It also means that Turtledove does not have to focus only on the war. In fact, some of the most interesting parts of Into the Darkness occur when Turtledove pulls back from the war and turns his attention to the plight of the civilian, whether the Valmieran noblewoman, Krasta, or the Forthwegian scholar of antiquities, Brivibas. While Turtledove only spends a small amount of time examining the magic of Derlavai, he shows a variety of sorcerers, who can be either theoretical or practical, much like our world's scientists, trying to come to grips with the mechanics of sorcery, which follow laws and advancements just as physics does. Turtledove takes Arthur C. Clarke's dictum that any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic and applies it to Derlavai. A series of magical ley lines run throughout Derlavai and the strength of magic available is based on their proximity, just as electrical lines are necessary in our own world.
Human sacrifice can function, temporarily, as a ley line when power is needed.
In order to help the reader distinguish between the different kingdoms, Turtledove has given his characters from any given country names which are based on specific cultures in our own world. Algarvian names tend to be Italian, Forthwegians have Anglo-Saxon names, Gyongyosian names are based on Hungarian nomenclature and Kuusamo names bare a resemblance to Finnish. However, the reader can't take these relationships too far. The cultures of Algarve, Forthweg, Gyongyos, and Kuusamo are not necessarily based on the same nationality as the names. Into the Darkness is the first novel of a projected six-book series.