Trallonia Castle and Forests

The castle of Trallonia and the surrounding Trallon forest is the most significant setting in that the most chapters take place in this setting, but not the majority of the novel. The castle as a setting is an important reminder that home includes more than just the people you are related to, but may include animals and a broader community of sisters, sisters’ boyfriends, librarians, cooks, stepfathers, or moat monsters. The Prologue and Chapters 1- 4 take place at the castle, while Chapters 5 - 8 take place in the Trallon forest outside the castle. Anya returns to the Trallon forest in Chapters 30 - 33, and the castle in Chapters 34 and 35, and the final Epilogue.

Nix bookends the novel beginning and ending at Trallonia Castle and the surrounding forests to demonstrate Anya’s own evolution from a princess fulfilling a sister promise, to a queen who has saved her...