Daggerspell contains many violent conflicts, but although the violence is more graphic than that found in most Tolkienesque fantasy novels, it is never gratuitous or overly graphic. The grim and bloody wars fought by its valiant protagonists generally occur within the characters' strict system of personal honor, and Kerr is expertly able to convey the horrors of medieval warfare without undue glorification.

The novel also has a number of sex scenes, including one incestuous incident between a brother and sister. But these scenes are delicately handled, and are almost always between young characters deeply in love who are overwhelmed by their emotional desires, treating sexual relations as the ultimate expression of romantic love. There are threatened occurrences of and references to rape, but no violent sex scenes described.

Despite this expert handling of sex and violence in Daggerspell, the complex plot and themes make the novel...