Point of View

The novel is told in third-person limited omniscience narration from the revolving point-of-view of four different characters: Cassia, Julian, Malik, and Hagiru. In all the character's chapters, the narration is completely reliable. The modulating point-of-view is crucial to understanding the plot of the novel as a whole. The characters are all connected through a web of relationships, and all are tied together in the great battle between good and evil. Much of the characters' thoughts and plans occur simultaneously within their own heads. So while Cassia is planning to rescue her son from the queen, the queen is concocting plans to kill Cassia, and Julian is devising plans to protect her while Malik tries to sway Julian into a position of power within the church. Each of these aspects is vital to the plot overall, and the story would only work if the reader could slow...