Over the years, I’ve had a lot of contact with people who’ve been wounded psychologically and physically at a young age. Some of them have survived their trauma, others haven’t. To me, Roan’s sister Stowe is a borderline case. Her wounds are deep (orphaned too young, fed Dirt by her adopted father) and her ego (she is worshipped as a god by the people of the City) and rage are out of control. The things that happen to her are terrible, and the things she does as a result are awful too.
Roan feels responsible for what’s happened to his sister, and wants nothing more than to save her—just like so many of us do when somebody we love is in trouble. The question is will Stowe be able to accept his help—or anybody’s, for that matter.