Character Analysis
One of the first to come down with the Sweating Fever, Lianne remains weak throughout the story. She's pretty much a wreck when she visits her sick son, her eyes "bright with tears" (4.127). Of course she's upset about the possibility of losing Jonathan, but there's more going on. She tells Alanna: "He's all we have, Alan. I can't—I am unable to bear any more children" (4.127). It's understandable for the queen to be so upset at the thought of losing Jonathan—but we have to say, for a book that's all about girl power, we'd like to see a little more from the only adult woman in the story.