Joan Sands

Joan Sands is the main protagonist and the focus of the mostly limited narrator. As a daughter of the Orisha, Ogun, Joan has the power to manipulate metal. While her magic comes to her naturally, she struggles to connect with the Orisha. This becomes even more difficult as he possesses her more without her permission, leading Joan to question if he will consume all that makes her herself. This eventually leads to him retracting his blessing, but Joan fights Auberon alone, proving her capabilities.

As a character, Joan is confident in her abilities and proud. However, she feels stifled by the oppressive laws against women and hates that she is treated like a commodity because of her race. At first, she believes she must work within the system to find happiness. Over time, she embraces her own passions and self-worth, even if it means defying society’s...