Natives versus Conquerors

Taking place after the Roman invasion of Briton (or Britannia, as they called it), The Forest House treats the theme of natives versus conquerors in a complex and sensitive manner. The natives, given voices throughout the story in the form of the Druids, feel that their territory has been encroached upon by these barbarians. On the other hand, the Romans, trained to want to extend their empire, believe the Britons are uncivilized savages who need their cultured influence. The clashes between the two run extremely deep.

However, by the time the story of The Forest House starts, some crossover has already begun to happen between the cultures. For example, though Gaius identifies as a Roman, he has spent almost his entire life in Britannia, and gives birth to a son who is raised as a Briton. Conversely, characters like the Ravens (Cynric represents this group in...