Lissar is the central figure of the novel, and she carries the main themes: the parent's betrayal of the child, the isolation of being psychologically wounded, the possibility of healing, and the bond between animal and human. In the opening of the novel, the king and his court are so enthralled with Lissar's mother, "the most beautiful woman in seven kingdoms," that Lissar lives in isolation. With only her nurse for company, she is ignored by her parents and denied the companionship of other children, or even of adults who might pay attention to her. This is an ironic twist on the conventional fairy tale: Lissar suffers during the "happily ever after" portion of her parents' story. Her betrayal by her father is obvious, but her mother also betrays Lissar on a deep level. Unable to accept that her beauty is fading with age...