Colleen Gleason (2013)
Genre
Fantasy / Historical Fiction / Mystery / Science Fiction / Young Adult
Reading Time
300 min
Key Themes
See below
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In steampunk Victorian London, Evaline Stoker and Mina Holmes, heirs to legendary family legacies, must overcome their rivalry and a trio of mysterious suitors to unravel the disappearance of society girls, all linked by a strange clockwork scarab before they become the next victims.
The story begins with Evaline Stoker, sister to Bram Stoker, and Mina Holmes, niece to Sherlock Holmes, living separate lives in Victorian London. Evaline is a vampire hunter, trained by her brother, while Mina uses her intellect to solve minor mysteries, much to her aunt's dismay. Their paths cross when Scotland Yard, specifically Inspector Grayling, asks for their unofficial help. Lady Stella and Lady Margaret, two prominent society girls, have vanished, leaving only a clockwork scarab at the scene of Lady Stella's disappearance. The two young women, despite their family names, are initially reluctant to work together due to past rivalries and different methods. However, the seriousness of the situation, especially the supernatural hints from the scarab, compels them to take the case.
Evaline and Mina begin their investigation, immediately showing their contrasting styles. Evaline prefers direct action, physical evidence, and a focus on the supernatural, while Mina relies on deduction, observation, and logical reasoning. Their initial inquiries lead them to the missing girls' social circles, where they meet several intriguing young men: Dylan, a charming American photographer; Pix, a mysterious, agile street urchin who appears and disappears; and Lord Alistair, an aristocratic acquaintance of Lady Stella with a secret air. Each of these men offers clues or distractions, complicating the case and adding romantic interest, to Evaline's frustration and Mina's analytical curiosity. They discover the missing girls were involved in secret societies and had unusual interests.
The clockwork scarab, the only physical evidence, becomes central to their investigation. Mina, with her keen eye, determines it is a complex device with hidden mechanisms. Evaline recognizes its potential connection to ancient, possibly vampiric, artifacts. Their research leads them to Professor Phineas, an Egyptologist, who reveals the scarab's link to an ancient Egyptian cult dedicated to the god Set, associated with chaos and darkness, and the legend of the 'Children of Set.' The professor explains that such cults often engaged in forbidden rituals and sought dark powers, suggesting the missing girls might have been targets for their blood, or worse, for a ritual. This revelation deepens the mystery, pulling them further into ancient curses and modern occult practices.
As Evaline and Mina investigate further, they discover that the 'Children of Set' are not just a historical myth but an active, dangerous organization in London. They encounter several cult members, distinguished by their unusual strength, speed, and unsettling red eyes, confirming Evaline's suspicions of a supernatural element beyond simple human criminality. These encounters are often violent, with Evaline's vampire-hunting skills proving vital in fending off attacks. Mina, meanwhile, uses her intellect to understand the cult's motives and methods, realizing they are not just abducting girls but are likely preparing them for a ritual. The cult members blend into society, making them difficult to track, and their attacks become more targeted, showing that Evaline and Mina are now serious threats to their plans.
Lord Alistair, initially appearing as just an acquaintance of Lady Stella, has a deeper, more complicated involvement. He knows about the occult and shows surprising combat skills, suggesting he is more than just a dilettante. Dylan, the charming American, also seems to be in the right place at the right time, often helping Evaline in dangerous situations. Both men confess their own family histories are tied to the supernatural, though from different angles. Lord Alistair's family has long fought dark forces, while Dylan's lineage holds secrets related to ancient orders. Their motivations remain somewhat unclear, but they offer crucial information and protection, forming an uneasy alliance with Evaline and Mina, despite the young women's lingering suspicion about their true loyalties.
The investigation takes a desperate turn when a third society girl, Lady Eleanor, goes missing, confirming the cult's pattern and indicating an imminent ritual. Evaline and Mina realize the 'Children of Set' are collecting victims for a specific purpose, likely to empower their deity or a powerful artifact. With Pix's street-level intelligence, they piece together the cult's likely hideout: an abandoned temple beneath the city, rumored to have ancient Egyptian connections. The pressure mounts as Evaline's brother, Bram, also arrives in London, sensing a growing supernatural threat, and offering his experience. The race is on to find Lady Eleanor before the cult can complete their sinister plans, and the stakes become personal for both Evaline and Mina.
Armed with Mina's deductions and Evaline's combat readiness, along with the unexpected help of Lord Alistair, Dylan, and Pix, they locate and infiltrate the cult's hidden lair beneath London. The lair is a network of ancient tunnels and new chambers, decorated with Egyptian symbols and filled with an unsettling aura. They discover the missing girls, including Lady Eleanor, are being held captive, seemingly in a trance, as the 'Children of Set' prepare for their ritual. The cult leader, a charismatic and ruthless individual named Sethos, reveals his plan to awaken the power of Set and bring about an age of chaos. A tense confrontation follows as they navigate dangerous traps and cult members guarding the entrance to the main ritual chamber.
Evaline and Mina burst into the main ritual chamber just as Sethos is about to complete his ceremony, which involves sacrificing the three society girls to a powerful, glowing artifact. A chaotic battle erupts. Evaline, with her vampire-hunting skills, directly engages Sethos and his most formidable cultists, displaying strength and agility. Mina, meanwhile, uses her intellect to disrupt the ritual, understanding that the artifact's power is linked to specific symbols and incantations. She works to break the spell binding the girls and to sever Sethos's connection to the ancient power he seeks to wield. Lord Alistair, Dylan, and Pix provide crucial support, fighting off cult members and protecting the girls, but the odds are against them as Sethos unleashes the cult's terrifying supernatural abilities.
Through Evaline's brute force and Mina's quick thinking, they stop Sethos. Evaline delivers a powerful blow to Sethos, while Mina, using her knowledge of ancient scripts and the scarab's secrets, disrupts the ritual's energy flow, causing the artifact to destabilize. The captive girls are freed from their trance, disoriented but alive. Sethos, weakened but not entirely defeated, attempts to escape, vowing revenge. The cult's power is broken, and the remaining members scatter. The lair begins to crumble as the ancient energies are unleashed, forcing a hasty retreat for Evaline, Mina, and their allies, ensuring the safe return of the society girls and the containment of the immediate threat. The scarab, now inert, remains a reminder of their dangerous adventure.
Afterward, the rescued society girls return to their families, though the true nature of their ordeal is kept from the public. Inspector Grayling, though confused by the lack of clear answers, accepts their story. Evaline and Mina, despite their differences, have formed a stronger, though still sometimes difficult, partnership. The mysterious gentlemen – Lord Alistair, Dylan, and Pix – depart, but hint at their continued involvement in the supernatural world and potential future encounters. The clockwork scarab is secured, its full power and origins still not entirely understood. While Sethos is gone for now, the 'Children of Set' cult is likely to resurface, and the broader world of ancient magic and modern supernatural threats remains, ensuring that Evaline Stoker and Mina Holmes's adventures are far from over. They recognize their unique skills are needed in London.
The Protagonist
Evaline learns to trust her intellect more and appreciate the value of methodical investigation, while also forging a grudging respect and partnership with Mina.
The Protagonist
Mina learns to embrace her intuition and the necessity of direct action, finding a balance between logic and instinct, and forming a strong partnership with Evaline.
The Supporting
Dylan reveals his true nature and lineage, becoming a more direct and trusted ally to Evaline and Mina.
The Supporting
Lord Alistair sheds some of his mystery, revealing his family's role in combating dark forces and becoming a more active participant in the investigation.
The Supporting
Pix, initially a shadowy informant, becomes a more direct and trusted helper to Evaline and Mina.
The Antagonist
Sethos's plans are thwarted, but he escapes, vowing future revenge, establishing him as a recurring threat.
The Supporting
Inspector Grayling grows to trust Evaline and Mina's abilities, even if he doesn't fully understand the supernatural elements of their cases.
The Mentioned
Bram's presence reinforces Evaline's identity as a hunter and validates the gravity of the supernatural threat.
The novel integrates Victorian-era scientific advancements and logical deduction with ancient magic, vampirism, and occult practices. Mina's scientific, deductive reasoning is challenged and complemented by Evaline's intuitive understanding of the supernatural. The clockwork scarab is a prime example, being a mechanical device with ancient magical properties. This theme explores the limits of human knowledge and the idea that not everything can be explained by conventional science, forcing characters and readers to consider a broader reality. The cult's use of modern means to achieve ancient, magical ends highlights this blend.
“"Logic, my dear Evaline, is merely a tool for understanding the world. It does not dictate what the world *is*."”
Both Evaline and Mina grapple with the legacies of their famous relatives, Bram Stoker and Sherlock Holmes. They feel pressure to live up to their family names, yet also strive to create their own identities and methods. Evaline, the vampire hunter, must prove she is more than just 'Bram's sister,' while Mina, the detective, strives for recognition for her own intellect, not just as 'Sherlock's niece.' This theme explores the challenges of emerging from a renowned shadow, the struggle for self-definition, and how one embraces or rejects inherited destinies. Their initial rivalry comes partly from this struggle for individual recognition.
“"It's one thing to inherit a name, Evaline. It's quite another to forge your own legend."”
Despite their initial rivalry and different personalities, Evaline and Mina must work together, gradually developing a strong, though sometimes difficult, partnership. Their contrasting skills – Evaline's physical strength and intuition versus Mina's intellect and deduction – are effective when combined. This theme highlights the power of collaboration, the strength found in diversity, and the idea that true partnership involves respecting and using each other's strengths rather than focusing on weaknesses. Their journey from rivals to trusted allies is the emotional core of the narrative.
“"We may not agree on methods, Evaline, but we are undeniably better together."”
The novel explores the seductive yet perilous nature of the occult. The 'Children of Set' cult represents the extreme danger of dabbling in ancient, dark magic, leading to human sacrifice and the pursuit of destructive power. The missing society girls were drawn to secret societies and unusual interests, illustrating how the lure of the unknown can lead individuals into dangerous situations. The theme explores the consequences of seeking forbidden knowledge and power, and the corrupting influence of such pursuits, contrasting it with the protagonists' desire to protect and preserve.
“"There are some doors, Evaline, that are best left unopened, no matter how tempting the secrets they hide."”
A mysterious artifact that serves as the central clue and a source of ancient power.
The clockwork scarab is the primary inciting incident and a recurring motif. It is a unique blend of Victorian technology and ancient Egyptian mysticism, symbolizing the novel's fusion of science and supernatural. It acts as a physical clue, leading Evaline and Mina to the 'Children of Set' cult, but also reveals itself to be a powerful artifact capable of harnessing dark energies. Its intricate design and hidden mechanisms mirror the complexity of the mystery itself, slowly revealing its secrets as the protagonists delve deeper into the cult's activities.
The pairing of Evaline Stoker and Mina Holmes, characters with contrasting skills and personalities.
This classic plot device drives much of the character development and narrative tension. Evaline, the impulsive, physically oriented vampire hunter, and Mina, the logical, deductive detective, represent opposing forces. Their initial rivalry and clashing methods create conflict, but their forced collaboration highlights how their complementary skills are essential to solving the complex mystery. This dynamic allows for both comedic relief and serious exploration of different approaches to problem-solving, ultimately leading to a stronger, more balanced partnership.
Misleading clues and suspicious characters designed to misdirect the protagonists and the reader.
Throughout the investigation, Evaline and Mina encounter various individuals and clues that initially seem significant but turn out to be red herrings. The mysterious gentlemen (Dylan, Lord Alistair) serve as initial suspects or ambiguous figures, keeping the reader guessing about their true allegiances. Minor cult activity or other supernatural occurrences might also distract from the main threat. This device builds suspense, complicates the mystery, and challenges the protagonists' deductive and intuitive abilities, making the eventual reveal of the true antagonist more impactful.
The portrayal of a secret, supernatural underworld existing beneath the facade of polite society.
This device establishes the setting as more than just a historical backdrop. Beneath the gas-lit streets and elegant drawing rooms of Victorian London, a hidden world of ancient cults, vampires, and powerful artifacts thrives. This contrast between the known and unknown creates an atmosphere of mystery and danger. The discovery of the cult's underground lair directly exemplifies this, revealing a secret domain existing literally beneath the feet of unsuspecting citizens, adding a layer of gothic intrigue and high stakes to the narrative.
“It was a truth universally acknowledged, at least in our circles, that a young lady in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a husband, or at least a scandalously exciting adventure.”
— Opening narration, setting the tone for the two protagonists.
“The city of London was a vast, breathing beast, full of wonders and horrors, and sometimes, the two were indistinguishable.”
— Describing London's atmosphere as the mystery unfolds.
“Logic, my dear, is often merely a polite word for prejudice, especially when applied to the capabilities of women.”
— Evaline comparing her logical approach to Mina's more intuitive one, and challenging societal norms.
“There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy, and certainly more than are dreamt of in the newspapers.”
— Mina's internal thought, reflecting on the supernatural elements they encounter.
“A good disguise is not about changing who you are, but about making people see what they expect to see.”
— Evaline discussing the art of blending in during an investigation.
“Fear is a powerful motivator, but it is also a terrible master.”
— A character reflecting on the motives behind the villain's actions.
“Sometimes, the most sensible thing one can do is to embrace the utterly absurd.”
— Mina's perspective when faced with an outlandish clue.
“The past is never truly dead; it merely waits for an opportune moment to resurface.”
— A clue or revelation connecting current events to a historical secret.
“Even the most carefully constructed clockwork can have a cog out of place, leading to unexpected and sometimes disastrous results.”
— Evaline's analogy for a flaw in a plan or a person.
“Friendship, like a good mystery, is full of twists and turns, but ultimately, it reveals its true value.”
— Mina reflecting on her growing bond with Evaline.
“There's a fine line between genius and madness, and some people walk it with remarkable grace.”
— Observing a brilliant but eccentric character.
“The greatest danger is not always what you can see, but what you refuse to believe.”
— A warning about the hidden threats and preconceived notions.
“Tea and a strong constitution are often the best defenses against the more peculiar aspects of life.”
— A lighthearted moment amidst the chaos, highlighting Victorian sensibilities.
“Curiosity, while sometimes leading to trouble, is also the engine of discovery.”
— Justifying their pursuit of a dangerous clue.
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