Lena Duchannes strikes a chord with many readers because she isn’t your typical 'chosen one' just coasting on destiny. Her struggle with the Claiming—the choice between Light and Dark—felt genuinely angsty without being whiny. I’ve read reviews where people either loved her poetic, brooding internal monologues or found them a bit much, especially in the first book.
What stands out in a lot of discussions is how her relationship with Ethan frames her character. Some argue she’s more defined by that romance, while others appreciate her separate family curse drama. The general consensus I see is that her defiance of her family’s expectations, especially her uncle Macon, gives her a rebellious backbone that’s pretty satisfying, even if the Southern Gothic atmosphere sometimes overshadows her personal growth.