Coming of Age

Several of the characters of this novel are young people who are struggling to find their place in a world that is torn by war while dealing with their own personal war of emerging maturity. These characters deal with an array of issues and learn in various ways depending on their circumstances and the true character of each.

One of the most important aspects of this theme is seen in the way Fletcher begins to mature because of his personal experiences. Fletcher seems somewhat immature during the first scenes of the novel because he has led a relatively sheltered life without learning very much about the world as a whole. The noble families are far removed from his life in Pelt, and a spoiled boy named Didric is the closest thing there is in that small village to nobility. Didric's father is ruthless and...