The Fallen & the Kiss of Dusk

Mische is one of the novel’s protagonists and point-of-view narrators. Born human, Mische was originally a member of the Order of the Destined Dawn alongside her sister, Saescha. Eventually, she became an acolyte blessed by the sun god, Atroxus, and served as a priestess, scholar, and sunwielder. During a mission for Atroxus, she was turned into a vampire by Asar’s brother, Malach, killed her sister out of bloodlust, and was eventually befriended by Raihn Ashraj. Mische spent most of her early vampire existence mourning the loss of her humanity, her sister, and Atroxus’s favor. Her extreme guilt and self-hatred led her into a self-destructive quest for redemption, symbolized by attempts to use her sun-wielding abilities, which left her vampire skin burned and scarred. Her desire to regain Atroxus’s favor nearly convinced her to betray Asar at the climax of The Songbird and the Heart of Stone.

However, the series has always likened Mische to a bird, specifically a firefinch or phoenix. While in the first installment of the Shadowborn Duet, this signifies her undying loyalty, in this installment, the bird imagery is a motif intertwined with Mische’s journey toward Embracing Rebirth. No longer desperate to please any god, Mische attempts to reconcile her former life with the reality of her new one.