History Literature / Indexing

It is about an organization who save ordinary people from being sucked into the narrative of fairy tales. Why is there an organization? Why do ordinary people need saving from fairy tales? Because contrary to what Disney would have us believe, fairy tales often have a whole lot of collateral damage, and a fairly high body count. Even the "princes" and "princesses" who are theoretically slated for a happily ever after ending often end up dead when the Story tries to play out in real life.

%%* HeroesWantRedheads: Sloane and Gerry.

It is about an organization who save ordinary people from being sucked into the narrative of fairy tales. Why is there an organization? Why do ordinary people need saving from fairy tales? Because contrary to what Disney would have us believe fairy tales often have a whole lot of collateral damage, and a fairly high body count. Even the princes and princesses who are theoretically slated for a happily ever after ending often end up dead when the story tries to play out in real life.

* RaisedAsTheOppositeGender: In what is perhaps an instance of [[RaisedAsTheOppositeGender Raised as the Same Gender]], Henry's identical twin brother Gerry is forced to present as female by their abusive stepfather.
** Subverted when Henry's story shifts from Literature/SnowWhiteAndRoseRed to Literature/SnowWhite after Gerry is finally allowed to live as male, thus making him unable to serve as a Rose Red.

** Subverted when Henry's story shifts from Literature/SnowWhiteAndRoseRed to Literature/SnowWhite when her identical twin [[spoiler:brother]] Gerry [[spoiler:starts presenting as male]]

%%** Henry's story shifts from Literature/{{SnowWhiteandRoseRed}} to Literature/{{SnowWhite}} when her identical twin [[spoiler:brother]] Gerry [[spoiler:starts presenting as male]]

%%* AllMythsAreTrue

%%* GenderFlip: The Narrative has learned to do this. For example, it creates a male "Little Mermaid" scenario.

* InstrumentOfMurder: Mentioned when a magically created thought of using a flute to kill people crosses a Pied Piper's mind. It's supposed to be a MusicalAssassin, but she hasn't internalised her power yet:

* RaisedAsTheOppositeGender: [[spoiler:Henry's twin brother]] was born in a female body. When he started openly living as a man, it kept him [[spoiler:from falling into the role of Rose Red, since that story calls for twin sisters]].

* {{Transgender}}: [[spoiler:Henry's twin brother]] was born in a female body. When he started openly living as a man, it kept him [[spoiler:from falling into the role of Rose Red, since that story calls for twin sisters]].

* CuttingTheKnot: Sloane's stock in trade. A budding Rapunzel? _Yell_ at the mother until she stops trending Wicked. A Peter Pan about to jump out a window? Make the kid grow up by _flashing_ him.

%%* EeriePaleSkinnedBrunette: Henry and anybody else who falls under "Snow White" in the Index. A subversion of RavenHairIvorySkin.

* JerkassFacade: Sloane acts even more obnoxious than she actually is to make sure people don't get too close to her.

''Indexing'' is an ebook serial by Creator/SeananMcGuire, originally released in parts on Amazon Kindle, now available as a single complete work.

* CatsAreMean: A Cheshire Cat does a favor for Sloane but takes payment in blood.

%%* FirstPersonPerspective: from Henry's point of view.

* OlderThanTheyLook: Sloane appears to be in her late teens, but has been working for the Bureau since before Henry was born.

* {{Transgender}}: [[spoiler: Henry's twin brother was born in a female body. When he started openly living as a man, it kept him from falling into the role of Rose Red, since that story calls for twin sisters.]]
* Administrivia/TropesAreTools: [[invoked]] Referenced verbatim by Henry, as the tropes of fairy tales are what help her and her team identify when a Story is starting to take place.

* TropesAreNotBad: Referenced verbatim by Henry, as the tropes of fairy tales are what help her and her team identify when a Story is starting to take place.

* WeirdnessCensor: How the Bureau manages to get most of its work done without freaking out the general populace. The general populace rationalizes away whatever weirdness ensues.

* RapeAsBackstory: [[spoiler: Henry's mother was ''that'' kind of Sleeping Beauty. In a coma, her doctor [[DudeShesLikeInAComa took advantage of her while she was unconscious]]]].

* WeirdnessCensor: how the Bureau manages to get most of its work done without freaking out the general populace. The general populace rationalizes away whatever weirdness ensues.

* AllMythsAreTrue
* BigBad: [[spoiler: Adrianna]]
** BetaBaddie: Birdie [[spoiler: Mother Goose]] Hubbard.
* BigDamnKiss: Henry gets hers as an EarnYourHappyEnding.

* DeadpanSnarker: Henry, as with the other heroines of Seanan's books.
* EeriePaleSkinnedBrunette: Henry and anybody else who falls under "Snow White" in the Index. A subversion of RavenHairIvorySkin.
* FirstPersonPerspective: from Henry's point of view.
* TheFourthWallWillNotProtectYou

* GenderFlip: The Narrative has learned to do this. For example, it creates a male "Little Mermaid" scenario.
* GenreSavvy: a very specific kind. At times the not-so-metaphorical Genre can even be savvy about itself.
* HideYourGays: Averted, as is commonplace for the author.
* HeroesWantRedheads: Sloane and Gerry.

* {{Muggles}}: Those who must be protected.

* TokenEvilTeammate: Sloane
* TomboyishName: Henrietta aka "Henry".

''Indexing'' is an ebook serial by Creator/SeananMcGuire, released in parts on Amazon Kindle. The series completed on October 22, making the entire thing available for purchase.

* GenreSavvy: a very specific kind.

* EeriePaleSkinnedBrunette: Henry and anybody else who falls under "Snow White" in the Index.

It is about an organization who save ordinary people from being sucked into the narrative of fairy tales. Why is there an organization? Why do ordinary people need saving from fairy tales? Because contrary to what Disney would have us believe -- if you're not the prince or princess destined for the happy ending as stars of the story, fairy tales often have a whole lot of collateral damage, and a fairly high body count.