History Literature / FirstSwordChronicles

* ActionGirl: Amy, Tullia and Fiannuala all qualify.

* NiceHat: Summer Phoenix wears a cavalier hat.

* OvershadowedByAwesome: Laurendred is introduced as a skilled ActionGirl and an experienced commander, but she spends the rest of ''The Dragon and the Sword'' getting overshadowed by Irithelie's Tarshishin powers. In universe, Laurendred feels this way compared to her mother, while Iri, ironically enough, feels overshadowed by her older sisters.

** ''Spirit of the Sword: Pride and Fury'': The Voice of Corona, with Quirian as the BiggerBad

* OurFairiesAreDifferent: Fairies are native to the world of Tarshish, stand about six inches high and produce motes of sparkling light. They're also in service to the BiggerBad and can tap into his powers.

* YouGottaHaveBlueHair: Princess Romana has purple hair (and purple eyes) as a sign of her descent from Aegea. Notably her two brothers do not, which Romana and her supporters see as a sign that she is better suited to the throne: the bloodline has 'bred true' in her. Jason also has purple hair, making it difficult to hide his bastardy.

* NotSoDifferent: Hespera claims that she and Summer are alike (both ambitious, talent outcasts rejected by their mothers/mother figures and thrown on their own resources) when she is trying to get her to betray her companions.

* DefrostingIceQueen: Miranda

* DualWielding: Michael, Gideon, Quirian and the Voice of Corona all indulge in this.

* OurElvesAreBetter: Elves (who call themselves 'Alver') are divided into four kinds, of which only two have been seen in detail: Stone Elves are the most common, with a more advanced level of development than humans (they have printed books, crossbows and their armour is described in Renaissance/17th Century terms compared to the humans' Greco-Roman style), as well as talking in a more modern fashion. Dark Elves, on the other hand, are a ProudWarriorRace with a much more old fashioned culture and manners. Elves can also generate a glamour similar to dragons, allowing them to enchant and enslave those who look upon them.

* RotatingArcs: In ''Spirit of the Sword'', Michael is the {{Protagonist}} with Miranda as the {{Deuteragonist}}. In ''The Dragon and the Sword'', Summer takes over as the {{Protagonist}}, with Irithelie as the {{Deuteragonist}} and Laurendred as the tritagonist while Michael is demoted to the SupportingLeader and Miranda gets PutOnABus.

* PurpleEyes: Romana and Jason both have them, demonstrating their descent from Aegea.

* TheEmpire: The Divine Empire of All Pelarius, Lavissar, Triazica and All the Lands that Lie Between or May be Found Beyond. It was founded with the intent of WorldDomination, but hasn't made any meaningful progress (or effort) towards that goal in centuries. Whether it is a benign or wicked entity is something the characters could debate fiercely, but for all its many faults it does provide peace and stability to most of its citizens.

* BadassPrincess: Princess Fiannuala of Eena.

* ChekovsGun: Upon becoming First Sword of the Empire, Michael is granted five boons by the Empress Aegea but doesn't claim any of them at the time. The first shot of this revolver is fired in ''The Dragon and the Sword'' when he uses one boon to save Summer's life.

* WouldHurtAChild: Hespera devours all the children in the villages she enslaves, as they are too small and weak to serve her. This, more than anything else, is what puts her into ThisIsUnforgiveable territory as far as Amy is concerned. Amalia is also perfectly willing to stab a fourteen year old girl through the stomach and leave her to bleed to death.

* HalfHumanHybrid: Amy (half-human, half naiad) and Octavia (half-human, half aestival); ''The Dragon and the Sword'' adds Ceresia, who is half-elf, half-human and deeply unhappy about it.

* HalfHumanHybrid: Amy (half-human, half naiad) and Octavia (half-human, half aestival)

* Nice Hat: Summer Phoenix wears a cavalier hat.