Framed in the Asylum

Avery White, haunted by her traumatic past and infamous for killing her abusive father, is suddenly arrested for the murder of fellow patient Sam Hallman at the Lilydale Foundation Center. Despite her innocence, she is treated as a criminal, handcuffed, and interrogated. The staff and police are quick to believe the worst of her, given her history. Avery's sense of isolation deepens as she realizes she's been framed, and the system is stacked against her. The only solace comes from fleeting memories of those who once protected her, but now, she faces the possibility of being forgotten and discarded by a world that never cared.

Monsters and Alliances

Inside Lilydale, power is currency. Damon, Grey, and Theo—each with their own darkness—navigate the aftermath of Sam's death. Damon manipulates from the shadows, Grey is torn between rage and loyalty, and Theo's protective instincts for Avery are tested. The trio's alliances are uneasy, built on shared trauma and mutual benefit. As Avery is returned to Lilydale under strict conditions, she must choose whom to trust. The society within the asylum, Cirque des Morts, exerts its influence, and Avery's fate becomes a pawn in their games. The monsters under the bed are real, and sometimes, they're the only ones who care.

Return to Lilydale

Avery is released from police custody after the board, led by the enigmatic Alexander, decides not to press charges—on the condition she returns to Lilydale. She's thrust back into the institution's toxic environment, where old enemies and new dangers await. Mr. Whittingham, the facility's director, imposes further restrictions, threatening solitary confinement and demanding Avery spy on her peers. The threat of violence and isolation looms, and Avery is forced to navigate a minefield of shifting allegiances, all while haunted by the knowledge that someone close may have betrayed her.

The Society's Grip Tightens

Damon and Grey, leaders of the secretive Cirque des Morts, tighten their control over Lilydale. They manipulate staff, patients, and even the investigation into Sam's death, ensuring it's ruled a suicide. Avery is drawn deeper into their world, both protected and endangered by their interest in her. The society's meetings are a blend of ritual, pleasure, and strategy, where loyalty is rewarded and betrayal is punished. Avery's relationships with Grey and Theo become more complicated, as desire, jealousy, and trauma intertwine. The society's grip is suffocating, but it's also the only shield she has.

Blood, Power, and Protection

Avery's survival depends on her ability to navigate the violent, seductive world of Lilydale. She endures physical and psychological torment—forced labor, chemical burns, and constant surveillance. Yet, moments of intimacy with Grey and Theo offer fleeting respite. These relationships are fraught with danger, as love and violence are inseparable in Lilydale. Damon's manipulations escalate, using Avery as both a weapon and a bargaining chip. The lines between protector and predator blur, and Avery must decide how much of herself she's willing to sacrifice for safety and belonging.

Chores, Scars, and Survival

Avery is subjected to relentless punishment by the staff—cleaning with bleach, denied food, and isolated from allies. Her hands are burned, her body bruised, but her spirit remains unbroken. She finds small victories in defiance, refusing to let the system break her. The scars she accumulates are both physical and symbolic, marking her as a survivor. Her interactions with other patients, especially Vivian, reveal the pervasive despair and the thin line between victim and perpetrator. Survival in Lilydale is a daily battle, fought with grit, wit, and the hope of connection.

Forbidden Attachments

Avery's relationships with Grey and Theo deepen, becoming both her greatest strength and vulnerability. Grey's possessiveness and Theo's protectiveness create a volatile triangle, complicated by Damon's interference. The three men are drawn to Avery's resilience and brokenness, seeing in her a reflection of their own pain. Their intimacy is raw, sometimes violent, and always fraught with the risk of betrayal. The society watches, aware that Avery's attachments could be exploited—or could unravel the fragile balance of power within Lilydale.

The Devil's Bargain

Damon strikes a secret deal with his father, Alexander, to secure Avery's return and reduce Dr. Smith's influence. The bargain comes at a cost—Avery is now a pawn in a larger game involving the facility's board, staff, and the society. Damon's motivations are complex; he claims not to care for Avery, yet his actions suggest otherwise. The revelation of family ties and hidden agendas exposes the rot at the heart of Lilydale. Avery must navigate these treacherous waters, unsure who is friend, foe, or something in between.

Secrets and Betrayals

The truth about Sam's death, the stolen file, and the framing of Avery comes to light. Vivian is revealed as the one who leaked Avery's file, but the real betrayal runs deeper—Dr. Smith and Damon's familial connection, Christopher's role in framing Avery, and the board's sinister plans. The society is forced to confront its own fractures, as trust is eroded and old wounds are reopened. Avery's sense of self is shaken, but she finds strength in honesty and the willingness to face her own darkness.

The Queen's Move

Dr. Smith introduces Avery to chess, using it as a metaphor for survival in Lilydale. She learns that while the king is powerful, the queen is the most dangerous piece. Avery begins to see herself not as a pawn, but as a potential queen—capable of making her own moves and shaping her destiny. She refuses to be a passive victim, challenging the staff, the society, and even her own protectors. The game is rigged, but Avery is learning to play by her own rules.

The Unraveling

The fragile order of Lilydale collapses as new staff arrive, surveillance tightens, and another patient, Vivian, is found dead—her suicide suspicious. The society loses control of the cameras, and the board's true intentions are revealed: Lilydale is a front for human experimentation on mentally ill youths. Avery is drugged and taken to the lab, the next subject in a series of unethical experiments. The monsters are not just under the bed—they run the institution.

The King's Blessing

Damon, recognizing the destabilizing effect of Avery's relationships, gives his blessing for her and Grey to be together—under his terms. The trio's dynamic shifts, with Damon oscillating between indifference and possessiveness. Grey marks Avery as his, both physically and emotionally, while Theo's loyalty is tested. The society's internal politics become more dangerous, as love, jealousy, and ambition collide. Damon's control is slipping, and the cost of power becomes clear.

Marked by Blood

Avery is marked—tattooed, scarred, and claimed—by Grey and Theo, their love expressed through acts of violence and intimacy. The boundaries between pleasure and pain dissolve, as the trio explores the depths of their connection. Blood becomes a symbol of both trauma and belonging, binding them together in defiance of the institution's attempts to break them. The society's rituals take on new meaning, as Avery asserts her agency and redefines what it means to survive.

The New Order

The arrival of Rian Thatcher, a new patient with a mysterious past, signals a shift in the balance of power. The staff's control tightens, the society is forced to adapt, and Avery's position becomes more precarious. The board's plans for experimentation accelerate, and the lines between ally and enemy blur. Avery's relationships are tested as she becomes the focal point of multiple agendas, each more dangerous than the last.

The Labyrinth of Trauma

Avery and Theo share their deepest traumas, revealing the scars that brought them to Lilydale. Their confessions are raw, painful, and cathartic, exposing the ways in which abuse, neglect, and loss have shaped them. The institution's cruelty is mirrored in their personal histories, and the struggle to heal becomes a battle for survival. Avery's resilience is tested, but she refuses to be defined by her pain. The labyrinth of trauma is inescapable, but she is determined to find a way through.

The Final Confession

Christopher confesses to framing Avery, believing it was the only way to protect her from the board's experiments. The society is thrown into chaos as the truth comes out, and the staff seize control of the facility's surveillance. Avery is drugged and taken to the lab, her fate uncertain. The final confession is not just about guilt, but about the lengths people will go to protect those they love—and the cost of such protection.

The Experiment Begins

As the book ends, Avery is rendered helpless by the staff, taken to the lab for experimentation. The society is fractured, the staff are in control, and the monsters have won—for now. Yet, even in captivity, Avery's spirit endures. The echoes of her trauma, her defiance, and her love reverberate through the halls of Lilydale, promising that the story is far from over.

Characters

Avery White

Avery is the emotional and narrative center of the story—a young woman marked by profound trauma, resilience, and a desperate need for belonging. Her history of abuse, neglect, and violence has left her with deep psychological scars, including PTSD and borderline personality disorder. Despite being framed for murder and subjected to relentless punishment, Avery refuses to be broken. Her relationships with Grey, Theo, and even Damon are complex, blending love, fear, and mutual recognition of brokenness. Avery's journey is one of reclaiming agency, learning to see herself as more than a victim, and navigating the treacherous power dynamics of Lilydale. Her development is marked by increasing self-awareness, courage, and the willingness to fight for herself and those she loves.

Grey Hawthorne

Grey is both Avery's greatest champion and her most dangerous temptation. Scarred by his own violent past and familial betrayal, Grey is fiercely loyal, possessive, and capable of extreme violence. His love for Avery is obsessive, bordering on destructive, but it is also the source of his humanity. Grey's relationship with Damon is brotherly yet fraught with rivalry, and his interactions with Theo are marked by jealousy and reluctant respect. Grey's psychological complexity lies in his struggle to balance his need for control with his capacity for love. His development is a journey from rage and isolation to vulnerability and acceptance, though always shadowed by the threat of relapse into violence.

Damon

Damon is the enigmatic leader of Cirque des Morts, wielding power through psychological games, violence, and strategic alliances. His motivations are opaque—he claims not to care for anyone, yet his actions often betray a grudging protectiveness, especially toward Grey and, increasingly, Avery. Damon's relationship with his father, Alexander, and cousin, Dr. Smith, reveals a legacy of abuse and ambition. He is both a villain and an antihero, embodying the institutional rot at the heart of Lilydale while also resisting it. Damon's psychological armor is formidable, but cracks appear as he is forced to confront his own feelings and the consequences of his manipulations.

Theo Ashwood

Theo is a man shaped by loss and vengeance, having killed those responsible for his sister's suicide. His emotional detachment is a survival mechanism, but Avery awakens a capacity for tenderness and protectiveness. Theo's relationship with Avery is marked by mutual recognition of pain and a shared desire for redemption. He is less volatile than Grey, but no less dangerous. Theo's development is a gradual opening up, allowing himself to care and to be cared for, even as he remains wary of vulnerability.

Mr. Whittingham (Arthur)

The director of Lilydale, Whittingham is a symbol of institutional cruelty and hypocrisy. He wields his power to punish, isolate, and manipulate, targeting Avery as both a scapegoat and a potential informant. His rivalry with Damon and the society is a battle for control, and his willingness to resort to torture and deprivation reveals his true nature. Whittingham's psychological profile is that of a petty tyrant, desperate to maintain order at any cost.

Alexander

Alexander is Damon's father and a key figure on the Lilydale board. He is cold, ruthless, and driven by reputation and profit. His decisions shape the fate of the institution and its inmates, and his relationship with Damon is fraught with resentment and power struggles. Alexander represents the faceless, systemic evil that enables the horrors of Lilydale, viewing patients as expendable resources.

Dr. Smith (Christopher)

Dr. Smith is both a psychiatrist and Damon's cousin, caught between professional duty and family loyalty. He is more empathetic than most staff, but his involvement in framing Avery reveals a willingness to compromise ethics for what he perceives as the greater good. Dr. Smith's sessions with Avery are both therapeutic and manipulative, using psychological games to teach survival. His development is marked by increasing moral ambiguity and the burden of secrets.

Vivian Capello

Vivian begins as Avery's nemesis, complicit in the theft and exposure of Avery's file and aligned with Sam. However, her own trauma and vulnerability are gradually revealed, culminating in her suicide (or possible disappearance). Vivian's arc is a cautionary tale about the cost of survival in Lilydale, the thin line between victim and perpetrator, and the dangers of unresolved pain.

Jillian

Jillian is a key member of Cirque des Morts, responsible for controlling the facility's surveillance systems. Her technical skills are matched by her loyalty to Damon and Grey. Jillian's role is largely supportive, but her presence is crucial to the society's ability to resist the staff's control. She represents the power of knowledge and the importance of solidarity in the face of oppression.

Rian Thatcher

Rian is introduced late in the narrative as a new patient with a criminal past. His arrival signals a shift in the balance of power, as the staff and society vie for his allegiance. Rian's true motivations and loyalties are unclear, making him a wild card in the ongoing struggle for control.

Plot Devices

Unreliable Narration and Psychological Games

The narrative is filtered through Avery's traumatized perspective, blurring the line between truth and paranoia. Sessions with Dr. Smith use chess as a metaphor for survival, teaching Avery to see herself as a queen rather than a pawn. Damon's manipulations, Grey's possessiveness, and Theo's stoicism all contribute to a sense of instability, where motives are always suspect and alliances are fragile. The use of unreliable narration heightens the tension and mirrors the psychological warfare waged within Lilydale.

Power Structures and Secret Societies

The secret society within Lilydale is a microcosm of the institution's larger power dynamics. Rituals, meetings, and coded language create a sense of belonging, but also enforce conformity and punish dissent. The society's control over surveillance, staff, and even the investigation into Sam's death demonstrates the ways in which power is wielded and contested. The society is both a source of protection for Avery and a potential threat, as her agency is constantly negotiated.

Foreshadowing and Symbolism

The recurring imagery of blood—spilled in violence, shared in intimacy, and used to mark territory—serves as a symbol of both trauma and connection. Scars, tattoos, and physical markings are badges of survival and belonging. The chessboard, introduced by Dr. Smith, foreshadows Avery's transformation from pawn to queen, and the larger game being played by the staff, the board, and the society. The motif of monsters—both literal and metaphorical—underscores the theme that sometimes, the only way to survive is to become monstrous oneself.

Narrative Structure and Pacing

The story is structured as a series of escalating crises, each chapter building on the last. The use of multiple perspectives—primarily Avery, but also Grey, Damon, and Theo—allows for a deep exploration of psychological states and shifting loyalties. The pacing is relentless, mirroring the constant threat of violence and the need for vigilance. The narrative is immersive, drawing the reader into the claustrophobic, paranoid world of Lilydale.

Analysis

Echoes is a harrowing exploration of trauma, power, and the search for agency within a system designed to break the human spirit. Steph Macca crafts a world where survival is a daily battle, and the lines between victim and perpetrator, love and violence, protector and predator are constantly blurred. The novel interrogates the ways in which institutions perpetuate abuse, using bureaucracy, surveillance, and psychological manipulation to maintain control. Yet, it also celebrates the resilience of those who refuse to be defined by their suffering. Avery's journey—from scapegoat to queen, from isolated victim to the center of a found family—is both a critique of institutional cruelty and a testament to the power of connection. The relationships at the heart of the story are messy, dangerous, and deeply human, reflecting the reality that healing is never linear and that love, in all its forms, can be both salvation and damnation. Echoes challenges readers to confront the darkness within and without, and to recognize that sometimes, the only way to survive is to become the monster the world fears.

Last updated: September 24, 2025