Chapter 37 Summary: Poppy's True Identity as Sotoria
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
After witnessing Jadis’s suffering, Poppy and Casteel share an intimate conversation about trauma and survival. Casteel admits he once did not want to live after his captivity, and Poppy empathizes without pity. Seraphena then requests a private discussion, though Casteel remains. She reveals that Poppy is the direct descendant of the first mortal and, more importantly, the reincarnation of Sotoria. Eythos placed the embers of life with Sotoria’s soul to be reborn in the Mierel bloodline, intending for her to defeat Kolis. But Kolis’s connection to Sotoria meant her rebirth would wake him. Seraphena explains how Callum, Sotoria’s brother and Kolis’s first Revenant, held her soul in the Star diamond. The prophecy of the Primal of Blood and Bone was always about Sotoria, reborn as Poppy.
Key Events
- Casteel tells Poppy he once coped with trauma through reckless behavior and admits he did not value his own life until recently.
- Seraphena interrupts to speak with Poppy alone but relents when Casteel refuses to leave.
- Seraphena reveals the Mierel bloodline descends from the first mortal created by Eythos.
- She explains that Eythos placed Sotoria’s soul with the embers of life into a second daughter of the bloodline – Poppy.
- Callum, a Revenant with a soul, stole Sotoria’s soul from its hiding place and gave it to Isbeth in the form of the Star diamond.
- Isbeth used forbidden magic and Callum’s knowledge to create Revenants, working toward freeing Kolis.
- Seraphena confesses she had to entomb her own son Malec because he could not be trusted to avoid fathering a second daughter who would reawaken Sotoria.
- The chapter ends with Poppy denying the truth, but Seraphena confirms: “You’re Sotoria.”
Character Development
- Poppy struggles to accept her identity as Sotoria, feeling anger and denial. Her empathy for Jadis and Casteel shows her deepening compassion.
- Casteel reveals profound vulnerability about his post-captivity despair, marking a turning point in his openness with Poppy. He also demonstrates protectiveness and loyalty by insisting on staying during Seraphena’s revelation.
- Seraphena is weighed by guilt and regret over the lengths she took to prevent Sotoria’s rebirth, including entombing her own son. Her dry humor and maternal affection for Poppy remain, but the burden of ancient knowledge is clear.
- Callum is framed as a tragic antagonist – Sotoria’s guilt-ridden brother turned loyal Revenant to Kolis, driven by misplaced loyalty.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Reincarnation and fate: The chapter solidifies the theme that souls can be reborn across millennia, and that prophecy is not easily escaped. Poppy is literally Sotoria, making every past life a shadow over her present.
- Trauma and survival: Casteel’s candid admission about his suicidal ideation normalizes the struggle to want to live after extreme suffering. Poppy’s response models healthy empathy without pity.
- Soul vessels and forbidden knowledge: The Star diamond as a soul vessel connects to earlier mentions of powerful artifacts. Callum’s unique status as a Revenant with a soul raises questions about creation, emotion, and magic.
- Sacrifice and difficult choices: Seraphena’s decision to entomb Malec reflects the painful cost of preventing catastrophe – a motif of hard leadership throughout the series.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 37 is the linchpin of the entire series mythology. The long-teased prophecy of the Primal of Blood and Bone is finally grounded in a concrete origin: Sotoria, reincarnated as Poppy. This revelation recasts every earlier interaction with Kolis, the dreams of the meadow, and the voice “I’ve had all your firsts” as evidence of a soul-deep connection. It also clarifies why Isbeth and Callum were so invested in Poppy, and why Seraphena has been so guarded. The chapter deepens the emotional stakes: Poppy is not just a Primal, but the reincarnation of an ancient victim, and her choices will determine whether Kolis awakens fully.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why did Eythos place the embers of life with Sotoria’s soul, and how did that lead to Poppy?
Eythos believed that Sotoria, when reborn with the embers, would be powerful enough to defeat Kolis. He placed the embers into her soul during reincarnation, which was then carried through the Mierel bloodline to the second daughter – Poppy. However, this also meant that Kolis would sense her rebirth because of his prior feedings on Sotoria.
2. What does Casteel’s admission about his post-captivity mindset reveal about his character development?
Casteel confesses that for a long time he did not care if he lived or died, using reckless behavior to cope. This honesty shows his growing trust in Poppy and marks a shift from hiding his pain to sharing it. It also parallels Poppy’s own struggle with her traumatic past, strengthening their bond.
3. How does the chapter explain the difference between Callum and other Revenants?
Callum was created by Kolis out of a mix of sorrow, anger, desperation, and joy at being close to Sotoria’s blood. These strong, contradictory emotions gave him a true soul and free will, unlike later Revenants made only from duty. This allowed him to act independently, steal Sotoria’s soul, and serve both Kolis and Isbeth.