Nevare embarks on his attempt to undermine the effort to build the road, often horrified by what his alter ego is doing with his body, even though he is powerless to stop it.

The Specks and Gernia come to a peaceful solution at novel's end, with Nevare ultimately accepting his abilities and personality.

[2] The novel features themes of colonialism and its impact on native people (the Specks vs. Gernians), the struggle of identity that one faces (specifically, Soldier Boy and Nevare battling for one body), spiritualism (protecting the ancestors), and technological advance (the link between the use of magic and weight gain representing technological advance).

[4] SFSite praised Hobb's usage of fantasy conventions to explore weighty concepts such as identity and fellowship, rights and duties, and permanence and change, noting that her writing is unique in a genre overpopulated with adolescent epics.

[5] Publishers Weekly called it a stunning conclusion to the series but criticized the confusing magical system and glacial pacing of the story.