Origins of Rebellion

In the land of Zulla, humans once ruled, but the creation of the Automae—artificial beings powered by heartstone—sparked a revolution. The War of Kinds ended with Automae in power, humans subjugated, and a new era of uneasy peace. The sovereign, Hesod, rules with an iron hand, enforcing Traditionalism: a philosophy that mimics human customs but keeps humans oppressed. The story's roots are in the pain of this transition, the trauma of rebellion, and the birth of a society built on the ruins of another. The seeds of resistance and the longing for justice are sown in the blood and memories of both Kinds, setting the stage for a new generation to challenge the order.

The Hunt and the Heir

Crier, the sovereign's Automa daughter, is introduced as the perfect heir—Designed to be flawless, yet haunted by questions of her own nature. Her father arranges her engagement to Kinok, a powerful and enigmatic Scyre, hoping to unite political factions. The Hunt, a ritual echoing human tradition, becomes a metaphor for Crier's own search for identity and belonging. Kinok's presence is both alluring and threatening, and Crier's first doubts about her own Design and the world she inhabits begin to surface. The chapter sets up the tension between duty and desire, and the subtle cracks in the Automae's supposed perfection.

Seeds of Vengeance

Ayla, a human servant, is driven by the trauma of her family's murder during a raid ordered by Hesod. She survives through the care of Rowan, a rebel leader, and the friendship of Benjy. Ayla's life is a daily struggle for survival and dignity, but beneath it all burns a singular purpose: to kill Crier and avenge her family. The human world is depicted as vibrant yet desperate, full of coded resistance and small acts of defiance. Ayla's anger is her armor, but it also isolates her, making her both a weapon and a wound.

Human and Automae Divide

The palace is a microcosm of the larger world: Automae rule with calculated grace, humans serve in fear and resentment. Crier's curiosity about humans and Ayla's hatred for Automae bring them into each other's orbit. Their first real encounter is charged with danger and unexpected connection—Ayla saves Crier from falling off a cliff, an act that blurs the lines between enemy and savior. Both are left shaken, questioning their roles and the stories they've been told about each other. The divide is deep, but the possibility of something more begins to flicker.

Designs and Flaws

Crier discovers evidence that her Design may have been sabotaged by her Midwife, giving her a forbidden fifth pillar: Passion. This revelation terrifies her—if true, it makes her Flawed, a potential liability and a target for political enemies. Kinok's manipulations deepen, as he uses the threat of exposure to bind Crier to him. Meanwhile, Ayla is drawn into Crier's world as her new handmaiden, both as a spy for the resistance and as a would-be assassin. The tension between them grows, complicated by mutual fascination and the secrets they keep.

The Law of Falling

As Crier and Ayla navigate their new relationship, the boundaries between duty and desire blur. Crier is both drawn to and afraid of Ayla, sensing in her a mirror of her own hidden humanity. Ayla, torn between her mission and her growing understanding of Crier, hesitates to strike. The law of falling—gravity, inevitability—becomes a metaphor for their connection. Both are caught in forces larger than themselves, unable to resist the pull. Their alliance is fragile, built on shared secrets and the ever-present threat of betrayal.

Dangerous Alliances

The engagement ball cements Crier and Kinok's alliance, but beneath the surface, factions maneuver for power. Kinok's Anti-Reliance Movement gains traction, advocating for Automae supremacy and the eradication of human influence. Crier is forced to wear Kinok's black armband, a symbol of allegiance she does not feel. Queen Junn of Varn arrives, bringing with her a vision of coexistence and a warning: Kinok is more dangerous than anyone realizes. Crier is recruited as a spy for Junn, setting up a web of alliances and betrayals that will shape the fate of both Kinds.

The Black Dust Conspiracy

Ayla and the resistance uncover Kinok's secret project: the creation and distribution of a black dust called Nightshade, a potential replacement for heartstone that would make Automae invulnerable. Faye, a traumatized servant, is revealed as an unwitting pawn in Kinok's scheme, her actions leading to tragedy and furthering the cycle of violence. The resistance's efforts to expose Kinok are met with brutal reprisals, and the cost of rebellion becomes painfully clear. The stakes are raised—not just for Ayla and Crier, but for the future of all humanity.

The Mad Queen Arrives

Queen Junn's visit brings both danger and opportunity. Her court is a model of Automae-human coexistence, but her methods are ruthless. Ayla is shocked to discover her long-lost brother Storme among Junn's entourage, alive but changed. The reunion is fraught with pain and unanswered questions, forcing Ayla to confront the cost of survival and the meaning of loyalty. Crier, inspired by Junn's example and desperate to stop Kinok, deepens her involvement in the resistance. The lines between friend and foe, love and hate, become ever more blurred.

Secrets and Betrayals

Crier and Ayla's relationship reaches a breaking point as secrets come to light. The memory locket Ayla carries is revealed to hold the key to a forgotten history—a prototype Automa named Yora, created by Ayla's ancestors, whose heart (Tourmaline) could grant immortality to Automae. Kinok's true ambitions are exposed: he seeks Tourmaline to cement his power and end human resistance forever. Betrayals multiply—Crier's coded messages to Junn lead to the deaths of political rivals, and Ayla's failed assassination attempt leaves both reeling. The cost of revolution is measured in blood and heartbreak.

The Memory Locket

The locket's memories reveal the intertwined fates of Ayla's family and the origins of the Automae. Siena, Ayla's grandmother, was the true creator of Yora and Tourmaline, her work stolen by Thomas Wren. The locket is both a weapon and a legacy, holding the secret that could change everything. Crier realizes that saving Ayla—and stopping Kinok—means embracing her own humanity, her capacity for love and pain. The past is not dead; it lives on in the choices they make and the futures they dare to imagine.

The Failed Assassination

Ayla, torn between vengeance and love, cannot bring herself to kill Crier. The failed assassination sets off a chain reaction: the palace is thrown into chaos, the resistance's plans unravel, and both Ayla and Crier become fugitives in their own ways. Crier's father, desperate to maintain control, accelerates her wedding to Kinok and orders Ayla's execution. The revolution falters, but the bond between Ayla and Crier endures, transformed by shared suffering and the refusal to give in to hate.

Revolution in the Shadows

Ayla and Benjy, hunted and wounded, flee into exile, carrying with them the last hope of the resistance. Crier, trapped by duty and surrounded by enemies, must choose between survival and rebellion. The memory of Rowan, the fallen mentor, haunts both, a reminder of what has been lost and what is still at stake. The war is not over; it has only changed shape, moving from open battle to secret struggle. The future is uncertain, but the fight continues.

The Truth of Passion

At the Midwifery, Crier learns that her supposed Flaw was a lie—she is not less than Automa, but more. Her capacity for passion, for love, is not a defect but a gift. The realization is both liberating and devastating, forcing her to confront the choices she has made and the person she wants to become. The war is not just between Kinds, but within the self: the struggle to reconcile reason and feeling, duty and desire. Crier's love for Ayla becomes her strength, not her weakness.

The War to Come

As Crier prepares for her wedding—a trap set by both Kinok and Queen Junn—she resolves to fight for a future where love and justice are possible. Ayla, carrying the legacy of her family and the hope of the resistance, sets out to find Storme and unlock the secrets of Tourmaline. The war is far from over, but the lines have shifted: the true battle is for the soul of Zulla, for the right to choose one's own destiny. In the end, it is not perfection or power that will decide the future, but the courage to love and the will to resist.

Characters

Crier

Crier is the sovereign's Automa daughter, Designed to be perfect but haunted by the suspicion that she is Flawed. Her journey is one of self-discovery, as she grapples with the revelation of a forbidden fifth pillar—Passion—and the fear that it makes her less than what she was meant to be. Crier's relationship with her father is fraught with expectation and disappointment, while her engagement to Kinok is a political trap. Her fascination with humans, especially Ayla, leads her to question the foundations of her world. Crier's arc is a movement from obedience to rebellion, from self-doubt to self-acceptance, and from isolation to love. Her struggle is not just against external enemies, but against the limits of her own Design and the meaning of humanity itself.

Ayla

Ayla is a human servant whose life is defined by loss and rage. The murder of her family by Hesod's men fuels her quest for vengeance, but her anger is both a weapon and a wound. Ayla's relationship with Rowan and Benjy anchors her, but she keeps everyone at arm's length, afraid that love will only bring more pain. Her mission to kill Crier is complicated by unexpected empathy and attraction, forcing her to confront the possibility of forgiveness and change. Ayla's arc is one of transformation: from assassin to ally, from victim to agent of her own destiny. Her journey is a testament to the power of resilience, the cost of justice, and the possibility of hope in a broken world.

Kinok

Kinok is a Scyre, a political and scientific leader whose ambition knows no bounds. He is the founder of the Anti-Reliance Movement, advocating for Automae supremacy and the eradication of human influence. Kinok's charm masks a ruthless pragmatism; he uses secrets, blackmail, and violence to achieve his goals. His relationship with Crier is a web of manipulation, as he seeks to control her through fear and the threat of exposure. Kinok's ultimate aim is to obtain Tourmaline, the secret to Automa immortality, and cement his power. He is both a product and a driver of the system's cruelty, embodying the dangers of unchecked ambition and ideological purity.

Hesod

Hesod is the ruler of Zulla, a Traditionalist who believes in the value of human customs but enforces them through oppression. He is both a loving father and a ruthless leader, willing to sacrifice anything for stability and control. Hesod's relationship with Crier is complex—he sees her as both a masterpiece and a tool, a symbol of his legacy and a means to an end. His fear of rebellion and loss of power drives many of the story's conflicts, and his inability to see beyond his own perspective blinds him to the suffering he causes. Hesod is a tragic figure, trapped by the very system he upholds.

Rowan

Rowan is a human seamstress and the heart of the resistance, a surrogate mother to Ayla and Benjy. Her strength lies in her ability to nurture and inspire, but she is haunted by the losses she cannot prevent. Rowan's belief in justice is unwavering, but her hope is tested by repeated failures and betrayals. Her death is a turning point, galvanizing Ayla and the resistance to continue the fight. Rowan represents the cost of revolution and the enduring power of love and memory.

Benjy

Benjy is Ayla's closest friend, a survivor who balances hope and bitterness. His gentleness contrasts with Ayla's fury, but he is not immune to the world's cruelty. Benjy's loyalty is both a strength and a vulnerability, as he struggles to support Ayla while grappling with his own desires and fears. His role in the resistance is vital, but his greatest contribution is the emotional anchor he provides. Benjy's arc is one of quiet courage and the pain of loving those who are always at risk.

Queen Junn

Junn is the ruler of Varn, a territory where Automae and humans coexist. She is both admired and feared, known for her ruthlessness and her commitment to equality. Junn recruits Crier as a spy, offering a vision of a different future but demanding loyalty and sacrifice. Her methods are pragmatic, even brutal, and her willingness to eliminate threats—including allies—makes her a dangerous force. Junn embodies the complexities of leadership in a fractured world, where ideals and survival are often at odds.

Storme

Storme is Ayla's twin, presumed dead but revealed to be alive and serving Queen Junn. His survival is both a miracle and a wound, as he has been changed by his experiences and the choices he has made. Storme's relationship with Ayla is strained by guilt, betrayal, and the impossibility of returning to the past. He represents the cost of adaptation and the ways in which trauma reshapes identity and loyalty.

Faye

Faye is a human servant whose mind is shattered by grief and manipulation. Used by Kinok to further his schemes, Faye's actions have unintended and tragic consequences. Her story is a microcosm of the larger suffering inflicted by the system, and her fate is a warning about the dangers of powerlessness and exploitation.

Rosi

Rosi is Crier's closest Automa companion, drawn into Kinok's orbit through loyalty and ambition. Her addiction to Nightshade, the black dust, mirrors the larger corruption of the Automae elite. Rosi's decline and eventual irrelevance highlight the personal costs of political games and the fragility of status in a world built on secrets and lies.

Plot Devices

Dual Perspectives and Mirrored Journeys

The story alternates between Crier and Ayla, allowing readers to experience both sides of the conflict. Their mirrored arcs—one seeking to become more human, the other struggling to hold onto her humanity—create a powerful symmetry. This device deepens the emotional impact and underscores the central theme: the artificial boundaries between Kinds are less significant than the choices individuals make.

Memory and the Locket

The memory locket is both a literal and symbolic device, containing the hidden history of Ayla's family and the origins of the Automae. Its activation through blood ties the personal to the political, revealing that the struggle for justice is rooted in forgotten pain and stolen legacy. The locket's revelations drive the plot forward and force characters to confront uncomfortable truths.

Foreshadowing and Political Intrigue

Early references to sabotage, rebellion, and the dangers of passion foreshadow the later revelations about Crier's Design and Kinok's ambitions. The use of coded messages, secret alliances, and shifting loyalties creates a web of intrigue that keeps the reader guessing. The narrative structure, with its interludes of historical documents and personal records, adds depth and context, making the world feel lived-in and complex.

Forbidden Love and the Law of Falling

The romance between Crier and Ayla is fraught with risk, both personal and political. Their connection is depicted as inevitable—a law of falling—yet always on the edge of disaster. This device heightens the emotional stakes and serves as a metaphor for the larger struggle: the possibility of change, even in the face of overwhelming odds.

Revolution and the Cost of Change

The plot is propelled by acts of rebellion, both grand and intimate. The cost of resistance is measured in lives lost, friendships broken, and innocence destroyed. The story does not shy away from the pain of revolution, but it also insists on the necessity of hope and the possibility of a better world.

Analysis

Crier's War is a lush, emotionally charged exploration of power, identity, and the boundaries between self and other. At its heart, the novel interrogates what it means to be human—whether humanity is a matter of birth, Design, or choice. Through the intertwined journeys of Crier and Ayla, the story dismantles the binaries of oppressor and oppressed, machine and flesh, love and hate. The narrative's use of dual perspectives, memory, and forbidden love invites readers to question the stories they inherit and the systems they uphold. The book's political intrigue and revolutionary fervor resonate with contemporary struggles for justice, while its focus on queer love and chosen family offers a vision of resistance rooted in vulnerability and connection. Ultimately, Crier's War argues that true change requires both courage and compassion—that the war for a better world is fought not just on battlefields, but in the willingness to see oneself in the enemy, to risk everything for the possibility of something new.

Last updated: October 26, 2025