One of the most unique aspects of Danae Rodriguez’s novel is the contrast in settings. The story begins with the vibrant freedom of California’s coastline, filled with light, waves, and the thrill of independence. But soon, the reader is pulled into the molten depths of the Underworld, a place of guardians, sins, and eternal consequences.
This juxtaposition between surf and shadow, paradise and peril, isn’t accidental. It reflects the duality within all of us—our longing for freedom, and the forces that try to pull us away from it.
The settings themselves become characters: the ocean representing possibility, the Underworld representing consequence. Together, they shape Malia’s journey, reminding us that where we stand often depends on what we choose.
