From Blood and Ash

Armentrout infuses very real societal issues and concerns into her fictional world. The novel’s setting of a war-torn nation starkly divided by one’s allegiances exposes the lasting effects of war on a population. The citizens of Kingdom Solis live in perpetual terror and are continually subjected to Craven and Descenters.

The mist and Craven act as remnants of the war and serve to police the people. It’s believed that Craven are products of an Atlantian’s poisonous kiss and are sent by the Dark One to terrorize mortals. These monsters are the manifestation of the populaces’ collective fear of the enemy, as they will do anything and believe in anything to remain safe. As we’ll later learn, this misinformation is one form of control that the Ascended use to manipulate their people into obedience.

The Craven also reveal the class divisions in Armentrout’s the fictional world: To the people of Kingdom Solis, Craven pose an immediate threat, yet to the Ascended, the Craven are a nuisance to be dealt with by the Royal Guard. As such, a stark class divide forms between the elite, god-like Ascended and the mortal citizens of the kingdom. We see the belief that one’s status equates to a certain level of safety when Tawny tells Penellaphe, “It has been decades since the mist even neared the capital. It’s not something we’d have to worry about here” (56). Tawny’s ignorance about the real danger that the mist presents reveals the elites’ belief in their superiority over death. Armentrout alludes to the fragility of this safety when a woman is brutally murdered within the very walls of Castle Teerman. The façade of safety will soon collapse under the great equalizing nature of death—a prominent theme throughout the novel. Hawke and Penellaphe also develop this theme when they converse about death as “an old friend” (42).

Armentrout begins developing Penellaphe’s character alongside the strife she portrays in her fictional world. Penellaphe questions her role as Maiden and her place in society. She has been chosen by the gods to lead a generation into a new era. The Maiden serves as a symbol of purity and perfection for the Kingdom Solis, and she’s meant to possess these qualities by nature. She struggles to make these immense expectations compatible with her own desires, rebelling and favoring self-exploration. This tension is further heightened by Penellaphe’s desire to learn more about her Ascension but being told that inquiring into the nature of the gods is to have poor faith in their will. Penellaphe is slowly coming to resent the lack of autonomy in her life and question the values she has internalized through childhood. Penellaphe’s questioning signifies the first step in her classic coming-of-age character arc.

The inner turmoil Penellaphe feels towards being the Chosen One is confronted when she meets Hawke. At the Red Pearl, she struggles to protect her virginity, something the Duke and the gods expect. When she is with Hawke, she feels for the first time a sense of self but does not yet know what exactly to make of it. She thinks, “The tiny glimmer of hope felt traitorous and wholly concerning, given that being deemed unworthy resulted in one of the most serious consequences” (42). Penellaphe finds this glimmer of hope concerning because of what it suggests about her true wants and desires. In this encounter with Hawke, a part of her identity is revealed to her, and she realizes that she does want him. This realization results in a distancing of herself from her role as the Maiden. Her identity conflict has created a gridlock within Penellaphe, where she struggles to know herself as anything other than the Maiden.

Armentrout depicts Penellaphe’s inability to construct an independent identity in her and Penellaphe’s walk through the Grove. Penellaphe opens her eyes and “sees nothing but darkness” (75). This imagery portrays a literal veil of darkness that consumes Penellaphe, much like the veil she is instructed to wear every day. She is physically unable to see the path in front of her, making her dependent on Vikter. As the story progresses, and Penellaphe’s coming-of-age character arc develops, Penellaphe will begin building an identity of her choosing.