Thank you for the review, I'm glad you enjoyed it even without being familiar with the canon!
Both character deaths are canon (even though the cause of Helene's is uncertain in canon and it's probably not childbirth but that's not that relevant.) I think gen can have tragic themes, the just theme of character death is tragic in itself. Honestly, Helene comes off as someone not unhappy in canon but without many (or any) real friends. I always kind of felt that she was closest to her father and little brother. Anatole's death comes at a hard time in her life and I think that, although it wouldn't make her suicidal or anything, she would have a reduced desire to fight for herself if put in a threatening situation.
Re: "She wanted to strangle him. That was a terribly unlady-like thought, but..."
Both character deaths are canon (even though the cause of Helene's is uncertain in canon and it's probably not childbirth but that's not that relevant.) I think gen can have tragic themes, the just theme of character death is tragic in itself. Honestly, Helene comes off as someone not unhappy in canon but without many (or any) real friends. I always kind of felt that she was closest to her father and little brother. Anatole's death comes at a hard time in her life and I think that, although it wouldn't make her suicidal or anything, she would have a reduced desire to fight for herself if put in a threatening situation.