The novel is set in a world where gods and prophecies dictate the course of events, often leaving the characters to grapple with the extent of their agency. This is especially true for Poppy. Throughout The War of Two Queens, people like her mother, Isbeth, seek to define her identity, bind her to a predetermined destiny, and strip her of autonomy. Poppy consistently fights against this by asserting her agency in an attempt to reshape her life and future. Poppy’s struggles thus explore the conflict between fate and free will, including the question of whether the two forces are as opposed as they might seem.

The tensions between fate and agency have shaped Poppy from her earliest years. As the Maiden, she was told her purpose was to serve the gods and maintain purity by living a life of obedience and isolation. Even after she escapes this fate, another is thrust upon her in the form of the prophecy, which casts her as Bringer of Death and Destruction, destined to herald catastrophic events and wreak havoc upon the realms. The prophecy casts a shadow over Poppy, suggesting that she is merely a pawn in the larger cosmic game.