Jehane's thoughts towards the end of the book make me think of the world we live in today. It's not so very far removed from the time the book is based upon.

Our biggest war - the "War on Terrorism" - is drawn on supposedly religious/holy terms, lending a respectability amongst some for those horrendous acts we hear about far too often.

Are we more civilised? I don't think so. Dehumanising is still effective; instead of a facelessness created by generalisation (all Kindath are heathens who drink the blood of Asharaite/Jaddite babies for breakfast), we have distance to stop us from thinking about the horror we inflict upon others. Technology is so useful.

I might be stretching, but I think this examination of war and conquest is what pulls this book out of ordinary fantasy fare, and into Literature.