Throne of the Fallen

Content Warning: This section of the guide describes sexual content, death, and death by suicide.

Throughout Throne of the Fallen, Kerri Maniscalco deliberately juxtaposes ideas of light and darkness to underline the needed but delicate balance within and between Envy and Camilla. One way in which this balance is emphasized is through the narrative’s emphasis on art, and the role it plays in both characters’ lives. Early on, the novel introduces the concept of chiaroscuro, an Italian term that refers to the interplay of light and shading within an artistic piece. The term first appears in Camilla’s observation of Envy’s painting studio: “As if [the studio] were chiaroscuro made solid, the chamber was a study of bold, dramatic contrasts—on one side a wall of floor-to-ceiling windows let in bright sunlight, and on the other dark paneled walls cast nearly black shadows in the corners” (189). This setting, with its balance of light and dark, parallels Envy’s character. As a private space isolated both from Envy’s court and his brothers, the studio is a rare insight into Envy’s mindset: While he does keep part of himself in the shadow, and is highly secretive, he also seeks out the light.