The Prisoner's Throne

Suren, better known by her nickname Wren, is simultaneously one of Oak’s antagonists in The Prisoner’s Throne and his love interest. At the beginning of the book, she has fully stepped into her role as the queen of the Court of Teeth. Wren has pale blue hair and skin, sharp teeth, and scars on her face from when she was forced to wear the golden bridle as a child. Her voice is likewise permanently hoarse from the abuse she suffered as a child from her parents.

Black depicts Wren as a person shaped by adversity and manipulation. She is not a typical member of the Folk; rather than being born, she was created by Bogdana from sticks and the cursed heart of Mellith. Her origin marks her as fundamentally different from the other characters in the story, particularly Oak. The abuse of Lord Jarel and Lady Nore left Wren scarred both physically and emotionally. She is distrustful of others and reluctant to form close relationships, exacerbated by her belief that she is inherently monstrous, a belief she grapples with throughout the story.

Wren, like Oak, possesses a rare magical power. Unlike his, however, which is a softer power to charm and manipulate, hers is depicted as raw and extreme. It was twisted to destroy rather than create; she can unmake anything from a blade to a person. However, every use of her power further harms her as well. Her magic serves as a representation of her struggle for self-definition: Just as she wrestles with the destructive nature of her abilities, she wrestles with the fear of becoming what others expect her to be. 

During the climactic battle on Insear, when faced with the threat of destruction, Wren chooses to absorb the storm, knowing that it may cost her life. This act of self-sacrifice highlights her growth from a guarded and self-interested survivor to someone willing to give everything to protect those she loves. At the end of the story, when she transforms into a new version of herself with wings and the ability to create, it symbolizes her rebirth and acceptance of who she is, no longer defined by the manipulation of others.

Bogdana, the storm hag, is the primary antagonist of The Prisoner’s Throne. She is the oldest and most powerful of the hags, embodying elemental forces of nature, and her connection to storms establishes her as a force of destruction. She gave some of her power to Mab, the first queen of Faerie, in exchange for promising to make Bogdana’s daughter, Mellith, her heir. 

The deal, like so many in Faerie, backfired, and when Mab betrayed her, Bogdana swore vengeance on the entire Greenbriar line. She allies with Randalin in a plot to overthrow the ruling family of Elfhame and install Wren as a puppet queen under her control. Her villainy, however, is far from one-dimensional. Unlike many of the other antagonists in this duology and the prior series, she doesn’t seek power for its own sake. Instead, she is driven by a desire for revenge born from a mix of centuries-old grievance and maternal ambition. Bogdana’s cruelty is laced with a tragic backstory and genuine emotional stakes. She believes the courtly world has wronged her and views her manipulation of Wren as a necessary evil to protect her lineage. In this sense, Bogdana embodies the archetype of the tragic villain: Someone whose quest for justice becomes corrupted by bitterness and unchecked power.

Outside of her role in the attempted coup, Bogdana’s main contribution to the story is her relationship with Wren, which is fraught with tension, love, and fear. At the request of the childless Lord Jarel and Lady Nore, Bogdana created Wren using the heart of the long-dead Mellith. In this way, she is more Bogdana’s daughter than theirs, a point the hag herself agrees with. Bogdana’s attempts to control Wren are driven by a belief that only she knows what is best for her daughter. 

The overbearing approach alienates Wren, who ultimately rebels against her mother’s plans. Rather than supporting Wren’s decision to end the conflict peacefully, Bogdana views it as a personal rejection, leading her to strike Wren with lightning. This act symbolizes Bogdana’s ultimate failure as a mother: Instead of nurturing Wren’s potential, she tries to destroy it when it no longer serves her ambitions.

Tiernan and Hyacinthe are two of the main supporting characters, continuing similar roles to those they held in the prior book in the duology. Tiernan is Oak’s personal guard, assigned by Jude. Despite the harshness of his role, Tiernan remains grounded, often serving as the voice of reason when the prince acts impulsively or recklessly. Tiernan is important not just as a physical protector, but also as a stabilizing influence in Oak’s life.

Meanwhile, Hyacinthe is one of Madoc’s former soldiers who swore himself to Wren’s service after she freed him from his curse in The Stolen Heir. Once he becomes Oak’s reluctant ally in The Prisoner’s Throne, Hyacinthe plays a crucial role in the prince’s quest to thwart Bogdana’s coup. His presence provides Oak with someone who challenges his assumptions and forces him to confront the complexities of loyalty and trust. Unlike Tiernan, who serves as Oak’s steadfast protector, Hyacinthe brings an element of unpredictability to the group. His wit, cynicism, and pragmatism often contrast sharply with Oak’s idealism and determination.

Outside of their separate roles in the plot, the romance between them is critical, as it mirrors Oak’s relationship with Wren. While they were lovers in the past, their bond severed after they served on opposing sides of the Battle of the Serpent eight years before the duology takes place. In The Prisoner’s Throne, their romantic reunion hinges on The Consequences of Betrayal and the Quest for Redemption. They learn to forgive one another and move forward. Ultimately, Tiernan’s conflicting loyalties to his love and his prince are the only thing stopping them. Oak’s recognition of this, and Tiernan being his friend, leads him to end the conflict by dismissing him as his personal guard at the end of the novel.