The conflict in The Bronze King is set around New York City's Central Park.

When Valentine discovers that the huge bronze statue of King Jagiello in the Park has disappeared, it becomes her task—with the help of the musician-sorcerer Paavo and boy Joel Wechsler—to recover that statue.

Charnas exploits fears of city living in her depictions of New York as the scene of battle. Particularly, it is the New York City subway system which becomes the locus of evil. The subway is patrolled by a rough gang of boys called the "Princes of Darkness" and serves as the stronghold of the kraken, a shapeless, formless monster which rushes with the speed of subway trains through underground tunnels.

New York may be presented as "a dangerous place," but that setting also serves to emphasize Valentine's strength of character. When Valentine tells Paavo she is "not...