Point of View

The novel is written in a combination of first-person from the perspective of Botille and in third person from the limited perspectives of several other characters. The first-person chapters are solely dedicated to Botille's thoughts and observations, and these chapters are vital to understanding the nuances of Botille's world. For example, she remembers a few details from her childhood, and these show that Botille and her two sisters have had a brutal life up to the time they arrived in Bajas. They often stole, just to survive, and their mother died when Sazia was very young. The first-person perspective also gives the reader a look into how Botille feels about things, and the reader does not know the feelings of most other characters, unless that character states or demonstrates those feelings. For example, Botille feels that Symo is simply an over-sized, childish young man with...