* BrokenBase: The revelation [[spoiler: Royce is the heir of Novron.]] Many believe Hadrian would have made a better choice.
* CoversAlwaysLie: The Orbit covers typically depict Royce and Hadrian as being of comparable heights, while in the books Hadrian is much taller. For some reason, Royce always wears a stalwart expression while Hadrian is scowling. Hadrian rarely scowls in the books; that's Royce's job.
* MoralEventHorizon: Regent Saldur is a AffablyEvil manipulative corrupt but hilarious EvilChancellor who unwittingly sets up [[spoiler: Thrace to be Empress.]] He is seemingly more buffoonish than dangerous right up until the time he manages to capture [[spoiler: Arista]]. He then tells her he's going to have her repeatedly raped and tortured unless she gives him the name of her co-conspirators in the palace. [[spoiler: She gives him the name of an unrelated employee who is promptly killed.]]
** [[spoiler: Arcadius]] passes this when we find out he [[spoiler: murdered Gwen, a woman he raised as his own daughter, in order to hide the existence of Royce's daughter Mercy from him.]]
** [[spoiler: Royce]] passes this when he murders three innocent guards while [[spoiler: kidnapping Modina and Saldur]]. He is eventually forgiven for [[spoiler: the kidnapping]] but no one mentions the murdered guards, who were good guys who were just doing their jobs.
* StrangledByTheRedString: Some fans felt this way about [[spoiler: Hadrian and Arista]].