: A major part of the narrative focuses on Selig's internal struggle to choose between his desire for payback and his growing feelings for Erika.
: A powerful Viking warrior. He is initially portrayed as vengeful and chauvinistic due to his past trauma, but he undergoes significant personal growth as he falls for Erika.
: Set during the Viking invasions of the Middle Ages, the book explores the cultural clashes between Norsemen and Saxons.
: The novel heavily features the trope of two people starting as bitter enemies before finding common ground and love.