Genre
Novel
Setting and Context
Set in the fictional city of Tova
Narrator and Point of View
Third-person narrative
Tone and Mood
Nostalgic, sarcastic, humorous
Protagonist and Antagonist
The central character is Xiala.
Major Conflict
The main conflict is that Neranpa, the Sun Priest of Tova, faces dangers because her position is questionable. For instance, a Sun priest is expected to come from an influential clan.
Climax
The climax comes when Xiala and Serapio arrive in Tova. Serapio’s primary mission to kill the watchers is revealed when he successfully executes his mission.
Foreshadowing
The death of Carrion Crow foreshadowed Neranpa's tribulations; her son challenged her.
Understatement
The power of Serapio is underrated when he first arrives in Tova. Later, it is realized that Serapio is a dangerous person after killing several Watchers.
Allusions
The story alludes to the ancient activities of the fictional city of Tova.
Imagery
The book opens with imagery of smell with the description of the cup. The author writes, “The cup was long and thin and filled with a pale creamy liquid. When he sniffed it, he smelled the orange flowers that grew in looping tendrils outside his window….”
Paradox
The main paradox is that the ability of Serapio’s destructive nature is understated when he first arrives in Tova.
Parallelism
N/A
Metonymy and Synecdoche
The solar eclipse is used as a metonymy for sacred events in a holy city.
Personification
The ship is personified as kind.
