys. He acts as a messenger for the Blood Crown, sharing their propaganda while leaving Penellaphe searching for signs of the brother she remembers.
Brother of Penellaphe Balfour Da'Neer
Son of Coralena Balfour
Son of Leopold Balfour
Subordinate to Queen Ileana
Queen Ileana rules the Kingdom of Solis with absolute authority, maintaining power through the creation of Ascended and Craven. She utilizes religion and fear to control the mortal population. She views the rising power of Atlantia as a direct threat to her empire and prepares massive armies to maintain her dominance.
Co-Ruler with King Jalara
Enemy of Penellaphe Balfour Da'Neer
Captor of Malik Da'Neer
Leader of Ian Balfour
Alastir is a trusted advisor to King Valyn and the leader of the "Unseen," a secret faction working outside royal authority. He adheres strictly to ancient prophecies and believes that Penellaphe is a profound threat to the survival of Atlantia.
Advisor to King Valyn Da'Neer
Enemy of Casteel Da'Neer
Captor of Penellaphe Balfour Da'Neer
Co-Conspirator with Commander Griffith Jansen
Jansen is the former commander of the Royal Guard in Solis, previously thought dead. He is a rare and powerful changeling working with Alastir's Unseen faction. He justifies extreme violence as a necessary evil to protect Atlantia.
Interrogator of Penellaphe Balfour Da'Neer
Co-Conspirator with Alastir Davenwell
Willa is a 2,000-year-old changeling, a seer, and the oldest member of the Atlantian Council of Elders. She operates primarily on instinct and is the author of an infamous, widely circulated journal. She serves as a vocal supporter of Penellaphe and Casteel in court politics.
Ally of Penellaphe Balfour Da'Neer
Ally of Casteel Da'Neer
Jasper is Kieran's father and a prominent wolven leader. He provides shelter and strategic knowledge to the royal family. He takes pride in his heritage and expresses irritation when kept out of the loop regarding threats to the kingdom.
Kirha is Kieran's mother. She offers a warm, welcoming presence and provides reassurance to Penellaphe about the Atlantian royal family. Her colorful home provides a cheerful contrast to her son's dark aesthetic.
Vonetta is Kieran's sister and a capable wolven warrior. She serves as a guard and companion, offering friendship and protection to Penellaphe during their travels across Atlantia.
Delano is a dedicated wolven guard who consistently prioritizes Penellaphe's safety. He frequently travels with the core group on their most dangerous missions.
Guard of Penellaphe Balfour Da'Neer
Nyktos is the King of the Gods and the last living Primal god. He resides in Iliseeum, surrounded by powerful guards and ancient magic. He possesses vast historical knowledge regarding the creation of the world and closely watches the unfolding events in the mortal world.
Connected to Penellaphe Balfour Da'Neer
Father of Malec
Father of Ires
Coralena is Penellaphe and Ian's mother. She previously worked as Queen Ileana's most trusted Handmaiden in Solis before fleeing the capital to protect her family. She was killed in a Craven attack when her children were young.
Wife of Leopold Balfour
Mother of Penellaphe Balfour Da'Neer
Mother of Ian Balfour
Former Servant of Queen Ileana
Leopold is Penellaphe and Ian's father. He lived with his family in Lockswood before being killed by Craven in an attack orchestrated by political enemies.
Tawny is Penellaphe's closest friend from her time serving as The Maiden in Solis. She remains a mortal, avoiding the Ascension process, and provides Penellaphe with a much-needed connection to her past.
Best Friend of Penellaphe Balfour Da'Neer
Nektas is an ancient draken, a massive dragon-like creature serving as a guard in Iliseeum. He possesses the ability to shift into a mortal form and acts with extreme caution regarding the balance of life in the mortal realm.
Guard of Penellaphe Balfour Da'Neer
Malec is the former King of Atlantia and the son of a Primal god. His actions centuries ago incited the War of Two Kings. He was defeated and entombed in the Blood Forest, though rumors persist that he survived.
Former Husband of Queen Eloana
Son of Nyktos
Twin Brother of Ires
King Jalara is the co-ruler of Solis alongside Queen Ileana. He represents the oppressive Ascended regime and maintains a haughty, arrogant attitude toward Atlantians and those he considers beneath him.
Co-Ruler with Queen Ileana
Enemy of Penellaphe Balfour Da'Neer
Ires is a shapeshifter who frequently takes the form of a large cave cat. He is Malec's twin brother and was summoned to the mortal world alongside the draken Jadis. He is currently kept captive by the Ascended.
Twin Brother of Malec
Son of Nyktos
Prisoner of Queen Ileana
Emil is an Atlantian who acts as a loyal guard to the royal family. He frequently travels with the core group and provides steadfast support during their most dangerous missions.
Guard of Penellaphe Balfour Da'Neer
Guard of Casteel Da'Neer
Perry is a ship captain who transports the royal couple safely across the waters to enemy territory. He is brave, skilled at evasion, and deeply committed to his romantic partner.
Romantic Partner of Delano
Employee of Casteel Da'Neer
Lyra is a wolven who lives in Saion's Cove. She attends local community events and represents the uninhibited, closely-knit culture of her people.
Romantic Partner of Kieran Contou
Jadis is a draken who was summoned to the mortal world alongside Ires. She is currently missing, driving her father's intense motivation to cooperate with the Atlantian forces.
Daughter of Nektas