# Sorais — Allan Quatermain character guide

> Sorais in Allan Quatermain by H. Rider Haggard.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Queen Sorais, the Queen Sorais, O Sorais, Sorais of the Night

**First appearance:** 0015-xii-the-sister-queens

## Snapshot

The dark twin queen of Zu-Vendis, whose beauty is matched by her ambition and whose love for Sir Henry curdles into war against her sister.

## Who they are

Sorais rules beside Nyleptha with an impassive face and a slow, musical voice that conceals a will of iron. Where her sister is beloved, Sorais is feared — and her desire for Sir Henry, arriving too late, becomes the wound she cannot forgive. Her rivalry with Nyleptha escalates from court intrigue to open rebellion, making her the novel's most dangerous and most pitiable figure: a queen who would burn a kingdom for a love she cannot have.

## Relationships

### [Nyleptha](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/allan_quatermain_se/characters/nyleptha)

_rivalry_

Nyleptha and Sorais are sisters and rival queens, locked in a bitter power struggle for the throne of Zu-Vendis.

### [Sir Henry Curtis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/allan_quatermain_se/characters/sir_henry_curtis)

_psychological_

Sorais is obsessively infatuated with Sir Henry Curtis, who rejects her advances, fueling her jealousy and hatred.

### [Nyleptha](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/allan_quatermain_se/characters/nyleptha)

_rivalry_

Nyleptha and Sorais are sisters and rival queens, locked in a bitter power struggle for the throne of Zu-Vendis.

### [Nyleptha](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/allan_quatermain_se/characters/nyleptha)

_rivalry_

Nyleptha and Sorais are sisters and rival queens, locked in a bitter power struggle for the throne of Zu-Vendis.

### [Sir Henry Curtis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/allan_quatermain_se/characters/sir_henry_curtis)

_psychological_

Sorais is obsessively infatuated with Sir Henry Curtis, who rejects her advances, fueling her jealousy and hatred.

### [Sir Henry Curtis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/allan_quatermain_se/characters/sir_henry_curtis)

_psychological_

Sorais is obsessively infatuated with Sir Henry Curtis, who rejects her advances, fueling her jealousy and hatred.

## In the story

### [XII: The Sister Queens](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/allan_quatermain_se/chapters/xii-the-sister-queens)

The darker queen, who watches the proceedings with a suppressed smile and seems amused by the conflict.

### [XIV: The Flower Temple](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/allan_quatermain_se/chapters/xiv-the-flower-temple)

Queen who rebukes Agon and the priests, threatening to cut a path with her guards.

### [XV: Sorais’s Song](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/allan_quatermain_se/chapters/xv-sorais-s-song)

Sits silently observing, smiling ominously; is jealous of Nyleptha and shows growing devotion to Sir Henry Curtis.

### [Before the Statue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/allan_quatermain_se/chapters/xvi-before-the-statue)

Warns Nyleptha to consider the political consequences of her refusal.

### [XVII: The Storm Breaks](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/allan_quatermain_se/chapters/xvii-the-storm-breaks)

Her preference for Sir Henry triggers the crisis; she flees to the Temple and dispatches messengers to raise rebellion.

### [XVIII: War! Red War](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/allan_quatermain_se/chapters/xviii-war-red-war)

Declares war after Nyleptha's public betrothal, threatens Good, and flees to M'Arstuna.

### [XIX: A Strange Wedding](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/allan_quatermain_se/chapters/xix-a-strange-wedding)

Orders the capture of Alphonse, intending to use him to bolster her cause among the common people.

### [XX: The Battle of the Pass](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/allan_quatermain_se/chapters/xx-the-battle-of-the-pass)

The opposing queen, rides along her lines to inspire her troops, her name shouted by her army.

### [XXI: Away! Away!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/allan_quatermain_se/chapters/xxi-away-away)

The 'Lady of the Night' whose forces are defeated in battle; she is marching on Milosis.

### [How Umslopogaas Held the Stair](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/allan_quatermain_se/chapters/xxii-how-umslopogaas-held-the-stair)

Captured after her army's defeat; being brought to the palace as a prisoner.

### [XXIII: I Have Spoken](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/allan_quatermain_se/chapters/xxiii-i-have-spoken)

Brought as a prisoner, she defiantly rejects mercy and commits suicide by stabbing herself with a silver spear.

### [XXIV: By Another Hand](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/allan_quatermain_se/chapters/xxiv-by-another-hand)

Mentioned as having died; Good was deeply attached to her.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/allan_quatermain_se/characters/sorais
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/allan_quatermain_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/allan_quatermain_se/characters