The Haunting of Alaizabel Cray: Difference between revisions

A 2001 horror novel by Chris Wooding, set in an alternate-history London.

 

 

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* [[All Myths Are True]]: When people start being killed by particularly grotesque fairy-tale characters, you know something's up. {{spoiler|Except they may have got [[Clap Your Hands If You Believe|cause and effect]] a little confused...}}

* [[Ancient Conspiracy]]: The Fraternity

* [[And I Must Scream]]: Alaizabel, while controlled by Thatch.

* [[Anti-Villain]]/ [[Villain Protagonist]]: Stitch-Face is a [[Jack the Ripper]][[Expy|-esque]] serial killer who describes himself as a [[Complete Monster|monster.]] He also saves Alaizabel from the Fraternity and delivers a [[Karmic Death]]; his role in the story is aiding the heroes, but his motivations are anything but heroic, never mind his methods, leaving it unclear on which side of the divide he lands.

* {{spoiler|[[As Long as There Is Evil]]: An unusual case- until humanity has the collective maturity to accept our failings, we need someone to blame; since it's the Age of Reason, there's no supernatural force to take responsiblity. That's where the wych-kin come in...}}

* [[Chekhov's Gun]]: It would be suicide for anyone but a wych-hunter to go into the Underground, would it? Thank God for our heroes' occupational choices...

* [[Cosmic Horror Story]]: The Fraternity are {{spoiler|trying to bring about the return of the dark gods known as the Glau Meska. [[And That's Terrible|The world won't be an entirely happy place if they manage]].}}

* [[Crapsack World]]

* [[Fridge Logic]]: Apparently beggars are nocturnal now.

* [[Functional Magic]]: The wych-hunter use Wards (magical symbols with weird powers and [[Alien Geometries|geometry]]) and Rites to aid with their job; Thatch {{spoiler|and, later, Alaizabel}} can draw Wards without anything to draw with. Or on.

* [[I Never Said It Was Poison]]: The first hint that {{spoiler|Doctor Pyke}} might know more than he's letting on.

* [[In Which a Trope Is Described]]

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Horror Literature]]