Two story threads raise perplexing questions of ethics and human behavior. First, the Queen of Attolia has committed many acts that would usually be considered evil.

Eddis's queen, who has not had to use violence to keep her throne, nonetheless says that in the other queen's place, she would have done the same. Modern democracies pride themselves in believing that their political leaders reject such drastic means of holding power. Yet a case can be made that a ruler needs a touch of ruthlessness to be effective. Some parts of the world still sometimes impose the death penalty for treason, which is in essence what Attolia's rebel barons were accused of. Readers must ask themselves whether they use different standards in judging state actions (like the queens') than those of individuals.

Similarly, Eugenides says that the Queen of Attolia is "like a prisoner within stone walls...