The Tarkin (Faze): Symbol of Hope and Innocence in Rites of the Starling

What Is the Tarkin (Faze)?

In Devney Perry's Rites of the Starling, the tarkin is a small, fox‑like creature that characters regard as a monster. Odessa, the protagonist, rescues a tarkin and names him Faze. He has ruby ears, soft fur, and a personality that defies the cold instincts expected of his kind. Others—like the Mavin Jodhi—call Faze a monster and warn Odessa to get rid of him before he “does something you can’t undo.” But Odessa insists there is more to Faze: “He wasn’t a mindless beast, dominated by the instinct to hunt and kill. There was magic in my little monster. Magic in the comfort and love he gave to Evie.”

Faze appears in key scenes throughout the second half of the novel, always at Odessa’s side (or in Evie’s arms). He chews through a rope leash, splashes angrily during a bath, and growls when Odessa’s father dismisse her. His presence is small yet constant, a living symbol that forms the emotional heart of Odessa’s journey.

Where the Symbol Reappears

• Chapter 20 – Odessa retrieves Faze from a man who grabbed him by the scruff. Evie immediately takes him into her arms.
• Chapter 26 – Around a campfire, Jodhi warns Odessa that Faze is still a monster and will bring trouble. Odessa silently rejects the warning, stroking Faze’s ears.
• Chapter 36 – In King Cross’s court, Faze pokes his head from his carrier and growls, helping Odessa stand firm against her father.
• Chapter 38 – The tarkin gets a bath; he is angry, wet, and then rubs against Odessa’s ankles for reassurance.
• Chapter 51 – Evie unlocks Faze so he can be free; later, Faze squirms in her arms as the family embraces.

Each recurrence deepens the bond between the creature and the humans who care for him.

How Meaning Shifts

When Faze first appears, he is simply a rescued pet—a vulnerable creature in a world full of genuine monsters (alligasks, bariwolves, Voster). Odessa’s decision to keep him is a small act of kindness. As the story progresses, Faze becomes a touchstone for Odessa’s identity. She refuses to let others define him by his species. Jodhi’s warning represents the narrative’s dominant view: classify by nature, expect the worst. Odessa’s counter‑argument—that Faze chooses to stay, that he gives comfort—challenges that worldview.

By the time Odessa confronts her father, Faze’s growl punctuates her transformation. She is no longer the obedient princess; she is a woman who trusts her own judgment about what is good. The tarkin’s meaning evolves from a passive symbol of hope into an active emblem of defiance and, ultimately, of chosen family. Evie’s love for Faze underscores the innocence that the adults risk losing. Faze ties them together: in the final embrace in Chapter 51, Evie, Ransom, and Odessa hold one another while Faze squirms to be free—a moment of imperfect, warm unity.

Character Connections

• Odessa – Rescues Faze and defends him. He mirrors her own journey: marked as a “monster” by her father (sent to assassinate the Guardian), she proves she is more than her role. Faze’s loyalty and gentleness validate Odessa’s belief that identity is not determined by birth or appearance.
• Evie – The child clings to Faze as a source of comfort. She unlocks his leash and carries him. Through Evie, the tarkin represents the pure, uncorrupted bond between humans and animals—a symbol that hope survives even in a realm full of threats.
• Ransom – Handles Faze only briefly (drying him after a bath), but his presence in the embraces that include the tarkin shows that he accepts the creature as part of their family.
• Jodhi – Acts as the voice of caution. His warning is not cruel but practical; it reinforces the stakes. Odessa’s defiance toward Jodhi sets her apart from the pragmatic Mavins.

Thematic Links

Study Questions and Answers

1. How does Faze contrast with the other monsters in the story?
The word monster in Rites of the Starling usually describes something dangerous and uncontrollable (alligasks, bariwolves, even the Voster brotherhood). Faze is physically small, never attacks humans, and seeks comfort from Odessa and Evie. Unlike the predatory creatures that appear in the wild, Faze chooses domesticity. Odessa directly refutes Jodhi’s claim that Faze is “a monster” by pointing to his loyalty. The contrast shows that “monster” is a label applied by humans, not an absolute truth.

2. What does Odessa’s decision to keep Faze reveal about her character development?
At the beginning of the novel, Odessa follows orders—from her father, from the Guardian’s expectations. Keeping Faze is an act of defiance. She tells Jodhi, “I don’t expect you to understand.” This independence grows until she faces King Cross and demands payment, Faze growling in support. Faze becomes a physical manifestation of Odessa’s refusal to let others define what is safe, good, or valuable. Her compassion for a small creature reveals that she values heart over reputation.

3. In what way does Faze serve as a catalyst for Evie’s healing?
Evie is a child who has witnessed violence and trauma (Banner’s knife attack in Ellder). Faze is her constant companion; she holds him, speaks to him, and unlocks his leash. The tarkin’s soft fur and affectionate nature offer a tangible source of comfort when words fail. In Chapter 51, after Mae’s outburst, Evie snuggles Faze and then takes Ransom’s hand. The creature bridges her isolation and helps her trust again.

4. What does Jodhi’s warning about Faze symbolize for the novel’s broader conflict?
Jodhi says, “He’s a monster. Get rid of him before he does something you can’t undo.” His advice reflects the pragmatic, survival‑oriented worldview of the Mavins and of Calandra at large: judge by kind, trust nothing. Odessa’s refusal to follow that advice symbolically rejects the cycle of fear and violence that drives the story’s conflicts—between kingdoms, between humans and the Voster, between Odessa and her father. Faze never causes harm; the only danger was the fear others projected onto him. His survival implies that breaking the cycle requires trusting the good you can see, not the evil you anticipate.

Conclusion

The tarkin Faze is a small creature with a powerful symbolic weight. He is hope made furry—a reminder that innocence can survive in a brutal world, that bond can transcend instinct, and that the choice to love a monster is also the choice to become something more than a weapon. Through Faze, Devney Perry weaves a counter‑narrative to the novel’s darker elements: the ritus may transform a person into a creature of death, but a tarkin can transform a creature into a beloved companion.