Turned Against Their Masters: The Automae were originally created as servants and trinkets for humans. They rebelled in the War of Kinds, where they overthrew humanity and installed themselves as the new nobility in Zulla. It took half a day’s ride to reach these woods, and so Crier had been here only once before, nearly five years ago. Her father enjoyed hunting deer like the humans did. She remembered eating a few bites of hot, spiced venison that night, filling her belly with food she did not require. More ritual than meal. The core of her father’s Traditionalism: adopting human habits and customs into daily life. He said it created meaning, structure. Under most circumstances, Crier understood the merits of Hesod’s beliefs. It was why she called him “father” even though she’d never had a mother and had never been birthed. She had been commissioned, Made. Crier becomes engaged to Kinok, know is aware she is flawed. And during their engagement ceremony all Crier can think about is Ayla. I mean the tagline is about the two of them becoming romantically involved in some way, but it just seems so odd at this point. They’ve literally had maybe three short conversations. The first when Ayla decides not to kill Crier, the second being Crier asking Ayla to work for her, and the third about music before Crier heads to her engagement. Then again, Crier is extremely inexperienced with the world. From debut author Nina Varela comes the first book in a richly imagined epic fantasy duology about an impossible love between two girls—one human, one Made—whose romance could be the beginning of a revolution. Vestigial Empire: The Sovereign's authority once spanned the entire continent of Zulla, but the nation of Varn has seceded and the region of Tarreen — which as on the far side of Varn — is so remote there is almost no direct rule. This leaves only the heartland region of Rabu and the Far North under actual control, even though Hesod still claims the title 'Sovereign of Zulla'.

Doomed Hometown: Ayla’s village was burned down seven years ago and all the villagers were killed. She was the only survivor. It is later revealed that there were more survivors, including Ayla’s brother Storme. The moon is full,” said Rowan now, looking straight ahead, in the hushed, coded tone Ayla had come to know so well. Beneath Notice: It frequently comes up that Automae do not know all of the secret ways for servants to get around their palaces, or notice the servants themselves at work. Sometimes this is plot-important when characters take advantage of this, but other times it just emphasizes how arrogant and elitist the Automae are. However, Crier’s War did stumble at places. The setup wasn’t the most original to begin with. There was very little worldbuilding, and the sole focus on the two leads rendered most of the side characters one-dimensional and forgettable.Politically-Active Princess: Lady Crier has ambitions of joining the Red Hands, the ruling council, and has many ideas for political reforms in Zulla. She is crushed when Hesod keeps forcing her out of the room, metaphorically and once literally. Hesod hedged. “Their views on humankind are too extreme for my taste. It is one thing to subjugate those who are inferior and another thing entirely to behave as if they don’t exist. We must build policy around the reality of where we came from. We were not created in a void, history-less. It is ignorant to think we cannot learn from humanity’s existing structures.”

Flowers!” she called out, trying to keep her voice light. It was almost sunset, almost time to give up for the day, but there were still far too many unsold garlands in her basket. “We’ve got seaflowers, apple blossoms, the prettiest salt lavender up and down the coast!” And besides, if there were something off, something Flawed, something different about her, she’d know it already . . . wouldn’t she? Now, Ayla, a human servant rising the ranks at the House of the Sovereign, dreams of avenging the death of her family… by killing the Sovereign’s daughter, Lady Crier. Crier, who was Made to be beautiful, to be flawless. And to take over the work of her father. Ayla huffed. “You of all people know if we don’t sell every single one of these flowers, we won’t get dinner.”Ayla - Bi! A human girl who lost her family and everything else after the Automaes raised up and overthrew the humans.