Point of View

The novel is written entirely in third person omniscient with the point of view switching between Rachel, the chorus, and Pemberton. The reader is privy to the thoughts and actions of the characters involved. For example, the author often shares Pemberton's thoughts about Serena's beauty and the choices he has made as well as Rachel's thoughts on losing those she has loved. However, the book never shifts to Serena's perspective, which is interesting since she is the title character. Serena is a mysterious character and the author likely intended to keep her thoughts and motivations hidden as she hides the real details of her life and her past from those around her.

The shift in point of view allows the reader to connect with the people who are affected by the brutal decisions Serena makes. Rachel is immediately created as a sympathetic character in the...