The City

The City serves as the main setting for the novel. The City is highly futuristic, has commercial and residential areas, is composed of skyscrapers and modern buildings intermixed with medieval-styled buildings and castles. Its residents wear a mixture of medieval and modern clothing. The City is run by the King, with law enforcement being upheld by the Institute. The City is home to Goldenloin and to Ballister, and becomes a battleground between them. Much of the city is destroyed late in the novel when Nimona’s worse half wreaks havoc in the form of a monstrous dragon.

Ballister's Lair and Fortress

Ballister’s lair consists of a secret fortress that the reader is never told how to get to. These whereabouts are known about by the Institute and by Goldenloin, however. The fortress exists in the City itself, making Ballister’s access to conducting villainous plots all...