Will you break down Oralie’s character perhaps? Pretty please with a cherry on top?

I can certainly try! There's already some stellar Oralie takes out there, so I am one of many. And to me, she seems like someone who tried to have everything. She wanted a family and to be a councillor, unable to give up one dream and trying to make both work when it does nothing but hurt everyone in the process

She has her position and the daughter she always wanted, but if that daughter is ever discovered as hers she loses it and that daughter isn't hers in anything but blood. Sophie wants nothing to do with her and they don't get to have a family life, no connection. She tried to have both and now has only half of each.

Not to mention her relationship with Kenric and how they danced around each other, denying themselves what they wanted to keep their positions and losing their chance in the process. It shows a certain level of restraint, though certainly not well hidden. And a grief like hers shapes any character, making her see with more clarity the value of taking leaps and opportunities. because nothing is guaranteed to last

There's also the matter of how she's written, which has taken a turn for the unsavory recently. Her high femininity has been notable throughout the series, but so has her power. She is strong for her compassion and listening, for her grace and kindness, not in spite of it. She enacts change and stands for her beliefs while enjoying pink and glamour and frills. Femininity does not counter or bolster her strength, it simply is.

But recently in Stellarlune, we see her shed it to be more serious. Her taking off her dress and fun colors when she really gets to work, which is a disappointing writing choice. Of course, it's not like she always has to be 100% pink and feminine and fancy all the time, but it does lessen her distinction from other characters. Others have pointed this out, but a lot of the female characters are written very similar, feminine but powerful, loves sparkles but can also fight! Looks gentle but is underestimated and is secretly a total badass! And characters like those are great, but there's so many of them; Oralie stood out from that in her embracing her pink and sparkles and glamour. The sudden reveal that actually she's secretly got more to her (as if her before wasn't enough) makes her more like everyone else, and it's just not as interesting anymore--to me, at least.

I've barely scratched the surface of her--her selfishness to try and have both when she's not the only one affected, her resilience and influence, how she's written. So there's certainly more to be said, but I hope that's at least partially satisfactory :)