Inverted Gender Roles

The most prominent theme of inverted gender roles or gender inversion serves to make the reader question the fantasy stories or novels they have grown up with, and why they primarily have male leaders or male adventurers. This theme also proves to the reader that titles do not confer gender, and again asks the reader to consider why these ties are so common. Finally, Nix plays with titles that usually convey gender in order to make the reader wonder why they have the expectation of gender along with that title.

First, Nix primarily inverts these gender roles and characteristics through his characters - primarily Anya, but also the Good Wizard, and even her stepfather. Anya, while female and a princess, is not a typical fairy tale princess in that she is brave, kind, and fair. She does not shy away from a fight, or...