The Shadows Between Us

Lady Alessandra Stathos is the heroine and narrator of The Shadows Between Us. Cunning and ambitious, Alessandra thinks of others as pawns more than people though she does develop several close relationships over the course of the novel. This shift does not lead her to overall see humanity through a more charitable or kind lens; instead, Alessandra becomes fiercely protective of the small number of people who are within her inner circle and is willing to be as ruthless as necessary in order to keep them safe and happy.

Though progressive in some respects (Alessandra is a keen proponent of women’s rights), she is callous and regressive in others (she shows little regard for the lives of peasants in Kallias’s various kingdoms). She is practical and clever and schemes to achieve her goals. Though she works to eschew all emotional connection at the start of the text, she grows closer to Kallias gradually until she embraces the love she has for him. Alessandra can be hypocritical—she does not like it when she is manipulated the way she manipulates others—but admires in others the strength and ruthlessness that she exhibits.

Alessandra cares a lot about her appearance and seems to get genuine enjoyment out of designing and sewing her own clothes though she often suppresses this enjoyment under the rationalization as to why proper appearances are essential to achieving her goals.