The Witch Collector

The Witch Collector explores what defines good and evil, challenging readers to question moral certainty and the reliability of initial judgments. Through Raina’s evolving perceptions, the novel reveals that good and evil aren’t fixed binaries but shifting constructs shaped by knowledge, intent, and perspective.

At the novel’s outset, Raina believes that she understands what’s good: freeing her sister and killing the Witch Collector and the Frost King, whom she sees as tyrants. The annual ritual of taking Witch Walkers seems cruel and oppressive to her. Equating vengeance with justice, she believes that her violent plan will right past wrongs. However, her perception shifts when she learns that Witch Walkers aren’t kidnapped but willingly serve the Frost King to defend the Northlands against greater threats. Her early desire for vengeance is rooted in grief and incomplete understanding. Had she succeeded in killing Alexus or Colden, she would have caused harm under the guise of moral righteousness. The novel thus emphasizes that evil isn’t always born from malice; it often emerges from ignorance.

Raina’s shifting views of other characters underscore this complexity. She initially believes that Rhonin is a traitor and is responsible for Helena’s suffering. Later, she learns that he’s a Northern spy, working to undermine the Eastlander regime from within.