One female main character lives in a society where heterosexual arranged marriage is guaranteed. She initially feels empowered when she “catches” a husband with a good social standing. This fades rapidly as he turns controlling and sexually abusive. She escapes the situation in a way that firmly reclaims her power. One female main character is stalked for most of her long life by her physically and psychologically abusive female ex-girlfriend, who repeatedly toys with or even murders her future romantic partners as a way to hurt her. Sexual harassment and sometimes abuse of women by men is a general theme with multiple lesser incidences.