Racism

Although it is set in a fantastical realm and details an imaginary race of beings, the series deals with themes of racism and prejudice in a way that mirrors modern-day American politics. In the first novel, there were two primary races that hated one another: the maji and the nobles. The maji are intrinsically blessed by the gods with gifts that allow them to wield the power of the earth’s natural elements as magic. The nobles have always been frightened and insecure because of the maji’s natural gifts. In order to squash those fears, the nobles set up social systems that kept the maji in poverty. As if this were not enough, the maji are also subjected to hatred and discrimination from the nobles, who look down on them as disgusting abominations. Although it is not a perfect replica of the relations between black...