Heir of Death's Bargain

Selestra Somniatis, heir to the Somniatis witches, is bound by a blood oath to the immortal King Seryth. Her life is one of isolation, her touch dangerous, her future predetermined: to inherit her mother's power and serve the king by predicting deaths and collecting souls. Each year, the Festival of Predictions draws desperate souls to bargain for a wish, risking their lives and souls for a chance at survival or glory. Selestra's existence is a gilded cage, her power both a gift and a curse, and her only hope for freedom lies in the impossible: breaking the cycle of servitude and death that has defined her family for generations.

Festival of Predictions

The Festival of Predictions is a spectacle of hope and doom. Two hundred seekers line up for a chance to cheat death, offering a lock of hair to the king's witch in exchange for a prophecy. Selestra assists her mother, Theola, in the ritual, witnessing the king's hunger for souls and the despair of those who realize the cost of their wish. The rules are clear: survive three brushes with death, and a wish is granted; go further, and the king himself will hunt you. Selestra's empathy clashes with her duty, and she questions the morality of her family's magic, even as she is forced to play her part in the king's cruel game.

Soldier's Gamble

Nox Laederic, a charming and skilled soldier of the Last Army, enters the Festival not for a wish, but for vengeance. Haunted by his father's mysterious death and driven by rumors of a weapon that can kill the king, Nox bargains his soul, determined to survive the month and break Seryth's immortality. His bravado masks deep pain and a relentless need to prove himself. Nox's entry into the Festival is a calculated risk, one that will set him on a collision course with Selestra and the fate of the Six Isles.

Fates Entwined

When Selestra is forced to give Nox his prediction, their touch triggers a vision unlike any she's had before: not only does she see Nox's death, but her own, intertwined with his. The king's mark appears on her palm, binding their fates together. Both are shaken—Selestra by the horror of her own mortality, Nox by the witch's fear. Their destinies are now linked by magic and prophecy, and survival for one means survival for the other. The rules of the Festival have been broken, and a new, dangerous path opens before them.

The Witch's Vision

Selestra struggles with the consequences of her vision, hiding the truth from her mother and the king. She seeks solace in painting and sparring with her friend Irenya, but the weight of her impending death and the knowledge that Nox's fate is tied to hers gnaw at her. Meanwhile, Nox prepares for the dangers ahead, seeking allies and making plans to escape the king's grasp. Both are forced to confront the reality that their choices—and their trust in each other—will determine not only their own survival, but the fate of the kingdom.

Chains and Choices

Desperate to change her fate, Selestra sneaks out of the castle for the first time, determined to warn Nox and prevent their shared death. Disguised, she finds him in a tavern, but their encounter quickly spirals into violence as a bar brawl erupts, fulfilling her vision a day early. Selestra's intervention saves Nox, but exposes her magic and identity, forcing her to confront the consequences of defiance. Their bond deepens, forged in fire and fear, as they realize that only together can they hope to outwit death and the king.

Night in the Lower Towns

Nox and Selestra navigate the treacherous world of the lower towns, where trust is scarce and every move is watched. Nox seeks help from old contacts, while Selestra grapples with guilt and the growing realization that her family's magic is both a weapon and a prison. Their partnership is uneasy, marked by banter and suspicion, but necessity forces them to rely on each other. As the king's forces close in, they must decide whether to risk everything for a chance at freedom—or be consumed by the roles they were born to play.

Flames and Forewarnings

The aftermath of the tavern fire leaves Selestra and Nox fugitives, hunted by the king and haunted by the knowledge that their fates are inseparable. Selestra's magic grows stronger—and more unpredictable—as she siphons life to save Nox, blurring the line between healer and destroyer. The king's grip tightens, and Selestra is confined to her tower, her only hope lying in escape. Nox, wounded but undeterred, plots their next move, determined to find the legendary sword and end the king's reign, even as the cost mounts.

Ties That Bind

With the help of friends, Selestra and Nox orchestrate a daring escape from the castle, pursued by the king and Theola. Their flight is fraught with danger, betrayal, and the ever-present threat of death. Along the way, they gather allies—Micah, Irenya, and the eccentric inventor Leo—and set their sights on the Southern Isle of Polemistés, rumored to hold the key to the king's destruction. Their journey is a test of trust, courage, and the willingness to sacrifice for a future neither thought possible.

The King's Mark

On Polemistés, Selestra and Nox face the legendary Forest of Trials, a gauntlet of magic and memory designed to test their worth. Selestra confronts her family's past, the darkness of her mother's choices, and the true nature of her power. Nox is forced to reckon with his father's legacy and the cost of vengeance. Together, they discover that the real weapon against the king is not a sword, but the union of their strengths—and the willingness to choose a different path.

Secrets and Sacrifice

Emerging from the trials, Selestra is blessed by Asclepina, the goddess of her line, and inherits the full power of the Somniatis witches. Eldara, the lost queen, sacrifices her remaining magic to ensure Selestra's ascension. With new strength and clarity, Selestra embraces her destiny—not as the king's witch, but as a queen in her own right. Nox, too, finds purpose beyond revenge, their bond now one of love and shared hope. Together, they prepare for the final confrontation, knowing that victory will demand everything they have left.

The Price of Power

The Red Moon rises, and the king's forces descend on Polemistés. The final battle is brutal and costly: friends fall, sacrifices are made, and Selestra is forced to face her mother in a duel of magic and will. Nox confronts Seryth, avenging his father and breaking the cycle of violence. As the king's immortality unravels, the souls he has devoured are set free, and the curse that bound the Six Isles is finally broken. In the aftermath, Selestra and Nox must reckon with the cost of victory—and the responsibility of rebuilding a world scarred by centuries of darkness.

Escape from the Tower

With the king and Theola gone, Selestra and Nox are left to pick up the pieces. They mourn their losses, honor the dead, and begin the work of healing the Six Isles. Selestra is crowned queen, not as a ruler of fear, but as a leader of hope and renewal. Nox stands by her side, their love a testament to the power of choice and change. Together, they vow to end the Festival of Predictions, restore magic as a force for good, and open the islands to a future shaped by compassion, courage, and the freedom to choose one's own destiny.

Characters

Selestra Somniatis

Selestra is the sixteen-year-old heir to the Somniatis witches, raised in isolation and bound by a blood oath to serve the immortal King Seryth. Her life is defined by duty, loneliness, and the fear of her own power, which allows her to predict death and siphon souls. Selestra's journey is one of self-discovery: from a passive participant in the king's cruel games to a defiant leader who claims her own destiny. Her empathy and longing for freedom set her apart from her mother, Theola, and the legacy of darkness that haunts her family. Through trials, sacrifice, and love, Selestra learns to wield her magic for good, ultimately embracing her role as queen and redeemer of the Six Isles.

Nox Laederic

Nox is a charismatic, skilled soldier of the Last Army, haunted by the mysterious death of his father, Asden. Driven by a need for justice and a desire to break the king's immortality, Nox bargains his soul in the Festival of Predictions, setting in motion a chain of events that binds his fate to Selestra's. Beneath his bravado lies deep pain, loyalty, and a capacity for love that surprises even himself. Nox's journey is one of transformation: from a tool of vengeance to a partner in hope, willing to sacrifice everything for a future shaped by choice rather than fate.

Theola Somniatis

Theola is Selestra's mother and the current Somniatis witch, bound by a blood oath to serve King Seryth. Once loving and warm, she has become cold, ruthless, and resigned to her role as the king's instrument of death. Theola's relationship with Selestra is fraught with tension, regret, and unspoken love, her actions shaped by the curse that robs her of agency. In the end, Theola's tragedy is her inability to break free, serving as a warning of what Selestra might become if she does not choose her own path.

King Seryth

Seryth is the immortal king of the Six Isles, sustained by the souls of those who bargain in the Festival of Predictions. Charismatic, beautiful, and utterly ruthless, he manipulates the witches and his subjects alike, using fear and magic to maintain his rule. Seryth's obsession with power and immortality is both his strength and his undoing, as he underestimates the capacity for rebellion and love in those he seeks to control. His downfall is a testament to the limits of tyranny and the inevitability of change.

Irenya

Irenya is Selestra's closest friend and confidante, an apprentice dressmaker with a sharp wit and unwavering loyalty. She provides Selestra with comfort, support, and a connection to the world beyond the castle. Irenya's courage and resourcefulness are vital in the group's escape and survival, and her presence grounds Selestra, reminding her of the importance of friendship and hope in the face of darkness.

Micah

Micah is Nox's best friend and fellow soldier, a voice of caution and reason amid chaos. His loyalty to Nox is absolute, and he provides both comic relief and emotional support throughout their journey. Micah's death in the final battle is a devastating loss, underscoring the cost of war and the sacrifices required for freedom.

Eldara

Eldara is the exiled queen of Thavma and Selestra's great-great-grandaunt, living in hiding on Polemistés. Wise, gentle, and burdened by regret, she guides Selestra through the trials and ultimately sacrifices her remaining magic to ensure Selestra's ascension. Eldara represents the possibility of redemption and the enduring power of legacy, her faith in Selestra a catalyst for change.

Asden Laederic

Asden is Nox's father and Selestra's secret mentor, a former general who trained both to fight and survive. His death at the hands of the king and Theola is the inciting trauma for both protagonists, shaping their motivations and fears. Asden's memory haunts Nox and inspires Selestra, his legacy a reminder of the cost of defiance and the importance of choosing one's own path.

Leo Borane

Leo is an eccentric inventor who aids Nox and Selestra in their escape, providing them with the means to travel to Polemistés. His inventions, humor, and pragmatism offer moments of levity and ingenuity, helping the group overcome obstacles that brute force and magic cannot.

Lady Asclepina

Asclepina is the patron goddess of the Somniatis line, embodying healing, immortality, and the balance of life and death. Her blessing is the key to Selestra's transformation from witch to queen, and her presence in the trials affirms the possibility of using magic for good. Asclepina's legacy is one of hope, compassion, and the courage to break cycles of violence.

Plot Devices

The Festival of Predictions

The Festival is the central plot device, a ritual where participants risk their souls for a wish, binding themselves to the king through a lock of hair and a prophecy. It serves as both a literal and symbolic mechanism for exploring themes of choice, sacrifice, and the cost of power. The Festival's rules—survive three deaths for a wish, go further to challenge the king—create a ticking clock and a structure for the narrative, driving the characters toward confrontation and change.

The Blood Oath and Magical Binding

The blood oath that binds the Somniatis witches to the king is a powerful metaphor for inherited trauma and the struggle for autonomy. It manifests physically (the king's mark) and psychologically, shaping the characters' choices and relationships. The magical binding between Selestra and Nox, triggered by their shared vision, subverts the rules of the Festival and forces them to confront the consequences of connection, trust, and interdependence.

Prophecy and Vision

Selestra's ability to see the future—and the pain it brings—serves as both a plot engine and a source of character development. The visions are used for foreshadowing, suspense, and emotional stakes, but also as a means for Selestra to learn that the future is not fixed, and that agency lies in the willingness to act. The evolution from seeing only death to glimpsing hope and life is a key turning point.

The Trials and the Goddess's Blessing

The Forest of Trials and the encounter with Asclepina are classic quest motifs, providing a crucible for Selestra's growth and the acquisition of new abilities. The trials are tailored to her fears and strengths, forcing her to confront her past, her family, and her own capacity for good. The goddess's blessing is both a literal power-up and a symbolic passing of the torch, enabling Selestra to break the cycle of violence and become a leader in her own right.

Dual Narrative and Intertwined Fates

The alternating perspectives of Selestra and Nox allow for deep psychological exploration and the development of a complex, evolving relationship. Their fates are intertwined not just by magic, but by shared trauma, mutual need, and the gradual emergence of love. The dual narrative structure heightens tension, allows for dramatic irony, and underscores the theme that true change requires partnership and trust.

Analysis

Princess of Souls is a dark, romantic fantasy that interrogates the nature of destiny, power, and the possibility of breaking cycles of violence. Through the entwined journeys of Selestra and Nox, Alexandra Christo explores the tension between fate and agency, the burden of inherited trauma, and the redemptive power of choice. The novel subverts traditional fairy tale tropes—witches, princesses, and immortal kings—by granting its heroine not only the power to destroy, but the courage to heal and lead. The Festival of Predictions serves as a metaphor for the bargains we make with power and the cost of survival in a corrupt system. Selestra's transformation from pawn to queen, and Nox's evolution from avenger to partner, reflect a modern yearning for stories where love, compassion, and self-determination triumph over fear and tyranny. The book's ultimate message is one of hope: that even in a world shaped by darkness, it is possible to choose light, to forgive, and to build a future defined not by the sins of the past, but by the courage to imagine something better.

Last updated: September 27, 2025