Ruby Fitzgerald is unapologetically bold and fearless in her writing style. Short dialogue, sudden changes, and a villain as the lead sets the stage for a tumultuous series. The characters in the series are manifestations of depression. Silvia is sorrow and hopelessness, Xenos- isolation, Jestin- addiction, Eleanor- irrationality, Malcolm- denial, and so on. Each person embodies a piece of the mental workings of someone suffering and fighting toward health and stability. The magic, the fantasy, the adventure... that's the life and reality the characters reside in, but not the focus of series. The series demands insecurities be acknowledged as part of personality, evil as part of humanity, and desolation as the root of hope. The series stares depression straight in the face. Fitzgerald didn't write a happy ending. She wrote a hard life. 'Descendants of War' explores the darker side of magic in The Temperate Lands. Where The Jinx- a deadly virus- has infiltrated the lands. Aurora and her companions have only clues of Ancient Prophecy to try and slow the destruction while Eleanor is running her Queendom into the ground. Is it fate and prophecies that form the future? or do we make our own choices and find our own strength?