The most complex character in this book is Ead. She does a lot of things in order to protect the Queen, but she is also against many of her ideals and beliefs. Many of her motivations are unclear so far, but her backstory is slowly being revealed. There are political conflicts and history that also adds to each character’s points of view, as many of them come from different parts of the fantasy world. One example is when Ead is told to tell a story about the founding of their kingdom, and when she decides to tell the story the way she had heard it where she grew up, the Queen becomes offended. The characters different perspectives contribute to the tension building in the story because some of them are pinned against each other, and you never know what to expect from some of the characters.