The War of Two Queens

The novel is set in a world where gods and prophecies dictate the course of events, often leaving the characters to grapple with the extent of their agency. This is especially true for Poppy. Throughout The War of Two Queens, people like her mother, Isbeth, seek to define her identity, bind her to a predetermined destiny, and strip her of autonomy. Poppy consistently fights against this by asserting her agency in an attempt to reshape her life and future. Poppy’s struggles thus explore the conflict between fate and free will, including the question of whether the two forces are as opposed as they might seem.

The tensions between fate and agency have shaped Poppy from her earliest years. As the Maiden, she was told her purpose was to serve the gods and maintain purity by living a life of obedience and isolation. Even after she escapes this fate, another is thrust upon her in the form of the prophecy, which casts her as Bringer of Death and Destruction, destined to herald catastrophic events and wreak havoc upon the realms. The prophecy casts a shadow over Poppy, suggesting that she is merely a pawn in the larger cosmic game. Others around her, especially her enemies, are convinced she will fulfill this destiny. In this context, fate appears to be an inescapable force that defines Poppy’s identity and the role she has to play in her world. Her identity is shaped and reshaped by the expectations placed upon her by the prophecy and her own evolving sense of self. The heart of her arc in this story is whether she will be defined by the prophecy or by herself.

Poppy refuses to accept the prophecy as her only possible future. Instead of passively accepting her role, she fights to define her way despite the cosmic forces that seek to control her, saying, “My thoughts—my ideals, choices, and beliefs—were not preordained nor governed by anyone but me” (35). She actively attempts not to give in to anger and become a force of destruction. She is supported in her resolve by Casteel and Kieran, who both serve as emotional anchors for her. Their faith in her helps Poppy keep herself grounded when Isbeth attempts to destabilize her. In many ways, Poppy’s fight against the prophecy is also a fight for her identity. The prophecy of the Harbinger attempts to reduce her to a single role; Poppy resists and insists on her right to define herself on her terms.

While Poppy’s story is primarily about resisting fate, the novel also acknowledges that free will and fate are not mutually exclusive. Her role as the Harbinger isn’t to be the cause of the destruction, but instead to be part of something bigger: the ultimate cosmic reset. With her ascension to becoming the Primal of both Life and Death, she’s beginning an entirely new era that was never supposed to exist. Poppy, as the new god of both creation and destruction, beginnings and endings, is potential itself. She was always going to have this power, but this does not negate the importance of her choices, as what she does with said power is ultimately up to her.