War

The cruelty of war and the violence of rebellion is present throughout the novel. While the protagonists agree that these battles should be avoided at all costs, others like Daybright see their fight as the world’s only chance for a better future, regardless of the suffering the battle will inflict.

There are numerous cases throughout the novel where the protagonist’s decisions revolve around stopping the war from all sides. Even when they begin to imagine a life without being controlled by the Asteri, they refuse to compromise on their ideals. This leads to them making choices that arguably harm the rebel effort just as much as the Asteri. This is because many of the protagonists - especially Bryce and Hunt - believe victory should not be achieved on the deaths of others. This belief is what drives Hunt to destroy all of the weapons...