The Never List

Lumathyst’s rulership is dictated by a series of political and magical rules that have put its four immortal kings in power for centuries. These four kings were born regular humans, but were given immortality and power when they mated to the four goddesses of the land. Their sons, the Legends of Chaos, are destined to take the crown—but only after the bind together with one fated mate, whom they must find via the Choosing, a ceremony that presents them with potential mates. Only once their fated mate has ascended to her own immortality will the Legends be permitted to assume the throne. In the interim, however, the Legends’ four fathers rule over the kingdom endlessly, their rule becoming more corrupt and cruel as they age.

The novel presents this authoritarianism as being worsened by two factors: the kings’ enormous magical power and their age. Baydel particularly uses these powers to corrupt purposes; his magic allows him to control others’ bodies, which he does to execute them in gruesome and excruciating ways. His abuse of this power to publicly murder a demi thief reflects a deep disdain for vulnerability and a desire to maintain social dominance through fear. Though the other kings have proven less violent in their control, they prove too enamored of the status quo to take an active stand against Baydel’s viciousness.