All the Hidden Paths Summary, Characters and Themes

All the Hidden Paths by Foz Meadows is a queer fantasy novel. 

It’s set in a world where politics, identity, and love collide with explosive consequences. This sequel to A Strange and Stubborn Endurance follows Velasin vin Aaro and Caethari Aeduria. They are two men bound by a marriage of alliance who must navigate the complexities of their growing relationship and a storm of courtly intrigue. Conspiracies and cultural strife shape their every move. The book masterfully blends slow-burn romance with high-stakes political drama, exploring themes of trauma, healing, and the power of solidarity in the face of hatred.

Summary

The story opens with an act of coercion. Asrien bo Erat, a disgraced noble, is forced by a Ralian spymaster to travel undercover to Tithena.

His mission is to sabotage the newly-forged marriage between Velasin, a Ralian exile, and Caethari, a Tithenai noble. Their union has political stakes that reach far beyond their personal happiness.

Asrien, under threat to his family, must become a hidden hand within the Tithenai court. His very presence is a ticking time bomb.

Meanwhile, Velasin and Caethari are just beginning to find their footing as partners and as political figures. Their relationship, initially forged out of necessity and diplomacy, is marked by both deep affection and the wounds of past traumas.

Velasin is still healing from abuse and the aftermath of scandal in Ralia. As they are summoned to the capital city of Qi-Xihan by Asa Ivadi Ruqai, ruler of Tithena, it becomes clear that their marriage is more than a personal matter.

It is now a flashpoint in a broader struggle over the future of the realm. Upon their arrival, the court of Qi-Xihan simmers with tension.

Reformist and conservative factions clash over issues of tradition, queer visibility, and the rights of the marginalized Palamite people. Caethari, newly named as heir to his grandmother’s yaserate, is thrust into a position of immense responsibility and scrutiny.

Velasin must navigate the unfamiliar—and at times hostile—political landscape as both an outsider and a symbol of change. The two men are tasked by the asa to observe and report on court intrigue, making them covert agents in a web of shifting alliances and hidden agendas.

Their every move is watched, not only by those who wish them well but also by enemies both open and concealed. Chief among the latter is Asrien, now operating under a false identity and insinuating himself among the Palamite activists.

Asrien stirs unrest and feeds suspicions, further destabilizing the court. As tensions rise, public demonstrations turn violent—provoked, it seems, by unseen hands eager to blame the Palamites and threaten the fragile peace.

An assassination attempt rocks the court, nearly ensnaring Velasin in its aftermath. False evidence and secret machinations threaten to shatter trust among the court’s diverse factions.

This drives a wedge between those pushing for inclusion and those desperate to cling to tradition. Amid this chaos, Velasin and Caethari’s relationship becomes both a target and a source of strength.

Their ability to communicate, support each other, and confront the ghosts of their pasts is tested as never before. As Velasin begins to investigate the conspiracies threatening the realm, he is drawn into a tense battle of wits with Asrien.

Asrien’s true motives remain murky, even as his manipulations grow more dangerous. Through fraught confrontations, diplomatic showdowns, and moments of raw vulnerability, Velasin and Caethari must decide how to protect themselves and each other.

They also must consider how to lead in a world determined to resist change. The fate of Tithena—and the hope of a more just future—hangs in the balance, as all paths, hidden and otherwise, begin to converge in the capital’s shadowed halls.

Characters

Velasin vin Aaro

Velasin emerges as one of the most nuanced and emotionally resonant protagonists in the novel. Initially introduced as a Ralian noble caught in the crossfire of political machinations, Velasin’s journey is shaped by trauma, resilience, and a quest for self-acceptance.

His history of abuse at the hands of Killic shadows his approach to intimacy and trust, making his growing relationship with Caethari both tender and fraught. Throughout the narrative, Velasin’s evolution from a hesitant, anxious partner to a self-assured political actor is striking.

He navigates courtly intrigue and open prejudice with a blend of vulnerability and determination, often drawing on his empathy for marginalized voices—particularly the Palamite community. His willingness to confront his own fears, support Caethari, and ultimately take bold public stances, even at great personal risk, marks him as a figure of quiet strength.

By the novel’s end, Velasin’s commitment to love and justice is as pronounced as his internal courage. He is positioned as a catalyst for change within Tithena.

Caethari Aeduria

Caethari, the Tithenai tiern and eventual yaserate heir, is depicted as both dignified and deeply human. The loss of his family, the weight of sudden political inheritance, and the emotional fallout from his sister’s betrayal leave him struggling with grief and imposter syndrome.

Yet Caethari’s defining trait is his integrity. He continually seeks to balance personal loyalty with the demands of leadership.

His partnership with Velasin is central to his growth, as their mutual support allows him to face vulnerability without sacrificing authority. Caethari is keenly aware of his position as both a symbol of progress—through his same-sex marriage—and a target for reactionary forces.

His diplomatic acumen is tested repeatedly, especially as he contends with palace intrigue, attempts at sabotage, and unrest among marginalized groups. Ultimately, Caethari’s willingness to defend inclusivity and justice, even at personal and political cost, cements his stature as a principled and empathetic leader.

Asrien bo Erat

Asrien stands apart as the novel’s most complex antagonist, shaped by coercion and moral ambiguity. Once a noble, now operating in the shadows, Asrien’s involvement is forced by Cato, the Ralian spymaster, who leverages threats against his family to ensure his compliance.

His task is to seduce and destabilize Velasin and Caethari’s marriage, but Asrien approaches this mission with a mixture of fatalism and reluctant calculation. The narrative explores his internal conflict—resentment at his lack of agency, the echoes of past trauma, and a buried longing for connection.

Asrien’s charm and intelligence enable him to manipulate court politics and move undetected, yet he is haunted by guilt and self-loathing. His interactions with Velasin are especially charged, revealing both the danger he poses and the brokenness at his core.

When his true identity and motives are finally exposed, Asrien’s sense of isolation and cynicism becomes apparent. He is positioned as a tragic figure—a victim as much as a villain, shaped by the darker undercurrents of power and survival.

Telitha

Telitha serves as a linchpin between generations and political factions, embodying the complexities of loyalty and service. As the envoy of Yasa Kithadi and confidante to Caethari and Velasin, she navigates the fraught terrain of court intrigue with pragmatism and care.

Telitha is adept at reading political undercurrents, relaying coded warnings, and providing emotional grounding to the protagonists. Her wisdom and quiet resilience make her a stabilizing influence, especially during moments of crisis.

Though often positioned in the background, Telitha’s insights and unwavering support play a crucial role in guiding both Caethari and Velasin toward unity and resolve. She demonstrates the importance of chosen family and intergenerational trust.

Asa Ivadi Ruqai

Asa Ivadi, the ruler of Tithena, is a figure defined by strategic acumen and understated authority. Her calculated invitation to Velasin and Caethari signals both political foresight and a willingness to challenge the status quo.

The asa’s expectations for the pair—to serve as covert observers and bridge-builders—underscore her investment in reform and inclusivity, but also reveal a penchant for indirect leadership. She operates within the confines of tradition and innovation, navigating court factions with patience and resolve.

Asa Ivadi’s presence is felt as a watchful, guiding hand, subtly shaping the narrative’s direction. She reinforces the themes of progress and adaptation.

Yasa Kithadi

Yasa Kithadi, Caethari’s formidable grandmother, represents the old guard, yet she is not without capacity for evolution. Her decision to name Caethari as her heir marks a pivotal shift, both for her family and for the wider realm.

She embodies the burdens of legacy and the necessity of adaptation, her actions driven by a deep sense of duty and an understanding of political tides. Through her, the novel explores the tension between tradition and progress, as well as the importance of acknowledging past failures to enable future change.

Her relationship with Caethari is both challenging and nurturing, serving as a touchstone for his own journey toward leadership.

Killic

Though absent from the main action, Killic’s legacy as Velasin’s abusive ex-lover lingers throughout the narrative, shaping Velasin’s internal world. Killic is depicted through memory and trauma—manipulative, cruel, and emblematic of the dangers of unchecked power in intimate relationships.

His shadow makes Velasin’s journey toward healing and agency all the more poignant. He serves as a silent antagonist whose influence is ultimately confronted and transcended.

Themes

The Political Weaponization of Queer Love in Diplomatic Arenas of Power

Throughout All the Hidden Paths, queer love is not merely a matter of private identity or romance but is deployed and manipulated within the grand machinery of diplomacy and power. The marriage between Velasin and Caethari stands at the center of an inter-kingdom alliance, transforming their relationship into a volatile political symbol.

Their union is observed, critiqued, and even targeted for sabotage not just for personal reasons, but as a proxy for broader ideological battles—between conservative and progressive forces, between imperial control and the possibility of social transformation. 

The narrative underscores how personal relationships can be co-opted as instruments of statecraft, with the protagonists forced to navigate both the intimate complexities of healing from trauma and the ruthless calculus of realpolitik.

The fact that their love is weaponized against them, with agents like Asrien embedded specifically to rupture their bond, exposes the ways queer identity is leveraged or attacked in service of national interests. This often comes at a tremendous emotional cost to the individuals involved.

Their resilience becomes a subtle form of resistance, asserting the authenticity and political potency of queer love in spaces determined to erase or exploit it.

Trauma and the Cyclical Nature of Political Betrayal

A persistent thread woven through the narrative is the legacy of trauma—both personal and collective—and the ways in which cycles of betrayal shape individuals and nations alike. Velasin’s journey is profoundly marked by the scars of past abuse, manifesting in his self-doubt, panic, and difficulty with intimacy, even within a loving marriage.

This personal inheritance echoes the broader familial and societal wounds haunting Caethari, whose sister’s acts of violence and betrayal reverberate through the Tithenai court. These wounds are not isolated incidents; they are continually reinscribed through acts of political subterfuge, conspiracies, and strategic manipulation, such as the Ralian attempts to undermine the marriage.

The novel demonstrates how histories of violence—be it in a home, a dynasty, or a nation—are perpetuated until they are consciously confronted and broken. Healing, therefore, is both a personal and a political act, requiring the protagonists to acknowledge, challenge, and ultimately transform the legacies they have inherited.

Marginalization as a Site of Both Vulnerability and Revolutionary Agency

The depiction of marginalized identities—queer, Palamite, or foreign-born—is central to the book’s exploration of social and political dynamics. The Palamites, a marginalized ethnic group within Tithena, become both pawns in the schemes of the powerful and agents of their own resistance.

The court’s exploitation of their grievances as a means of fomenting unrest or delegitimizing reform reflects a wider pattern of scapegoating and manufactured division. Yet, the narrative also highlights the potential for revolutionary agency that can arise from the periphery: through alliance-building, mutual understanding, and the refusal to be silenced, Velasin and Caethari, alongside their Palamite allies, craft new solidarities that threaten the old order.

Marginality is thus shown as a space of vulnerability but also of imagination and change—a locus from which alternative forms of kinship, justice, and governance can emerge. These new alliances unsettle the certainties of the center and reveal the creative potential of those who are most often excluded.

Surveillance, Public Performance, and the Quest for Authenticity

A subtle but pervasive tension in the novel is the paradoxical role of visibility. Both Velasin and Caethari are relentlessly observed—by the court, by foreign agents, by their own people—and their every gesture becomes a kind of public performance.

The constant threat of surveillance forces them to mask their fears and desires, transforming private emotions into acts laden with political meaning. This dynamic is mirrored in the fate of the Palamites, whose protests and demands are alternately suppressed and co-opted, and in Asrien’s duplicity as a Shade, whose very existence is predicated on being both seen and unseen.

The quest for authenticity—for moments of unguarded truth, for spaces in which to be wholly oneself—becomes an act of quiet rebellion. The novel thus meditates on the costs of compulsory visibility, the violence of being reduced to symbol, and the necessity of carving out spaces of privacy and realness within an environment of relentless scrutiny.

Reimagining Kinship and Loyalty Beyond Bloodlines and Tradition

The story interrogates the nature of kinship, moving beyond the narrow confines of blood, inheritance, or tradition. The alliance at the heart of the book is not a simple matter of dynastic succession but a deliberate, chosen bond, one that must be constantly renegotiated and reaffirmed in the face of crisis.

Velasin and Caethari’s evolving partnership becomes a template for a broader, more inclusive model of belonging—one that is open to difference, grounded in empathy, and tested by adversity. 

This vision of kinship extends to their relationships with the Palamite community, their friends, and even their adversaries, suggesting that true loyalty is not born of obligation or fear, but of shared struggle and mutual recognition.

The novel’s conclusion, which sees the protagonists not just survive but thrive through their chosen bonds, offers a quietly radical challenge to the rigid hierarchies of family, nation, and tradition. In doing so, it gestures toward new forms of community and hope.