The Games Gods Play

“You’d think I’d be immune by now. But can anyone ever ‘get over’ wanting to be loved—but being cursed to never be loved in return?”

Here, Owen outlines the basis of her main character’s motivation. Though participating in the Crucible was never really a choice, it does allow Lyra to address the one uncontrollable aspect of her life with which she has always struggled. This moment exemplifies The Value of Love, as it shows how love is not just a luxury but a fundamental need. The rhetorical question underscores Lyra’s emotional isolation, reinforcing how deeply the curse has shaped her identity. Owen uses this internal monologue to create dramatic irony—Lyra assumes she is inherently unlovable, while the narrative gradually reveals that her worth is not determined by Zeus’s decree. It also places her in the best position to value human empathy and kindness in a way the Crucible would rob it from champions and gods alike.

“‘And what did you expect? All-black clothing? Perhaps a full leather getup?’ […] Something like that actually. ‘Don’t forget the horns. And maybe a tail.’ ‘That’s a different god of death.’”

In this quote, Lyra invokes the image of Satan, whom Hades identifies as a different god of death. Through this interaction, Owen is able to not only allude to the existence of Judeo-Christian faiths in her narrative but also an integration of them among her take on Greek mythological characters. The moment also serves as subtle characterization—Lyra’s sarcasm highlights her irreverence toward divine figures, reinforcing her role as someone who resists authority. At the same time, Hades’s correction implies that he views himself as fundamentally different from the monstrous imagery associated with death, which foreshadows his moral complexity.

“Only you [Lyra] can see who I [Hades] truly am. Everyone else just sees a regular mortal man.”

This excerpt foreshadows Hades’s character development throughout the narrative as well as the tenets of his relationship with Lyra. For both humans and immortals, Hades employs the persona of the terrifying King of the Underworld. But Lyra is the exception. Unlike everyone else, she comes to see past his posturing and false personality to see the crux of his person. This passage also deepens the theme of The Value of Love, suggesting that love allows people to see each other’s true selves. The motif of disguise reinforces the idea that gods, despite their power, are often trapped in roles they did not choose—mirroring Lyra’s own struggle with Zeus’s curse.

“Legends hold that the gods and goddesses got so sick of Zeus as their king, they fought among themselves to be the one to topple him, resulting in the Anaxian Wars.”

Used as the historical background that justifies the need of the Crucible, the Anaxian Wars are a plot tool Owen employs to sow tension within her narrative. With it, she implies that there is always an underlying threat that the gods—volatile as they are—will once again devolve into infighting and cause havoc and destruction across the world. This historical reference reinforces The Burden of Immortality, as it suggests that the gods’ eternal existence leads to cyclical conflicts rather than wisdom or progress. Their inability to settle disputes in a meaningful way results in endless suffering—not for themselves, but for mortals caught in their schemes.

“I’ve never been anyone’s. And, despite recent events, I have feelings for Boone. There should be no fluttering.”

Though Hades showcases possessiveness toward Lyra through the expression “you are mine,” Lyra’s history of isolation receives it as a verbal display of acceptance and belonging. She is, in other words, predisposed to viewing any signs of love and desire as positive since she has always yearned for it for 23 years. This line exemplifies the complexity of The Value of Love—while love can be a force of connection and healing, Lyra’s lack of experience with it makes her vulnerable to complicated expressions of affection. The juxtaposition of Boone and Hades further complicates her emotional landscape, as she struggles to distinguish between love as a source of security and love as an assertion of control.

“A competition that not all the mortals return from isn’t mentioned, as though that fact is meaningless to the gods.”

This passage reflects the general basis of the relationship between gods and humans. Though not impervious to pain or death, gods are nevertheless blatantly dismissive of human life because of their own immortality. This moment illustrates the core of The Burden of Immortality—gods, having lived for millennia, have lost their ability to empathize with mortal suffering. The Crucible becomes a metaphor for the way gods play with human lives, highlighting their emotional detachment and the inherent cruelty of their power.

“Everyone knows that saying no to a deity never ends well for mortals. No one else declines the ‘honor.’”

Here, Owen outlines the unequal power dynamics between mortals and immortals. Though humans actively seek the benevolence and aid of gods, their livelihoods are categorically at the mercy of their humors and whimsy. This passage ties directly into Resistance Through Humanity, as it underscores the impossibility of true autonomy for mortals under divine rule. Lyra’s ability to challenge the status quo makes her exceptional—not because she is physically stronger than the other champions, but because she refuses to accept the gods’ control as inevitable.

“Hades crouches in front of me, hands loose, gaze searching. ‘I’m not someone you thank, Lyra. I’m someone you fear.’ Like everyone scattering away from him every time he walks close? Does he really believe that? […] ‘Consider me [Lyra] shaking in my boots.’”

In this excerpt, the author outlines the initial point of perception that allows Hades to do away with his usual persona. Lyra is not cowed nor convinced by Hades’s preceding reputation that details him as a lethal monster. Rather, as Cerberus, Charon, and most likely Persephone have come to understand, Hades is, in fact, a person to be thanked for how he cares for his few loved ones and the souls of the dead in his Underworld. This passage also foreshadows the transformation of Hades’s character arc. His self-perception as a fearsome ruler is gradually dismantled through his interactions with Lyra, illustrating The Value of Love as a force that allows even the most isolated individuals to rediscover their humanity. The juxtaposition of fear and gratitude highlights how deeply his loneliness has shaped his identity.

“Because the black pears with their hint of pink are familiar. Too familiar. I [Lyra] count, then count again. That’s what I was afraid of. There are exactly six.”

Owen’s use of the pomegranate seeds in her narrative both invokes Persephone’s classical myth and hints at Lyra’s role within the grander scheme of the story. As the holder of the pomegranate seeds that once allegedly trapped Persephone in the Underworld until she became its queen, Owen implies that Lyra, too, will one day wear the crown to rule the Underworld. This moment reinforces the theme of The Burden of Immortality, as it suggests that fate may have already determined Lyra’s future. The act of consuming something unknowingly—just as Persephone did—symbolizes how mortals often find themselves bound to the gods’ will. The precise number of seeds also mirrors the myth’s fatalistic undertones, implying that Lyra’s path may not be hers to choose.

“As a clerk, I didn’t technically graduate. There was no ceremony. No relic should have come to me. But this axe showed up on my bed one day.”

Here, Owen leaves an unresolved narrative thread to be explored in a sequel—the nature of Lyra’s character. Though Lyra outwardly seems unremarkable, the materialization of the axes foreshadows a greater origin story than Zeus’s curse. This mysterious event also connects to Resistance Through Humanity, as it suggests that Lyra’s destiny is not solely shaped by the gods. The unexplained arrival of the axe could imply a power beyond divine interference, reinforcing the idea that mortals, too, can shape their own fates—even if they don’t yet understand how.

“It’s good if you’re not [in love with Boone]. The less worry you leave behind, the better you’ll do in the Crucible.”

In this passage, Owen outlines the thinly veiled and growing jealousy with Hades as he interacts with the male allies Lyra accrues over the Crucible. In doing so, she reveals a petty streak within Hades that translates to a vulnerable self-esteem. This line also speaks to The Value of Love, as it highlights the idea that love is a liability in the world of gods and war. Unlike mortals, who find strength in their bonds, Hades—who has lived long enough to see love as fleeting—perceives it as a weakness. The contrast between his perspective and Lyra’s demonstrates their opposing worldviews, setting the stage for their eventual conflict.

“Damned if I’m going to let them kill me for sport. The other champions, either, if I can help it, even the ones who hate me already. None of us asked for this.”

In this excerpt, the author not only outlines the secondary driving force behind Lyra but also extrapolates on the exploitive nature of the gods. Though some champions, like Dex, may have chosen to participate in the Crucible given the choice, the absence of one and the promise of death and pain objectifies the champions as mere toys to the gods, bent and broken for their amusement. This moment directly embodies Resistance Through Humanity. Rather than playing the game as the gods intended—where every mortal is an expendable pawn—Lyra challenges the structure of the Crucible by valuing human life over divine spectacle. Her defiance becomes an act of resistance, even if she cannot outright refuse to participate.

“It hits me for the very first time that the King of the Underworld is exactly that. A king. The ruler of every soul ever to believe in the Greek gods and end up in his real after they die. A ruler who must punish and reward the lives those souls lived.”

In this quote, the author demonstrates the mechanics of her multi-pantheon world-building. While multiple sets of deities are scattered through the world, belief is seemingly what assigns a person to a specific pantheon and its influences. Hence, while Hades does take care of the dead in the Underworld, he only attends to the ones who believe in him and the other Olympians. This realization also recontextualizes The Burden of Immortality—Hades is not merely an untouchable god but a ruler with an overwhelming responsibility. His burden is not just eternity but also the weight of judgment, further complicating his character’s moral positioning.

“This is Aphrodite like I’m guessing very few people see her. She looks my age, wearing yoga pants and a sweatshirt.”

Though Lyra often labors the point that Hades hides himself behind a fake persona, she comes to understand that he isn’t alone in the habit. This discovery complexifies the identity of the gods and Lyra’s conception of their personalities as, like many mortals, her connection with them was previously solely based on rumors and myths. This passage ties into The Burden of Immortality, as it suggests that even gods struggle with maintaining a sense of self. Immortality forces them into archetypes, but in private moments, they reveal their humanity—however fleeting. Aphrodite’s casual appearance contrasts sharply with her divine image, reinforcing that even deities wish to escape their roles.

“I [Lyra] earned the sadness. I’d rather feel it.”

Lyra’s request to keep the sanctity of her feelings intact gestures toward the integrity of her personhood. Rather than flinching away from pain and grief, she is aware that they are part and parcel of the human experience, and to deny the existence of those feelings is to become lacking. This moment perfectly captures The Value of Love. By embracing all emotions, even painful ones, Lyra asserts that love is not just about joy—it is also about loss, longing, and resilience. Her ability to accept her sadness makes her fundamentally different from the gods, who often seek to avoid emotional vulnerability.

“It’s suddenly sunk in even deeper that these champions the gods and goddesses have picked aren’t just fighters in the same ring. They are real.”

Here, Owen seems to imply that Lyra has a tendency to oversimplify others to the role they play within her life. Though Lyra is often protective of others and the value of mortal life in general, her lack of experience connecting with other humans demonstrates a lack of nuance in her perception. This passage reflects Lyra’s growth in Resistance Through Humanity. Initially seeing the other champions as mere obstacles, she begins to recognize them as individuals with their own fears, desires, and histories. This shift in perspective solidifies her as a protagonist who values human dignity, even in a world designed to strip it away.

“They weren’t lovers. She [Persephone] wasn’t his [Hades’] wife. […] He saw her as a friend, even as a younger sister.”

As one of the biggest plot twists of the narrative, the nature of Hades and Persephone’s relationship remains an unresolved mystery in the narrative, but one that highlights how Owen manipulates classical myths to the purpose of her narrative. Seemingly, though the basis of Persephone’s existence remains the same with the classical iteration—she is Demeter’s daughter, she loved Hades, and she ruled the Underworld by his side—the author uses the different possibilities of love and its value to find loopholes for her plot. This revelation also reinforces The Burden of Immortality. Unlike mortals, who experience love within the constraints of time, the gods’ relationships stretch across eternity, evolving in ways that defy human understanding. The reinterpretation of Persephone’s role suggests that even myths are not fixed; rather, they shift over time, much like the gods’ relationships with one another.

“‘I only have my Heart left to give you,’ I tell him. I’m talking about the flag.”

Here, Owen foreshadows the eventual heartbreak Lyra will temporarily face because of Hades. Though Hades presumably has feelings for her at this point in the narrative, Lyra will be the only one to make herself vulnerable and confess her feelings and desire for him, which he will manipulate to give her an imperviousness against the sirens. This moment underscores The Value of Love, as Lyra’s willingness to offer her “heart” to Hades—both metaphorically and literally—emphasizes her innate belief in love’s transformative power. However, Hades’s response reflects the gods’ fundamentally different approach to love; instead of reciprocating, he prioritizes strategy over emotional truth, reinforcing the divide between mortals and immortals.

“Aphrodite didn’t have to make death at the end be part of the rules. I get that gods and goddesses love their ticking clocks, and death is certainly an incentive, but there are other ways.”

In this passage, the author further demonstrates the hypocrisy of Greek deities. Though Aphrodite most likely felt genuine sadness when Dae-hyeon was forced to watch his grandmother die—a feeling most other gods would not share—it was nevertheless within her power to abstain from including death and pain within her Labor. Like the other gods, she too chose to be callous with human lives for the sake of entertainment. This moment exemplifies Resistance Through Humanity, as Lyra’s critique of the gods reveals her growing awareness of how divine beings justify cruelty. Unlike the gods, who view death as a spectacle, Lyra questions the necessity of suffering, positioning herself as an active challenger to their worldview. Her ability to see “other ways” suggests that true power does not come from control or violence, but from empathy and choice.

“‘Tío Dex helps raise me.’ I’m having trouble reconciling the image in front of me now. I mean, Dex might as well be wearing tights and a cape.”

Much like her perception of Hades and Aphrodite morphs with nuance over the course of the narrative, Lyra also learns that even her enemies have reasons guiding their actions. Though she and Dex are always at odds, the biggest differentiator between them and their desperation to win is simply their circumstances. This passage ties into The Value of Love, as it suggests that even the most hardened competitors—like Dex—are capable of love and loyalty outside of the Crucible. Lyra’s struggle to reconcile this reality reinforces her own growth; she is beginning to understand that morality is not black and white, and that even those who oppose her may have motivations rooted in love and survival rather than sheer cruelty.

“Your skills may be rusty, but the second that dickhead Dex tipped his hand that he’s gunning for you, you should have taken [the Helm of Darkness]. […] And you know it.”

Boone’s remonstrance is indicative of Lyra’s overall attitude toward the other champions and the Crucible. Her empathy toward and anger for the other champions’ forced participation effectively diminishes her drive to win the Crucible for her personal gain and survival. This moment highlights Resistance Through Humanity, as Lyra’s reluctance to prioritize her own safety stems from her moral opposition to the Crucible’s premise. While others approach the competition with a survivalist mindset, Lyra continually acts against its structure, proving that humanity can persist even in the face of divine cruelty. Boone’s warning, however, suggests that there is a fine line between resistance and recklessness—a line that Lyra must learn to navigate.

“‘If you really meant [that Lyra is Hades’s], you wouldn’t kiss me for him. To show him. You’d kiss me because you can’t not kiss me. Because I am the only thing you see.’ I’ve had a long, long time to imagine exactly what that would feel like.”

In this excerpt, the author underlines the cost of Hades’s pride, which foreshadows how his inability to properly communicate will only hurt Lyra in the end. Though Hades does desire and love Lyra to the extent of seeing her in his afterlife in Elysium, he is a petty man who often allows pride to replace good reason, which corrodes the fragile trust he has with Lyra. This moment exemplifies The Value of Love, particularly in how it explores the difference between possession and genuine connection. Boone’s words highlight the idea that true love is not about control or proving a point, but about an undeniable emotional pull. Hades, for all his power, struggles to understand this distinction, making him both a tragic and flawed figure in Lyra’s journey.

“No soul is born evil. There are proclivities, leaning, but like carbon is compressed and fired into a diamond, pressure and pain can transform a soul into something terrible.”

Though Hades speaks mostly of humans in this speech, the same is also applicable to gods. While nature will have made them predisposed to certain leanings, their environment—the wars, the power, the veneration from mortals—has warped and shaped their beings into extremes. This passage deepens The Burden of Immortality, as it implies that even gods were once capable of change before their prolonged existence crystallized them into what they are. The metaphor of pressure forging something “terrible” suggests that suffering, if left unchecked, can lead to corruption—a theme that resonates throughout the novel’s portrayal of divine cruelty and moral decay.