A Shadow in the Ember

In A Shadow in the Ember, Jennifer Armentrout underscores the moral imperative for those in power to acknowledge and address the issues of the less fortunate. In Lasania, there is a stark contrast between the luxury of the privileged and the suffering of the common people, primarily farmers facing the devastating consequences of the Rot. As the curse spreads, claiming homes and livelihoods, the nobility persist in their lavish lifestyles. Characters like Sera’s mother Queen Calliaphe justify their spending as keeping up appearances in the face of other nations. However, this comes at a cost to common people. During the lavish preparations for the Rite of Ascension, Sera thinks, “As I walked, I couldn’t believe how the entire floor of Wayfair Palace smelled of roasted meat and baking desserts, while the Coupers lay dead in their bed” (198). The perspective of the working class is shown through a woman’s speech in Croft’s Cross, a district known for its high levels of crime and poverty: “The Crown doesn’t care that we’re losing our jobs, homes, families, and futures […] They go to sleep with full bellies while we starve” (112). As the Rot spreads and the chasm between the privileged and the impoverished widens, the need for responsibility becomes more pressing. Some people of privilege, like Sera’s stepsister Ezra and Ezra’s love interest Lady Marisol, actively help those in need by providing food, shelter, and payment for those unable to work. However, most do nothing to help. While King Ernald is concerned about the Rot, he would rather wait for a solution than actively deal with the problem. Tavius, heir to the throne of Lasania, does not care about the common people at all: “Tavius often referred to them as the lower class. Only someone not fit to rule would think of the backbone of the kingdom as such” (194). As heir, his apathy presents a significant danger to the people he is supposed to rule. He instead fixates on hedonism and hostility, fearing Sera, the “true” heir (due to her being the daughter of the previous King of Lasania), will reclaim the throne. Despite her own insecurity as the Maiden, Sera cares about the common people and pushes forward for their sake.

As the story progresses, this theme of power and responsibility extends beyond the mortal realm into the divine. Kolis is the godly counterpart to Tavius’s apathy and cruelty. Because he is not the true Primal of Life, he cannot Ascend his Chosen. Instead, when he brings them to Ilisseum, “they are treated as objects to be used and given away, toyed with and eventually broken” (430). Specifically, Kolis uses the Chosen in twisted experiments to create his own form of life. His mistreatment of those with less power reflects the inequalities in the mortal realm. Selfishness is the source of the Rot, as he stole the position of Primal of Life from his twin, Ash’s father Eythos, and twists his power. By contrast, Ash has turned the Shadowlands into a safe haven for those seeking refuge from other Primals, particularly the Chosen. He does not do this for personal satisfaction, but simply because it is the just thing to do: “I don’t stand by and do nothing, even if it may appear that way. That is how I prefer it […] That is how I keep people like Erlina alive” (432). The characters inhabiting the Shadowlands testify to his compassion and just leadership: As Aios says, “I trust no one in either realm more than Nyktos, nor would I feel safer anywhere else” (304). They follow and serve Ash because they recognize he cares. His actions challenge the norms of divine behavior, suggesting such power should be wielded responsibly. Through mortal and divine characters, the novel frames abuse of power and the origin of the Rot as destructive because they are in service of one, rather than the greater good.