Charnas uses first-person narrative to develop Valentine's character. By allowing Valentine to tell her own story, Charnas mitigates the protagonist's caustic tone of the subject matter and strengthens the immediacy of Valentine's voice and experiences. At times when she is narrating events, Valentine seems to be speaking directly to the reader. This allows her an informal, conversational narrative voice which is highly effective in realistically relating the emotions and conflicts of the protagonist.

The conflict between good and evil is developed through images of sound and setting. Until the climatic scene, the kraken is an amorphous enemy and Valentine detects its presence only by its foul odor and the sound of "a greedy, gabbling, chuckling noise, snarling and gnashing and coming closer." These chaotic and menacing sounds are countered by the music of violinists Paavo and Joel. Music becomes a symbol of power and magic, overcoming...