Is the Lost King’s Daughter an Allegory?
Is The Lost King’s Daughter an allegory?
I was asked this question by one of the Great Homeschool Convention (GHC) attendee’s in Cincinnati, Ohio, last April 2023, when I attended the convention myself as a first-time vendor. My immediate response to her question was: “No. The Lost King’s Daughter is not an allegory.” At least, that’s not how I intended to write it. Meaning, I didn’t set out to make my debut novel an allegory.
The Contemplation
The longer I contemplated this GHC attendee’s inquiry, however, and the more I delved into editing Book 2 of my series, In the Shadow of Emerald Fire, the more I realized that, perhaps, I have unwittingly written an allegory after all…or at least a semblance of one. I recognized that even the title I had chosen for my debut novel can actually be read one of three ways: The Lost King’s Daughter, The Lost King’s Daughter, or The Lost King’s Daughter.
The analysis
Read the first way, The Lost King’s Daughter would mean that my main character, Finockt, is a king’s daughter lost in the world. Read the second way, The Lost King’s Daughter would then indicate Finockt is potentially a lost Child of God–kind of like a prodigal. Or read the third way, The Lost King’s Daughter would indicate that Finockt is really the daughter of a lost (deceased) king. This latter expression is what I had filed away in my mind, but, as I mentioned, I now feel I may more strongly lean into the concept that The Lost King’s Daughter is indeed, indirectly, an allegory, secondary to the fact that a double entendre might actually exist within the title and the story. But I’ll let you determine what exactly those deeper levels of that double entendre are!
Where is the Allegory?
So, where is the allegory found? For me, I believe the allegory itself, or the potential elements of the allegory, are more profoundly visible within Book 2, where Finockt embarks on an adventure that drastically changes her life forever. While I do believe the reader may be able to see some glimpses of, or at least the beginnings of, an allegory in The Lost King’s Daughter, following further review, I feel Book 2 solidifies its presence.
Do you see the allegory?
As the months draw closer for the release of Book 2, I’m eager to share with you this next segment of Finockt’s journey, her growth as a character, the difficulties she faces, and how she overcomes her greatest fears or doesn’t.
Once you finish Book 2, I’d love to hear from you regarding your take on Finockt’s story. Is The Lost King’s Daughter an allegory? Or is there just a glimpse of an allegory woven within the story?
Until next time…inviting you to ponder along with me the deeper meanings within The Lost King’s Daughter! Meanings that God wove without my ever knowing…
