Music as Magic in Ruthless Vows: Symbol Analysis

Music as Magic: A Force of Creation and Destruction

In Ruthless Vows, music is not merely an art form or a background detail—it is a tangible, working magic that can bind, command, and even kill. From the lullaby Enva sings over Dacre's grave to the flute notes that steer eithrals through the under realm, music operates as a system of power with its own rules, costs, and consequences. The novel repeatedly returns to instruments—a harp, a flute, a violin—to show how the same force that can soothe a god into centuries of sleep can also be twisted into a weapon of war. This dual nature makes music one of the book's most flexible and revealing symbols, connecting directly to themes of control, memory, love, and sacrifice.

What Music Literally Does in the Story

Music in this world is a form of enchantment that works on both mortals and divines. The prologue establishes this immediately: Enva, a goddess, sang a lullaby over Dacre for a full year, through all four seasons, and that song kept her former lover buried for centuries. The text notes that "all songs end," implying that the magic has a duration and a cost—Enva feels the ache in her swollen knuckles from "swallowing so much power." This is not a metaphor; the lullaby is a spell with physical consequences for its caster.

Later, the novel shows music controlling creatures. In chapter 31, Val uses a small flute to command an eithral, a wyvern-like beast. Roman observes, "They're controlled by an instrument. By music," and the eithral obeys three long silver notes, taking flight as if it had done so a hundred times before. Dacre himself carries a flute and uses it to call eithrals back from bombing runs, as seen in chapter 50. Music here is a remote control for monstrous weapons.

Music can also affect gods directly. Attie's violin, playing "Alzane's Lullaby," is the key to putting Dacre to sleep in the climactic confrontation. Iris and Attie descend into the under realm with the explicit plan to use the violin to incapacitate Dacre long enough for Iris to kill him. The plan works: Dacre, distracted by an illusion of Enva, succumbs to Attie's lullaby and falls into an enchanted sleep, allowing Iris to behead him. Music, then, is not just a tool of control—it is a potential weapon of assassination.

Where Music Recurs and How Its Meaning Shifts

Music appears at nearly every turning point of the plot, and its meaning changes depending on who wields it and for what purpose.

Enva's lullaby (prologue, epilogue): A binding spell of protection and imprisonment. Enva uses it to keep Dacre buried, but she also knows it will eventually fail. The lullaby is a sacrifice—it costs her power and leaves her weakened. In the epilogue, Enva retrieves her harp from a charmed pocket and descends into the under realm, suggesting she will use music again, this time to travel or perhaps to confront the sleeping realm.
Dacre's flute (chapters 31, 50): A tool of domination. Dacre and his lieutenant Val use the flute to command eithrals, turning music into a military instrument. The flute's notes are described as "shimmering like rain in the sun" when they command a creature, but the effect is violent—the eithrals bomb cities and kill civilians. Here music is a weapon of war, stripped of any creative or healing quality.
Attie's violin (chapters 37, 39, 50): A symbol of resistance and hope. Attie's violin is hidden in a safe, illegal under the chancellor's ban on stringed instruments. She dreams of "Alzane's Lullaby" and realizes that if Enva's harp could put Dacre to sleep, a violin might do the same. Her playing in the under realm is the decisive act that allows Dacre's death. The violin represents music as a force for liberation, but it also carries risk—Attie is nearly killed before she can play.
The ban on strings (chapter 12): The chancellor outlaws stringed instruments in Oath, ostensibly to curb Enva's magical abilities with her harp. Iris sees this as "a restriction built on fear"—fear of losing control and power. The ban reveals that music is so potent that those in authority will suppress it to maintain control. This connects music to censorship and the fear of truth.

Character Connections: Who Wields Music and Why

Each character's relationship to music reflects their role in the story.

Enva is the original musician-goddess. Her lullaby is an act of love and betrayal—she binds Dacre to protect the world, but she also suffers for it. Her harp is her instrument of power, and in the epilogue she retrieves it, suggesting she is not done with music.
Dacre uses music as a tool of control. His flute commands eithrals, and he also uses music to heal and then erase soldiers' memories, making them subservient (as Roman learns in chapter 31). For Dacre, music is a means to build an army and enforce obedience.
Attie is the mortal who turns music against a god. Her violin is both a personal treasure and a weapon. She risks her life to play the lullaby, and her success shows that music's power is not exclusive to divines—mortals can wield it too.
Iris is not a musician, but she interacts with music as a witness and strategist. She stuffs wax in her ears to protect herself from Dacre's flute, showing that music's magic can be resisted with preparation. Her role is to understand music's mechanics and use them to her advantage.
Roman experiences music as a passive force. In chapter 50, he hears Attie's violin and falls into an enchanted sleep, unable to resist. His helplessness underscores music's overwhelming power over even a strong-willed character.

Thematic Resonance: Music, Memory, and Control

Music in Ruthless Vows is deeply tied to the novel's central themes. It is a form of magic that parallels the power of written words—both can enchant, control, and shape reality. Iris's words "bewitch" Roman, just as music bewitches eithrals and gods. The novel suggests that any form of expression—music, writing, even speech—can be a magical force when wielded with intention.

Music also intersects with memory and identity. Dacre uses music to scramble soldiers' memories, making them forget their pasts and become loyal to him. Roman's own memory loss is linked to his time in Dacre's care, and music is part of that erasure. Yet music can also restore or evoke memory: Attie's dream of "Alzane's Lullaby" is a shared memory that guides her, and the lullaby itself is a song from the past that carries the power to end a war.

Finally, music embodies the theme of love and sacrifice. Enva's lullaby is an act of love that costs her dearly. Attie's decision to play the violin in the under realm is a sacrifice of her own safety for the greater good. Music, in this novel, is never free—it always demands something from the one who plays it, whether that is power, safety, or time.

Study Questions and Answers

1. How does the novel establish music as a magical force rather than just a metaphor?
The prologue shows Enva's lullaby physically keeping Dacre buried for centuries, with a clear cost to Enva (swollen knuckles). Later, Val's flute commands an eithral with specific notes, and Attie's violin puts Dacre to sleep. These are concrete, plot-driving effects, not symbolic flourishes. The text also describes music's sensory impact—Roman hears the violin as "myrrh-hearted perfume" and tastes "brine of the winter sea"—suggesting it alters reality.

2. How does Dacre's use of music differ from Enva's or Attie's?
Dacre uses music for control and destruction: his flute commands eithrals to bomb cities and he uses music to erase soldiers' memories. Enva uses music for binding and protection (her lullaby keeps Dacre asleep), and Attie uses it for resistance and liberation (her violin enables Dacre's death). The difference lies in intent—Dacre's music is coercive, while Enva's and Attie's are protective or restorative.

3. What does the ban on stringed instruments reveal about music's power?
The chancellor bans strings to curb Enva's magical abilities, but Iris interprets it as a fear-based restriction. The ban shows that music is so potent that authorities will suppress it to maintain control. It also parallels censorship of written words, linking music to the theme of truth and power. The ban forces Attie to hide her violin, making her eventual use of it a rebellious act.

4. How does music connect to the theme of memory and identity?
Dacre uses music to scramble soldiers' memories, making them forget their pasts and become subservient. Roman's memory loss is part of this process. Conversely, music can preserve memory: Attie and Iris both dream of "Alzane's Lullaby," a shared song that guides their plan. Music thus has a dual role—it can erase identity or anchor it, depending on who wields it.

Conclusion

Music in Ruthless Vows is a versatile and dangerous magic. It can bind a god for centuries, command a flying beast, or lull a tyrant into a fatal sleep. Its meaning shifts with its wielder: Enva's lullaby is a sacrifice, Dacre's flute is a weapon, and Attie's violin is an act of courage. By making music a literal force, Rebecca Ross deepens the novel's exploration of control, memory, and the costs of power. For readers, music becomes a lens through which to understand the characters' choices and the world's rules—a reminder that even the most beautiful art can be turned to destruction, and that the same melody can save or doom.

For further exploration, see the themes of memory and identity, the power of written words, and music as magic and control. You can also revisit the characters who wield music: Enva, Dacre, and Attie.