Reckless

“My blood is only useful if it can manage to stay inside my body.

My mind is only useful if it can manage to not get lost.

My heart is only useful if it can manage to not get broken.

Well, it seems I’ve become utterly useless, then.”

The first chapter of the novel, from Paedyn’s perspective, opens with lines that use parallelism, or a repetitive grammatical structure, to emphasize her dire situation. She’s wounded, heartbroken, and on the run following the events of Powerless. This quote exemplifies the author’s characteristic writing style, which uses highly lyrical syntax.

“It’s been three days since I stumbled back to my childhood home, haunted and half-dead. And yet, both my mind and body are far from healed.”

This passage frames the novel as a direct sequel to the events in Powerless, the first book in the series, which ended only three days before Reckless begins. In addition, the passage foreshadows Paedyn’s emotional and physical journey in the novel from seemingly hopeless and alone to healed and empowered.

“But I chose the shedding of blood over sentiment when I threw my beloved blade into the king’s throat. And my only regret is that he found it, promising to return it only when he’s stabbed it into my back.”

Here, Paedyn references the ending of Powerless, when she killed the king of Ilya, after which Kai, his son (and Paedyn’s romantic interest), swore to avenge his death. The relationship between Paedyn and the prince is complicated by her actions and Kai’s duty to bring her to justice, which Paedyn hints at by refusing to name him in this passage. By referring to Kai as “he” (with added emphasis), the text suggests that Paedyn can’t face her feelings for Kai at the moment due to guilt and betrayal.

“How do I always find myself in a chimney?”

At the beginning of Powerless, Paedyn climbs out of a chimney after stealing food to survive. The beginning of Reckless parallels that moment by depicting Paedyn climbing into a chimney to hide from Kai, who is pursuing her. This emphasizes Paedyn’s return to her original status as a criminal on the run, but her situation is now compounded by her having murdered the king and being branded an Ordinary.

“It’s been three days since I saw the hilt of this very weapon protruding from the king’s throat. Three days to grieve, and yet, I haven’t shed a single tear. Three days to prepare, and yet, no plan will truly free me from her. Three days to simply be Kitt and Kai—brothers—before we became king and Enforcer.”

In parallel to Paedyn’s perspective, the novel explores Kai’s state of mind during the past three days. Bound by his duty as an Enforcer, Kai reluctantly takes on the responsibility to bring Paedyn to justice. However, the fact that he doesn’t grieve his cruel, authoritarian father and the growing distance between him and Kitt foreshadow his moral dilemma, which thematically centers on Duty Versus Responsibility.

“I’d never given a second thought to what became of my soldiers’ bodies. And yet, here I am, hauling a man over my shoulder because of a girl who despises doling out death. I grunt under the Imperial’s weight, wondering why the hell I’m even bothering with this.

What has she done to me?”

This passage demonstrates Kai’s moral and emotional growth between the first and the second novel. In the first book, he buries Sadie only because Paedyn asks him to. Here, however, he does so of his own volition while reminiscing about Paedyn’s influence on him. This suggests that Kai has gained more respect for his subjects (regardless of their station) and a new understanding of his role as an Enforcer.

“The symmetry in their deaths was sickening—both of them bleeding out in my arms before I ran.”

Paedyn points out the similarities between the death of her father, whom Kai murdered, and that of her best friend, Adena, whom Blair killed in Powerless. Throughout Paedyn’s history, people she loves were brutally murdered in front of her and, as she points out, this has forced her to become a fugitive. In addition, the symmetry between her father’s death at Kai’s hands and the king’s death at hers underscores Paedyn and Kai’s ambivalent relationship. In short, those deaths emphasize Paedyn’s emotional trauma and her growth through adversity.

“Kitt is different. We are different. I no longer know where my brother ends and my king begins.”

Kai points out the shifting relationship between him and Kitt, in which circumstances have changed from a close bond as brothers to one bound by duty due to their respective roles. This shift thematically foreshadows Kitt’s evolving mindset throughout the novel as he becomes burdened by Duty Versus Responsibility and also signals the growing conflict between him and Kai.

“Pulling off the thick ring I was given the day I became Ilya’s Enforcer, I place it on his desk. ‘Give it back to me when I’ve earned your trust again.’”

The symbolism of Kai’s Enforcer ring foreshadows his growth throughout the novel. Although Kai accepts his role, he can’t fully reconcile his morality with his duty as an Enforcer. Temporarily setting the ring aside announces the shift in his loyalties as he grapples with the thematic concepts of Truth Versus Propaganda. The ring therefore thematically symbolizes Duty Versus Responsibility, which weighs heavily on Kai’s conscience and his heart.

“I press a calloused palm to the stubborn beat of my heart, proof that broken things can still serve a purpose. My fingers trail up to the familiar letter carved there, teasing me with the reminder of just how fragile I am.

O for Ordinary.”

Paedyn’s scar appeared as a symbol at the end of Powerless, when the king carved an “O” above her heart to humiliate her and brand her as a pariah. The symbolism of the gesture thus anchors Paedyn’s emotional journey in Reckless as she attempts to reclaim the significance of the mark in a new light and therefore assert her identity. At this point in the novel, Paedyn still views it as a symbol of vulnerability and shame, which foreshadows her growth.

“In a short amount of time, I’ve managed to take the life of three people. The thought has my stomach churning once again, and I twist to retch into the sand.

I never wanted to kill anyone. I never wanted—

But I had. I did. I do.

What have I become?”

Just as Paedyn’s influence prompted Kai to bury his fallen soldier, Paedyn is influenced by him, which reinforces the idea that they’re bound by fate. She has become a killer out of self-defense, which challenges her sense of morality and increases her emotional trauma.

“To think that anywhere other than Ilya, I’m the enigma. The unnatural thing to dispose of. I stare at him, this man who is essentially an Ordinary himself, though he lacks the Elite-weakening disease running through his veins. It’s no wonder the surrounding cities despise us for banishing the Ordinaries who are just like them.”

Reckless reverses the social dynamics at play in Powerless to explore the dynamics of Power and Powerlessness. In the first book, Kai, as a royal and gifted Elite, had powers that set him above everyone else. On the other hand, Paedyn, as a powerless Ordinary, was ostracized and oppressed. However, the second book is set mainly in Dor, a society where Kai can’t use the supernatural abilities that characterize him. For the first time, he’s a minority and made vulnerable by his powerlessness. This passage illustrates Kai’s mindset, twisted by propaganda aimed at ensuring Elite dominance, and foreshadows his later realization that the social order he believes in is a lie.

“Maybe that’s why I’m so desperate to start over here. Here, in Dor, where I’m Ordinary in a whole new sense of the word. One cannot be considered powerless if everyone else is as well. No, here, I’m considered equal. And nothing has ever sounded so unique.”

Building on the previous quote, this passage depicts Paedyn’s contrasting perspective on a society not bound by power dynamics. For the first time, her lack of supernatural abilities enables her to blend in and erase the inherent inequalities of the Elite society of Ilya. Dor introduces new political dynamics that prompt both Paedyn and Kai to reassess their understanding of power and identity.

“If she is Shadow, then I am Flame.

This girl is the very thing I can’t seem to escape—can’t seem to go anywhere without the remnants of her following. Where I am, she is. Whether it’s in the flesh or in the fragments of my mind.

And where there is a flame, there is always a shadow.”

This quote exemplifies what characterizes Kai and Paedyn’s relationship. Their parallel yet opposite histories complement each other in every aspect, which creates tension and gives their romance a sense of inevitability. In this instance, this dynamic is apparent in their chosen monikers, Shadow and Flame, opposite yet complementary elements that emphasize Paedyn and Kai’s inevitable fates.

“They don’t even know what they’re afraid of, what it is the Elites can do. What he can do. The Enforcer only has abilities when there are others to wield them from, though he’s a weapon himself. And yet they cower from the potential of his power, from the threat of an infamous Elite.

Maybe the unknown is half the horror.

He used their ignorance against them.”

This quote exemplifies the thematic significance of Truth Versus Propaganda in the novel. The king’s lies conditioned Kai to believe in an Elite-dominated social order. In this passage, he uses similar manipulation techniques to subdue his attackers, who fear him despite his actual powerlessness.

“She stands, sucking in a breath. ‘Let me help you fix the window. Please. It doesn’t have to stay broken.’

I look at her then. Let her look at me.

It’s only when she’s examined every crack in my calm facade that I say, ‘I’m afraid it’s beyond repair.’”

In this passage, Kitt and his cousin Andy have a highly metaphorical conversation about a window to depict Kitt’s possible mental health condition. Andy, who is concerned about Kitt’s well-being, visits him under the guise of fixing the window in his study. However, their exchange implicitly refers to Kitt’s mental state and ends with his admission that he has reached a point of no return.

“‘So you do understand why Ilya must remain the way it is.’

‘Yes,’ she says softly. ‘Greed.’”

This dialogue between Kai and Paedyn takes place after Kai interrogates Paedyn about her knowledge of Ilyan history. They learned different versions of that history due to their upbringings, which plays into the theme of Truth Versus Propaganda. Although Kai believes that the Elite-dominated social order is natural and logical, Paedyn’s response points out the oppressive and corrupt ideology that underlies it: “Greed.” This marks the first instance that directly challenges Kai’s beliefs and his first foray into questioning his father’s teachings.

“Something clamps around my ankle with a click.

I pull away, looking down to see the metal chain he brought out of the sewer with him. A single ankle cuff occupies each end of the three-foot chain. And he’s just fastened one of them to me.

‘What the hell—’ I haven’t even finished spewing the rest of my profanity before he’s clamping the other end of the chain to his own ankle. My eyes drift from his end to mine, blinking at the short length tethering us together.”

This quote introduces the symbolism inherent in the chain that Kai uses to prevent Paedyn from running away. From this moment until the chain’s removal at the novel’s end, the chain binds and symbolizes Kai and Paedyn’s relationship.

“How absurd to grieve a man who loved power more than his sons. How absurd to grieve a man who offered me no praise. How absurd to grieve a man who could never be pleased.

How unfair to grieve such a man.

So, I won’t any longer. I’m done with it. Truly.”

This passage, from Kitt’s perspective, reveals his changing mindset. For the first time since his ascent to the throne, he makes a conscious decision to reject his father’s legacy and embrace his new role in his own way. Until now, Kitt has struggled to reconcile his duty with his morality. However, his mental state is still unclear despite his newfound confidence, which leaves the ending ambiguous as to what Kitt’s true intentions are and thus builds suspense about the next book.

“‘Your spirit is familiar. You remind me of what could have been. In another life, I think Ava would have grown up to be like you.’

I struggle to laugh. ‘What, you wanted her to be a criminal?’

‘No,’ he murmurs. ‘I wanted her to be formidable. Recklessly bold. Powerful despite ability.’”

Harking back to the Prologue, where Kai celebrated his dead sister’s birthday by visiting her grave, Kai’s words in this exchange draw parallels between Ava and Paedyn. This reinforces Kai’s characterization as loyal and caring and retrospectively informs his attraction to Paedyn. The reference to Paedyn’s recklessness, echoing the novel’s title, suggests the significance of that quality to both Paedyn and Kai.

“‘You cannot be nothing when you are everything to someone else.’ My eyes climb up to his, finding them avoiding mine. It takes several heartbeats for him to open his mouth, spilling words that sound unsure. ‘And that is what you were to your father. Whether or not he was your flesh and blood. He loved you more than most.’”

Kai points out the difference between different kinds of family relationships. While Paedyn’s father wasn’t her blood relative, they had a strong, loving bond that enabled her to experience unconditional love. On the other hand, Kai and his father, although biologically related, had a strained, oppressive relationship. This foreshadows Kai’s shift from feeling obligated to fulfill his duty because of his family toward feeling responsible for Paedyn because of their loving bond.

“‘He didn’t ruin you, Pae,’ he murmurs against my ear. The nickname sends a tear rolling down my cheek to splatter his chest. ‘But you thinking so means that even in death, he wins. That scar is a testament of your strength. A testament of who you are, not what.’”

Concluding the symbolism of Paedyn’s “O”-shaped scar, Kai’s words urge her to reclaim the significance of the brand that his father burned into her chest. Significantly, she can do so only with Kai’s support, which further establishes Kai’s shift in loyalty as a final rejection of his father’s legacy.

“‘Pretend?’

My voice is small, soft like the breeze blowing through my short hair.

‘Never.’

‘None of it?’ I ask quietly.

‘Darling’—he smiles—’I have never had to pretend to want you.’”

This exchange between Kai and Paedyn resolves the motif of pretending, which runs throughout the novel as Kai and Paedyn grapple with their feelings for each other. Kai and Paedyn finally embrace their feelings and confess their love, therefore admitting that their pretense was only deceiving them into hating each other. Kai now reclaims the term and turns it around, shifting their relationship to a more honest and healthy one.