Annabelle Ang-Bok - you asked (I only respond if people ask directly because many discussions prefer to explore the speculative debate of what's happening as the books unfold, rather than know the definitive answer from my perspective.
I'd say Annette's response IN THIS CASE is on the mark; I would not regard other posts by this reader (or any other) to carry Any such stamp of authority… 
- in this particular case, Annette's interpretation is in line with Athera's actual history…elsewhere, it's anybody's guess, and sometimes - hers, or anybody's guess, can be wildly, remarkably wrong!!! (evile authorial grin, here! The books have a lot of stuff right in PLAIN sight, but 'twisted' by unreliable narrators, or the limitations of ignorance of particular characters, OR, (heh!) the readers' own ingrained presumptions.)
Part of the fun and the challenge is trying to figure out WHICH way things will fall. Annette's a brave player, indeed.
There are viewpoints within the books that CAN be trusted more than others; its figuring out which that's the rub.
Enjoy the ride! The people here are respectful enough not to spoil your first trip through the volumes, BUT, I would caution: be careful, careful!!! about reading general threads or posts ahead of where you are reading as you may majorly spoil the impact of certain reversals and unveilings.
There are also discussions that constrain spoilers (one vol by vol, each book, and a second set, done one chapter by chapter) archived at a few GoodReads groups: The Fantasy Book Club, The Fantasy Book Club Series, and Beyond Reality. You would have to look into the backlog folders to locate them.
Also, new readers, feel free to start your own thread discussing ANY point, but requesting no spoilers from your current position in the series.
Often I figure the threads are quiet simply because it is difficult not to unveil stuff openly when a new reader ventures in.
Have fun!