Shadows in the Stacks

Clara Darlington, a human librarian bound by Obligation, works in the magical Vespre Library, a citadel of dangerous grimoires and living nightmares called Noswraiths. The library is a shadowed, dwindling place, its staff reduced and its defenses weak. Clara feels the constant, watchful presence of the enigmatic Prince of Vespre, her master and adversary, whose gaze she senses even in his absence. The city outside is tense, divided between fae and trolls, and Clara's own sense of safety is fragile. She is driven by a need to protect her found family—troll children and her loyal maid Lir—and by a gnawing hope that she can change the fate of Vespre. Her plan: to test a new way of binding Noswraiths, risking everything for a chance at salvation.

Forbidden Threads and Plans

Clara sneaks a minor grimoire from the library, breaking strict rules, and enlists the help of her troll children and Lir to test her theory. In a room strung with Sis's gubdagog—a chaotic web of troll story-threads—Clara releases a small Noswraith, Bheluphnu, in hopes the gubdagog can trap it. The experiment is fraught with peril, as the wraith manifests as a monstrous cat, nearly overwhelming Clara. But the troll magic works: the gubdagog ensnares the wraith, astonishing even the Prince, who arrives to witness the aftermath. Clara's success hints at a new alliance between human and troll magic, and a possible way to defend Vespre against the ever-encroaching nightmares.

The Cat and the Gubdagog

The Prince confronts Clara about her reckless experiment, but she stands her ground, arguing that troll gubdagogs could be the key to Vespre's survival. She recounts how Sis's story-threads have already trapped a Noswraith before, and how the low priestess of the trolls, Umog Grush, may be able to train Sis and Lir in this art. The Prince is skeptical but intrigued, and ultimately agrees to accompany Clara and Sis to the low temple to seek the priestess's aid. The fragile trust between Clara and the Prince deepens, as does the sense that their fates are entwined.

Bargains with the Prince

Clara, the Prince, Sis, and their guard Khas descend into Lower Vespre, braving the city's unrest and the hostility of the Hrorark zealots. Along the way, Clara and the Prince share moments of unexpected warmth and playfulness, blurring the lines between enemy and ally. At the temple, they must negotiate with the troll guards, asserting Clara's claim to Sis as her "diamond daughter." The Prince's fluency in trollish and his willingness to humble himself before Umog Grush surprise Clara, hinting at hidden depths beneath his sardonic exterior.

Descent to the Low Temple

Inside the low temple, Clara and the Prince navigate a labyrinth of darkness, guided only by each other's touch. The oppressive atmosphere and the presence of powerful troll magic tests their courage and trust. At the heart of the temple, they meet Umog Grush, who challenges the Prince's authority and the fae's history of oppression. Clara's plea for Sis and Lir to be trained in gubdagog weaving is met with skepticism, but the Prince's humility and Clara's determination sway the priestess. Grush agrees to train Sis, and possibly Lir, if they prove worthy—a fragile but vital alliance is forged.

Troll Magic and Alliances

Returning from the temple, Clara and the Prince are ambushed by the Hrorark, who demand Sis and her brothers as sacrifices. The Prince offers himself in exchange for his captain Khas, but Clara intervenes, proposing herself as a bargaining chip. The standoff is broken by Umog Grush, who asserts her authority and secures a temporary peace, extracting a promise from the Prince to cede Vespre to troll rule within ten cycles. The ordeal leaves Clara and the Prince shaken but more deeply connected, their mutual sacrifices revealing the depth of their care for each other.

The Hrorark's Threat

The aftermath of the confrontation with the Hrorark leaves the household reeling. Clara's children are safe, but the Prince's promise to relinquish Vespre weighs heavily. Clara and the Prince share a rare moment of vulnerability in the solarium, where unspoken feelings simmer beneath the surface. The Prince's willingness to risk his life for his people—and for Clara—contrasts with his own sense of isolation and duty. Clara, torn between her obligations to her found family and her brother Oscar, struggles with the choices before her, haunted by the voice of her mother and the specter of her own darkness.

The Prince's Gamble

Clara's day of freedom arrives, and she invokes the Prince's Obligation to help her on a dangerous quest: to retrieve the bloodgem necklace from Lord Vokarum, a fae lord of Noxaur. Their journey is fraught with peril, from the predatory Wild Hunt to the seductive dangers of Vokarum's court. Clara bargains for Idreloth's severed head, agreeing to fetch a kiss from the merqueen Seraphine in exchange. The Prince, bound by Obligation and his own conflicted feelings, follows her into ever-deepening danger, even as the cost to both their souls mounts.

The Siren Queen's Bargain

To reach Seraphine, Clara must bargain with the crones of the Wild Magic Realm, trading three drops of blood—and three days of future agony—for a flower that will let her drown without dying. The Prince insists on accompanying her, and together they plunge into the depths of Ulakrana, the merfolk's realm. There, Clara bargains with Seraphine to save her dying son in exchange for the promised kiss. The journey tests their endurance, their trust, and the limits of their love, as they face the cold, crushing depths and the seductive power of the merqueen.

The Crones' Price

Emerging from Ulakrana, Clara and the Prince are battered and changed. The Prince's magic is nearly spent, and Clara is haunted by the pain she has bargained for. Their journey takes them to Illithorin's Waste, the ruined heart of Eledria, in search of the Water of Life to cure Seraphine's son. There, Clara must face the dragon Oasuroa, who guards the fountain. The dragon's curse can only be broken by the High King's heir, and Clara must unravel ancient genealogies and court intrigue to find the one who can set the dragon—and herself—free.

Drowning for a Kiss

Clara's search leads her to the betrothal ball of Ivor Illithor, the High King's heir. Amidst the splendor and danger of Aurelis, she must navigate fae politics, jealousies, and her own conflicted heart. The Prince and Clara's love finally ignites, but is immediately threatened by betrayal and the machinations of Ivor and Estrilde. The Rite of the Thorn—a deadly duel for the crown—looms, and Clara's choices will determine not only her own fate, but the fate of Vespre, her brother, and the man she loves.

The Water of Life

The Prince and Ivor's duel is brutal and spectacular, culminating in Ivor's death and the breaking of the Prince's curse. But victory is hollow: Clara learns that the Prince was the one who cursed her brother Oscar, believing it necessary to prevent greater evil. The revelation shatters Clara's trust and love, and she demands the Prince lift the curse. He does so, but the cost is the end of their relationship and her Obligation. Clara is free to return home, but the wounds between them may never heal.

The Dragon's Curse

As Clara prepares to leave Eledria, she is haunted by all she has gained and lost: her found family, her work in the library, her love for the Prince, and the hope of saving Oscar. The Prince, now king, watches her go, knowing he has lost the one person who truly saw him. Both are left to reckon with the consequences of their choices, the pain of their parting, and the uncertain hope that love, once kindled, may yet endure.

Characters

Clara Darlington

Clara is a human librarian bound by Obligation in a world of fae and monsters. Her defining trait is her relentless drive to protect those she loves—her found family of troll children, her brother Oscar, and, ultimately, the Prince. Clara is resourceful, courageous, and willing to break rules and risk everything for a chance at salvation, whether for Vespre or her own soul. She is haunted by guilt, by the voice of her mother, and by the darkness within herself. Her journey is one of self-discovery, as she learns the limits of sacrifice, the dangers of obsession, and the possibility of love even in the face of betrayal.

The Prince (Castien Lodírith)

The Prince is a half-fae, half-human ruler of Vespre, burdened by a curse that punishes him for using human magic. He is sardonic, proud, and often abrasive, but beneath his mask lies a deep sense of duty and a longing for connection. His relationship with Clara is fraught with tension, attraction, and mutual misunderstanding. He is both her captor and her champion, willing to risk everything for her—even his own life. His greatest flaw is his belief that he must save others, even at the cost of their agency, and his greatest tragedy is the loneliness that comes from being neither fully fae nor fully human.

Ivor Illithor

Ivor is the golden heir of Aurelis, descended from the High King Illithorin. He is powerful, charismatic, and driven by a need for love and validation. His obsession with Clara leads him to violence and manipulation, and his rivalry with the Prince is both political and deeply personal. Ivor's inability to accept rejection or limits to his will makes him dangerous, and his downfall is both a result of his own choices and the machinations of those around him.

Sis

Sis is a young troll girl with a unique gift for weaving gubdagogs—troll story-threads that can trap Noswraiths. She is fierce, stubborn, and deeply attached to Clara, who becomes her surrogate mother. Sis represents the hope of new magic and new alliances, and her training under Umog Grush is key to Vespre's survival. Her innocence and determination are a counterpoint to the darkness and cynicism of the adult world.

Lir

Lir is Clara's troll maid, raised by humans but longing for acceptance among her own people. She is practical, protective, and quietly brave, supporting Clara through every trial. Lir's journey is one of reclaiming her heritage and finding her place in the cycle of Vagungad. Her growing skill with gubdagogs and her bond with Sis make her an essential part of the new alliance between humans and trolls.

Umog Grush

The low priestess of the trolls, Umog Grush is a formidable figure, embodying the endurance and power of stone. She is skeptical of fae and human intentions, fiercely protective of her people, and slow to trust. Her willingness to train Sis and Lir marks a turning point in the struggle for Vespre, and her authority is crucial in negotiating peace and resisting the Hrorark. Grush's worldview is shaped by centuries of survival and loss, and her grudging respect for Clara and the Prince is hard-won.

Danny Gale

Danny is Clara's childhood friend, Obligate to Estrilde, and a victim of the fae's cruelty. He is kind, nurturing, and deeply traumatized by his experiences. Clara's quest to save him is both a literal and symbolic struggle to reclaim innocence and goodness in a world of darkness. Danny's suffering and eventual freedom are a measure of Clara's success—and the cost of her choices.

Oscar Darlington

Oscar is Clara's brother, a prodigy whose potential for magic is both a blessing and a curse. The Prince's decision to suppress Oscar's power, believing it necessary to prevent disaster, is the central betrayal that shatters Clara's trust. Oscar's pain, addiction, and isolation are a constant wound in Clara's heart, driving her to ever-greater sacrifices. His fate is a mirror of Clara's own struggle with agency, love, and the limits of salvation.

Estrilde

Estrilde is the fae princess of Aurelis, betrothed to Ivor and a rival to Clara. She is vain, ambitious, and ruthless, using her beauty and power to control those around her. Estrilde's relationship with Clara is one of domination and jealousy, and her machinations drive much of the court intrigue. She is both a symbol of the fae's seductive danger and a cautionary tale of the emptiness of power without love.

Oasuroa

Oasuroa is the last dragon of Othorion, guardian of the Water of Life. She is weary, wounded, and bound by a curse that only the High King's heir can break. Oasuroa's role is that of a gatekeeper and truth-teller, forcing Clara and the Prince to confront the reality of their motives and the limits of their love. Her release is both a literal and symbolic act of redemption.

Plot Devices

Obligation and Bargains

The central plot device is the system of Obligation, a magical contract that binds humans to fae masters, stripping them of agency but also offering a measure of protection. Bargains—whether with fae, trolls, crones, or dragons—are the currency of power in Eledria, and every choice comes with a price. The narrative structure is built around a series of escalating bargains, each more dangerous and costly than the last, forcing Clara and the Prince to confront the limits of sacrifice, love, and control. Foreshadowing is woven through the recurring motif of voices—Clara's mother, the Noswraiths, the Prince's true name—hinting at the dangers of obsession and the possibility of redemption.

Dual Magic Systems

The contrast between human magic (written, dangerous, and prone to birthing monsters) and troll magic (oral, communal, and embodied in gubdagogs) is a key plot device. The alliance between these systems represents hope for Vespre and a new way forward, but also the dangers of misunderstanding and hubris. The narrative uses these systems to explore themes of creation, control, and the unintended consequences of power.

The Hero's Descent

Clara's repeated descents—into the low temple, the Wild Magic Realm, Ulakrana, Illithorin's Waste, and the Nightmare Realm—mirror her internal journey into her own darkness and the darkness of those she loves. Each descent is a test of courage, love, and self-knowledge, and each return is marked by loss, pain, and transformation. The structure echoes classic mythic journeys, with each trial escalating the stakes and deepening the emotional arc.

The True Name

The giving and speaking of true names is a device that marks the deepest level of trust and connection in Eledria. The Prince's gift of his true name to Clara is both a declaration of love and a binding act of fate, one that cannot be undone. The motif of names—spoken, written, hidden—runs throughout the narrative, underscoring the themes of identity, agency, and the risks of intimacy.

Analysis

Enslaved is a lush, emotionally charged fantasy that interrogates the boundaries between love and control, sacrifice and obsession, agency and fate. At its heart is the question: can we save those we love, or do we only destroy ourselves—and them—in the attempt? Through Clara's journey, the novel explores the dangers of self-sacrifice, the seduction of power, and the pain of letting go. The Prince, both captor and lover, embodies the paradox of salvation: to truly love is to risk everything, even the loss of the beloved. The narrative's use of dual magic systems, layered bargains, and mythic descent structures creates a rich tapestry of meaning, while the psychological depth of its characters invites readers to reflect on their own relationships with agency, duty, and desire. Ultimately, Enslaved is a story about the courage to see rightly—to recognize the limits of our power, the necessity of forgiveness, and the possibility of hope even in the face of heartbreak.

Last updated: October 16, 2025