Shadowmarch - Themes

Themes

The series in notable for its feminist themes.

Princess, later Queen, Briony struggles to reconcile the social expectations of her as a woman with the demands of ruling Southmarch. She initially attempts to renounce some of the trappings of historical femininity, by dressing in men's clothing, but later reconciles herself to aspects of her court's expectations without entirely accepting them.

She is shown to be significantly more grounded and responsible than her brother Barrick.

She initially resents the prospect of being married for political convenience, and later considers a political marriage of her own volition. Eventually she accepts some political limitations on her relationship with the man she loves.

The Godswar is initially presented as having started when a god abducted a goddess, prompting her family to go to war to rescue her. This is later revealed to be a victor's myth, to cover up the reality that the goddess eloped and her family fought to deny her that choice.

This is later inverted when it revealed that rather than the human king abducting and raping the Qar queen, and thus condemning her people to slow decline, she chose to elope with him.

Both events revolve around the revelation that a woman chose, rather than being forced to take, their lover. Each choice had significant consequences for the wider world.