Shannon made a world dependent on bloodlines, but instead of making heterosexuality a norm, she gracefully avoided it. In any instance when she introduces an LGBT character, she provides a simple, yet very effective explanation as to why this doesn't propose a problem to their heritage at all.

Sabran marries and gets pregnant, but ultimately ends up with Ead and their relationship works out.

Wulfert's parents are two Lords that had children through former marriages, so they have a secured heir.

And probably the most interesting take is the Priory itself, especially with Tunuva and Esbar who are both in love with each other, but have decided to have children with men in order to serve their community. Their relationship is never hindered by their need to lay with a man. There is neither jealousy nor misunderstanding.

Shannon basically doesn't offer a single opening for the reader to question why homosexuality is so normalized in her world because, in the end, it doesn't really matter. LGBT characters are a crucial part of this story and Shannon eradicates any potential opportunity to undermine their existence.

She was lost and found and wandering, all at once. At the cusp of dreaming, yet somehow never more awake.

someone uses they/them pronouns? cool! we're not going to waste time going through an explaining that. it's just instant, all our characters refer to the person's preferred pronouns without any second thought.