Finale

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes descriptions of emotional abuse and death.

Scarlett is one of the two protagonists and point-of-view characters in Finale. While her sister Tella embodies impulsive passion and emotional vulnerability, Scarlett begins the novel grounded in restraint and responsibility. By this point in the series, Scarlett has already grown significantly by participating in the twisted spectacle of Caraval, defying familial expectations, and discovering her magical potential. However, with the series’ final installment, the stakes rise dramatically, especially when Scarlett is revealed to be the biological daughter of Gavriel, the dangerous Fate who intends to take the empire for himself.

Scarlett’s powers, which revolve around manipulating emotions and influencing feelings, put her in a unique position within this narrative world obsessed with illusion and control. Yet, for much of the novel, Scarlett is unable or unwilling to fully access her magic, and the reason is psychological: She fears what it would cost her. Because she understands that her emotional integrity, humanity, and ability to love might be sacrificed, she remains reluctant to step into her power, and this issue becomes a central internal conflict. Thus, Scarlett’s early arc reflects the burden of legacy and lineage.