Mélusine (novel)

Mélusine (2005) is a fantasy novel by Sarah Monette. It is the first book of the Doctrine of Labyrinths series, which includes The Virtu, The Mirador, and Corambis. It was well received upon its release; Publishers Weekly gave it a starred review and called it "extraordinary".

Mélusine

Cover of the first edition of Mélusine.
Author	Sarah Monette
Language	English
Series	Doctrine of Labyrinths #1
Genre	Speculative fiction
Publisher	Ace Books
Publication date	August 2, 2005
Publication place	United States
Pages	432 pp
ISBN	9780441012862
OCLC	58457440
Dewey Decimal	813/.6 22
LC Class	PS3613.O5246 M46 2005
Followed by	The Virtu

Plot summary

The story revolves around two characters: magician Felix Harrowgate and thief Mildmay the Fox, who live in vastly different parts of the city of Mélusine. They are tossed together by fate when Felix is accused of destroying the crystal Virtu, an orb which channels the magical energy of the magicians in Mélusine.

Characters

Felix Harrowgate

A wizard who, at the start of the novel, is living with the elite of the city in the Mirador. When his sordid past is revealed to his upper-class lover, he retreats to his former master and mentor Malkar Gennadion.

Mildmay the Fox

A thief in the Lower City. When he accepts what he believes to be a simple job of stealing jewelry from a nobleman, he gets entangled in the magic and politics of the city.

Ginevra Thomson

The jilted mistress of a nobleman. She hires Mildmay to steal her jewels from her ex-lover.

Malkar Gennadion

A magician who was once Felix's master and lover. He physically and magically rapes Felix and binds him in order to force Felix to shatter the Virtu.

Shannon Teverius

Felix's nobleman lover who abandons him once he learns of Felix's background.

See also

• Doctrine of Labyrinths

External links

• Sarah Monette's official site