The Fragile Threads of Power

Schwab uses descriptive details to bring the different Londons to life. How does she develop the setting of each city throughout the text? How do the different settings influence the actions of the characters and the themes of the novel?

Color symbolism plays an important role in differentiating each of the different Londons: Red, White, Black, and Grey. How does Schwab use colors to contrast each of the different cities? Where else in the novel besides the city names does she use color symbolism, and how does this help develop the novel’s characterization and themes?

Red and White London have many trappings of a traditional fantasy novel: scheming political factions, hereditary monarchy, and a complex magical system. However, Schwab’s novel also contains a more nuanced approach to gender roles and sexuality. In what ways does she build on traditional genre expectations, and in what ways does she depart from them?