Hair: Light brown.

Eyes: Brown.

Facial features: Stubborn, hard jaw.

Personality: Kind. Compassionate. Smart. Clever.

Habits/Mannerisms/Strengths/Weaknesses: Seems immune to heat and humidity. Spends a lot of time doing charitable work. Doesn’t know how to defend herself. Doesn’t like talking about the deal King Roderick made with the gods. Wears jewelry often. Rambles when she gets nervous. Believes you can’t hate someone you’ve never met. Loves chocolate scones. Likes iced tea. Likes to read, but not misery fiction.

Other: Is at least nineteen years old.

Background: Princess of Lasania who later becomes Queen.

Family: Father = King Ernald †. Brother = Tavius †. Stepsister = Seraphena. Stepmother = Queen Calliphe. Consort = Marisol Faber.

EZMERIA’S JOURNEY TO DATE:

Ezmeria was one of the few who did not treat Sera like a bargaining chip or something to be used. She treated her like a person instead of a cure. For this, I appreciated her.

Ezra is present when Seraphena comes before the Primal God of Death to honor King Roderick’s deal—something Ezra hates. Nyktos denies her, creating all sorts of uproar amidst those in the know.

Later, Ezra comes to get Sera, begging for her aid. She says she needs Sera’s ability to borrow food from the kitchens for the orphans and then tells her about Nor—a terrible abuser—and his children. Ezra offers Sera a gown for the excursion, and they discuss the Rot. When Sera returns from her outing and tells Ezra that Nor “tripped and fell upon her blade, neck first,” Ezra tells Sera she’s a little scary.

Sera and Ezra discuss the state of things in Lasania and the riot in Croft’s Cross. As talk once again shifts to the Rot, they go over who would be the best ruler for Lasania. Ezra tells Sera that she’s the Queen Lasania needs.

When the Healers get overwhelmed after an attack, Ezra and Sera help Healer Dirks. Ezra states that she doesn’t think Tavius is stupid enough to

try to kill Sera since she’s the one thing that can stop the Rot—at least as far as they know.

Ezra sees Sera’s injured arm and learns that Tavius is responsible. She tells Sera that she believes her brother is evil. She also divulges information about the god she saw—someone we now know wasn’t actually a god at all.

Callum is an enigma wrapped in a mystery, and uncovering more about him is both intriguing and a bit terrifying. But I digress…

When Odetta passes, Ezra attends her funeral and then the Rite.

However, disaster strikes the evening of the ceremony, and Ezra rushes to get Sera to save her love. Sera doesn’t think she can, given Marisol’s state, but Ezra begs her, saying she should try using her abilities on someone deserving. Ezra goes on to say that she loves Mari and can’t be without her.

Sera heals the woman. When she comes to, Ezra asks her how she feels and then interrupts her answer with a passionate kiss. She thanks Sera and tells her she is a blessing and always has been—that she’s not and never was a failure. She then reveals that she hasn’t told the King and Queen about Mari because, if she did, they’d plan a wedding before there was even an engagement. She admits things are still new but she believes Marisol loves her as she does her, and they’re meant for each other.

Ezra catches Tavius whipping Sera and asks him if he’s lost his senses. Later, when Nyktos appears, she and the Queen are the first to kneel before the Primal. When the god’s attention turns to Tavius, and Calliphe begs for his life, Ezra speaks up, saying that he’s a monster and always has been.

She then agrees with Nyktos, saying that Tavius is of little significance. After, Ezra dispassionately watches Sera kill Tavius before being led out of the Great Hall.

When Sera and Ash return to the mortal realm, Ezra is in the middle of holding a town hall. The minute she learns that Sera has arrived, she has the guards clear the Great Hall, leaving only two inside the closed doors. As they talk, Ezra confesses that she was never a fan of the deal, mainly because it was unfair to Sera.

Sera reveals the truth, and Ezra believes her instantly, even though she doesn’t—and can’t—divulge what caused the Rot, only that fulfilling the deal wouldn’t have stopped it. Ezra knows how important it was and is for Sera to save Lasania and even calls it her kingdom, believing that Sera should be able to acknowledge that she should have been Queen.

As acting ruler, Ezra implements as many things as she can to help the kingdom. She immediately begins building pantries for the people, not just the Royals, and starts a bit of a food bank so people can come on certain days at certain times if they are in need. She is also in talks with the Queen of Terra, trying to strengthen their faith in Lasania and proving that an alliance would be beneficial. She tells the Queen that Terra has fertile fields primed for crops and Lasania has labor workers. Those who want to relocate to Terra for at least part of the year could work in those fields.

She adds that several more farms have been lost, but the Rot’s progression hasn’t sped up. Then she confesses that she didn’t believe that Sera could make the Primal God of Death fall for her. She honestly thought she’d get herself killed by being too impatient and just stabbing him.

When Sera asks about Marisol, Ezra says she’s perfect and with her father. She also says that she sent a missive to the Vodina Isles to inquire about Sir Holland but hasn’t received a response as of yet.

As the two say goodbye, Ezra tells Sera that she hopes she sees her again and soon—she misses her. She then says that many of Sera’s plans have already been set in motion, like building homes in Croft’s Cross.

That’s as much as I’ve seen for dear Ezra, though I imagine there is a lot more. We know that she brought about significant positive change during her rule.

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LASANIA MAP

Click here to see a full-size image of the Lasania map by Hang Le.

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MARISOL “MARI” FABER‌

Eyes: Black.

Facial features: Rich brown skin.

Background: Becomes Queen Consort of Lasania.

Family: Father = Lord Faber.

MARISOL’S JOURNEY TO DATE:

Marisol, like her father, is brilliant and tries to find natural ways to stop the Rot.

When Sera heads out to save an abused boy, Marisol says she’ll drive around so Ezra doesn’t do anything idiotic.

After Nyktos’s refusal of Sera as Consort, Marisol doesn’t treat Sera any differently.

On the night of the Rite, after attending, she is injured while helping a child in Lowertown at Three Stones. The outing wasn’t supposed to be dangerous, but when some men started fighting, Mari got caught up in it and was knocked down, thus hitting her head.

When Ezra brings Sera to her, she’s dead. Sera brings her back to life, and she doesn’t even remember getting hurt. She passionately kisses Ezra, confirming to Sera the bond between the two women.

Marisol later becomes Queen Ezmeria’s Consort and goes on to have a fruitful rule.‌

QUEEN CALLIPHE‌

Okay, I’m just going to say it. Calliphe is a doormat. She’s also utterly ignorant. I get grief. I do. But for a mother to utterly ignore her child because she looks like the husband she lost? That’s unforgivable. Even worse to use her as a pawn and a tool and never treat her like a person. And to speak out for those who hurt your child so dreadfully? It’s unforgiveable. I am absolutely in Ash’s corner, saying “hear, hear” to sending Calliphe to the Abyss.

Hair: A few shades darker than Sera’s pale blond.

Eyes: Dark brown.

Facial features: Beautiful smile.

Distinguishing features: A few wrinkles and shadows under her eyes.

Personality: Cold—at least to Sera. Hard.

Habits/Mannerisms/Strengths/Weaknesses: Hard to read. Never smiles at Sera, though she will with others. Often gets migraines that require healing draughts. Keeps a portrait of King Lamont close and spends hours with it. Wears lots of jewelry.

Background: Married Ernald shortly after Lamont’s death but never stopped loving her first husband. After learning about Sera’s gift, she feared her daughter would use it on the Primal God of Death.

Family: First husband = Lamont Mierel †. Second husband = King Ernald †. Stepson = Tavius †. Stepdaughter = Ezmeria. Daughter = Seraphena.

CALLIPHE’S JOURNEY TO DATE:

Queen Calliphe is a hard woman, and I can say without guilt that I don’t like her all that much.

When Seraphena is about to go before the Primal of Death to offer herself as his Consort, Queen Calliphe tells her daughter that she won’t and can’t fail them. When Nyktos refuses Sera, Calliphe yells at her, asking her what happened. Before Sera can even answer, she slaps her daughter, asking her what she did and telling her that she’s failed Lasania, and that everything is now lost.

Calliphe often puts on airs of superiority, like when addressing the Lords, whose presence she often feels is an insult. She proposes an allegiance with the Vodina Isles in exchange for aid. The deal: two years of crops. Referring to Sera as her handmaiden, she offers to show Lord Claus and the other Lords of the Vodina Isles just what a “hot piece” her daughter is after some crude remarks, knowing she can easily order Sera to murder them.

After the meeting, Calliphe catches Sera in her chambers and argues with and insults her—like usual. She says she has to keep up appearances but wouldn’t have to if Sera hadn’t failed. She mentions that kingdoms that once prayed for an alliance with Lasania are now calling her the Beggar Queen.

Calliphe, Callum, and several guards find Sera after she’s attacked. The Queen doesn’t believe Sera’s lie about finding the guards dead but won’t say anything in front of a god. She then spends the night bemoaning the ruination of her utterly irreplaceable, expensive carpet.

Seriously?

The night of the Rite, Calliphe is angry to find Sera there. Later, she walks in on Tavius whipping Sera and asks him what in the gods’ names he’s doing, acting shocked. Personally, I think she knew about the abuse all along—after all, she had a hand in it herself—but that’s just my humble opinion.

When Nyktos appears, she is one of the first to kneel before the Primal.

As Nyktos pins Tavius to the Primal statue with a whip around his throat, Calliphe screams, rushes forward, and begs for her stepson’s life. She tells Nyktos that Tavius is the heir to the throne and promises he’ll never do anything like he did to Sera again. When Nyktos backs off, she thanks him. He tells her to shut up, and surprisingly, she does. Then, she watches Sera kill Tavius.

At that point, she looks at Sera, really looks at her, and sees what she has molded her daughter into by training her to become her personal assassin. Ector and Saion lead her out of the Great Hall.

Sometime later, after Sera leaves for Iliseeum, a guard tells Calliphe that Sera has returned to the mortal realm with the Primal. She doesn’t think it’s true but goes to investigate anyway. She ends up seeing Sera as she and Ash exit the Great Hall and stops Sera as she’s leaving, saying she didn’t know that Tavius planned to do what he did. Nyktos cuts her off, telling her she

owed her death that day, and the only reason she still breathes is because of grace she doesn’t deserve. Calliphe thanks him, and Ash tells her that Sera is the one who requested she be spared—he wanted to take her to the Abyss with Tavius, where she belongs. He then tells her to spend the rest of her undeserving life thanking her daughter.

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PRINCE TAVIUS †

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Hair: Light brown.

Eyes: Blue.

Facial features: Handsome.

Personality: Cruel. Classist. Short-tempered. Arrogant. Abusive.

Habits/Mannerisms/Strengths/Weaknesses: Drinks too much. Womanizer. Holds little respect for those who put food on his table.

Other: Just turned twenty-two.

Background: Having a torrid affair with recently widowed Miss Anneka, a merchant’s wife. Betrothed to Princess Kayleigh of Irelone.

Family: Mother = unknown. Father = King Ernald †. Stepmother = Queen Calliphe. Sister = Ezmeria. Stepsister = Seraphena.

TAVIUS’S JOURNEY TO DATE:

Tavius enters my radar taunting Sera, something which seems to be a favored pastime of the spoiled Prince. He mentions that his intended, Princess Kayleigh of Irelone, is nervous about their wedding night, to which he replies that he’ll be gentle—just the thought of that gives me shivers. He goes on to tell Sera that the Primal God of Death is monstrous, and that’s why he’s not depicted in any artwork, adding that he has fangs and scales like the beasts that protect him. He taunts his stepsister about the blood kiss and says he knows she was under the tutelage of the Mistresses of the Jade; therefore, she probably can’t wait to serve the Primal.

Tavius stands next to his father when Lord Claus returns with Lasania’s Lord, who is now only a head, something that truly shocks the rotten Prince. It doesn’t last long, though. He quickly remarks that Sera should have been given to the Lord.

Sera found Tavius whipping a horse the previous week and gave him a black eye, threatening to use the whip on him. So, he decides to use it on her the next chance he gets.

When Sera arrives after checking on the farms, Tavius blames her for the Coupers’ deaths. He argues with her and tells her he can’t wait to take the throne.

When Ernald orders him to leave, Tavius throws a bowl of dates at Sera, hitting her in the arm. After, his father tells him that he doesn’t want to see

him for the rest of the day and threatens him before once more telling him to leave.

The fact that the King still treated Tavius, at twenty-two summers, like a child who needs to be put in a corner amuses me. But what else can we expect from the pissant.

Tavius attends the Rite and alerts his stepmother to Sera’s presence.

After Sera is attacked, Tavius situates himself in her chambers as she wakes. When Sera brings up her attack, he claims he had nothing to do with it and says he wouldn’t waste a single coin on her. Sera says that being called his sister is an insult, and it incenses him. He then reveals that he has her dagger—the one she usually keeps close. He pins her to the bed, telling her that the King died last night in his sleep—an ailment of the heart. He then adds that he is now the King.

I personally believe he helped that along. The timing of the King’s death was a bit too coincidental for me, even if it was a result of Sera using her gift to restore life. I’m just not so sure that’s the only reason the King died. But, again, just thinking aloud—or on paper, at any rate.

Sera insults him, and he spits on her, telling her he doesn’t believe for even a second that the Primal of Death will come for her. He adds that he’s always seen her, the last heir of the Mierel line, as a threat to him taking the throne. When he demands that she acknowledge his title and she refuses, he’s thrilled because he can punish her for treason—which he does graphically as he whips her.

When the Primal of Death reappears, he threatens Tavius but ultimately spares him, only to allow Sera to kill him instead. Ash sentences him to the Pits of Endless Flames, where he will burn until he’s freed, whereupon Nyktos will do much worse to him than Sera did. Unimaginable things.

Is it wicked of me to smile at the thought of what exactly Nyktos does to Tavius when he visits him in the Abyss?