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* HauntingTheGuilty: Abramo is confronted by the ghosts of the people he has hurt throughout his life, causing him to confront his latent guilt.
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* HauntingTheGuilty: Abramo is confronted by the ghosts of the people he has hurt throughout his life, causing him to confront acknowledge his latent guilt.
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* HolierThanThou: Arcangela is sanctimonious and judgmental towards her sisters and even Chiara, the convent's Mother Superior. She makes dramatic displays of piety, prostrating herself before the image of the Son, and is so modest that it doubles back around to being ostentatious. Brother Abramo is similarly convinced of his own righteousness. He makes public displays of mortifying his own flesh, preaches fire-and-brimstone sermons against the evils of his age, but he savours the attention from his followers.
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* HolierThanThou: Arcangela is sanctimonious and judgmental towards her sisters and even Chiara, the convent's Mother Superior. She makes dramatic displays of piety, prostrating herself before the image of the Son, and is so modest that it doubles back around to being ostentatious. Brother Abramo is similarly convinced of his own righteousness. He makes public displays of mortifying his own flesh, preaches fire-and-brimstone sermons against the evils of his age, but he savours the attention from his followers.followers and loves to condemn those he sees as sinners.
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* AmbitionIsEvil: Arcangela is accused of slandering Chiara and working with Abramo in order to take her place as the Mother Superior of the convent. This might be part of her motivation, but it's clear she has a [[HotForPreacher thing for Abramo]] and, depending on the reader, [[AlternativeCharacterInterpretation she may be truly devoted to the Father and believe Chiara has been doing wrong.]]
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* AmbitionIsEvil: Arcangela is accused of slandering Chiara and working with Abramo in order to take her place as the Mother Superior of the convent. This might be part of her motivation, but it's clear she has a [[HotForPreacher thing for Abramo]] and, depending Abramo]]. Depending on if the reader, reader believes her, [[AlternativeCharacterInterpretation she may be truly devoted to the Father and believe Chiara has been doing wrong.]]
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* CountryMouse: Chiara and some of her first followers come from a rural village. She has little formal education and speaks plainly, in contrast to the City-born women who join her later in life. One of the criticisms levelled at Chiara is that she is naïve and unable to cope with the sinful ways of the world.
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* AmbitionIsEvil: Arcangela is accused of slandering Chiara and working with Abramo in order to take her place as the head of the convent. This might be part of her reasoning, but it's clear she has a [[HotForPreacher thing for Abramo]] and, depending on the reader, [[AlternativeCharacterInterpretation she may be truly devoted to the Father.]]
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* AmbitionIsEvil: Arcangela is accused of slandering Chiara and working with Abramo in order to take her place as the head Mother Superior of the convent. This might be part of her reasoning, motivation, but it's clear she has a [[HotForPreacher thing for Abramo]] and, depending on the reader, [[AlternativeCharacterInterpretation she may be truly devoted to the Father.Father and believe Chiara has been doing wrong.]]
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* AmbitionIsEvil: Arcangela is accused of slandering Chiara and working with Abramo in order to take her place as the head of the convent. This might be part of her reasoning, but it's clear she has a [[HotForPreacher thing for Abramo]] and, depending on the reader, [[AlternativeCharacterInterpretation she may be truly devoted to the Father.]]
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* BeautyIsBad: Arcangela is lovely to look at, but she antagonizes other members of the convent with her self-righteousness.
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* BeautyIsBad: Arcangela is lovely to look at, but she antagonizes other members of the convent with her self-righteousness. She also sides with Abramo against Chiara and Beatrice, twisting the truth to justify taking Chiara into custody.
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* MamaBear: While not a literal mother, few things make Chiara truly angry the way threatening the ladies of her convent. When the Lambs insist on persecuting Beatrice despite Chiara vouching for her, the Mother Superior marches out to confront their leader and starts throwing around language unbefitting to a woman of the cloth. Ortolana also has a protective streak, trying to shelter her children from the Lambs.
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* BookSafe: The convent library has a volume of Tertullian that has been hollowed out so that other documents can be secretly stored in the gap.
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* RichInDollarsPoorInSense: Beatrice remembers her brother Ludo being whiny, sickly, and rather stupid as a child. He shows little aptitude for the family business, to his mother's consternation. He then goes for a hunt and fails to hide that he has eaten the meat during Lent, when this is strictly forbidden. After a painful encounter with the Lambs, he seems to have gained enough sense to flee the City.
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* BlankBook: The mysterious book has a lavish red cover, but the pages are initially blank. They start to fill up as the Mother's influence grows. Later, the convent's prized book of scripture is taken over and turned into another blank book with a beautiful cover.
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* PlotTriggeringBook: The plot only kicks off once Beatrice is given the Book of the Mother by the two dying women.
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* RealityWritingBook: The mysterious book fills with images of each woman's transformation as they happen. So, when Marta becomes a chestnut tree, the book gains a drawing of a chestnut, and when Ortolana becomes a bird, the book gains a full-page drawing of a raptor.
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* CovertGroup: Soon after she obtains the mysterious book, Beatrice comes into contact with a widespread network who secretly worship the Mother, including Tomis, Ortolana, and certain sisters of the convent. The network even reaches Silvia, the daughter of the current Pontifex! Once Beatrice starts looking, she seems to find Mother-worshippers everywhere.
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* RousingSpeech: Beatrice delivers one to the gathered women at [[spoiler: Chiara's]] vigil. The speech inspires them to resist the oncoming forces of the Church.
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* NoOntologicalInertia: Once [[spoiler: the Book of the Mother]] is burned, [[spoiler: Chiara]], who has been transformed into a tree and chopped into logs for the pyre, switches back into her human form. Rather horrifyingly, turning back into a human does not put the pieces back together.
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* PoirotSpeak: Hildegard uses awkward German-ifluenced phrasing at times, which highlights that [[TranslationConvention whatever language]] the other characters are speaking (probably Italian), it is not her first language. She and Sophia, who is a native speaker of Greek, both use HowDoYouSay when confronted with uncommon or situationally-specific words, like "tree bark."
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* PoirotSpeak: Hildegard uses awkward German-ifluenced phrasing at times, which highlights that [[TranslationConvention whatever language]] the other characters are speaking (probably Italian), it is not her first language. She and Sophia, who is a native speaker of Greek, both use HowDoYouSay when confronted with uncommon or situationally-specific words, like "tree bark."bark."
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* BeautyIsBad: Arcangela is lovely to look at, but she antagonizes other members of the convent with her self-righteousness.
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* MentorInSourArmor: Sophia was strict and abrasive, but Beatrice formed a deep appreciation for the former Sister Librarian. They seem to have been kindred spirits, preferring books to people. It's likely due to Sophia's precise and exacting standards that Beatrice became a sought-after calligrapher.
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* MentorInSourArmor: Sophia was strict and abrasive, but Beatrice formed a deep appreciation for the former Sister Librarian. They seem to have been kindred spirits, preferring books to people. It's likely due to Sophia's precise and exacting standards that Beatrice became a sought-after calligrapher.
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* FollowingInTheirRescuersFootsteps: Chiara comforted Tonio when he was at his lowest, a boy grieving his mother's death during the ''pestilenza''. He was so inspired by her ministry that he joined the priesthood as Brother Abramo.
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* LivingLegend: Mother Chiara achieved fame as a young anchoress and ascetic. When she left her voluntary exile to treat those sick with the plague, she became a folk saint. She went on to found a convent, bringing in women from all walks of life. Beatrice reflects that people meeting Chiara for the first time must be surprised that this famous holy maiden has grown into a rather plain-looking matron.
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* MentorInSourArmor: Sophia was strict and abrasive, but Beatrice formed a deep appreciation for the former Sister Librarian. They seem to have been kindred spirits, preferring books to people. It's likely due to Sophia's precise and exacting standards that Beatrice became a sought-after calligrapher.
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* DoNotCallMePaul: Chiara insists on calling Abramo by his old name, Tonio. This is a reminder that to her, he is not a powerful religious reformer, but just some boy from the village who [[HeroWorshipper used to follow her around and beg for her approval]].
* RapeAsDrama: When Abramo was young and still went by Tonio, he [[spoiler: raped Chiara's young and impressionable sister under the guise of the Holy Bridegroom. Chiara convinces the local priest to exile Tonio, causing Chiara's sister to become so depressed that she stops eating. She dies after miscarrying his child. Later, her ghost confronts Abramo and shows him the error of his ways.]]
* SonOfAWhore: Abramo's mother was a sex worker, and he is convinced that she is in Hell due to her sinful lifestyle and lack of repentance.
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* ThreeSuccessfulGenerations: Beatrice is young, smart, and develops the courage to seek her own fortune at the end of the book. Ortolana is mature and capable, a recent widow who is secure in her own situation but struggles to prepare her children for the future. Chiara has lived a full life, gained lots of wisdom and experience, and is content to simply watch over the younger generations as they pursue their goals.
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* ThreeSuccessfulGenerations: Beatrice is young, smart, and develops the courage to seek her own fortune at the end of the book. Ortolana is mature and capable, a recent widow who is secure in her own situation but struggles to prepare her children for the future. Chiara has lived a full life, gained lots of wisdom and experience, and is content to simply watch over the younger generations as they pursue their goals.goals.
* TrueCompanions: Chiara and her original followers came from the same village and have known eachother for decades. They manage the convent together and are Chiara's closest confidantes and allies. Even when pressed by the Church, they stand together.
* VenturousSmuggler: Tomis the bookseller has an illicit trade in forbidden books which takes him across the known world.
* TrueCompanions: Chiara and her original followers came from the same village and have known eachother for decades. They manage the convent together and are Chiara's closest confidantes and allies. Even when pressed by the Church, they stand together.
* VenturousSmuggler: Tomis the bookseller has an illicit trade in forbidden books which takes him across the known world.
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* BastardAngst: Beatrice is known as the ''bastarda'' of the Stelleri family. She was TheUnFavourite compared to her half-brother and was pushed into a convent as a child following her disfigurement. She grew up to be a [[BastardBastard bitter, sullen person]], though this bitterness isn't wholly related to her bastard status.
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* IronLady: Ortolana is not a royal, but she married a MerchantPrince whose wealth allowed him a lot of political power. Following his death, she has taken up managing his business. She is tough, aloof, canny. She only allows herself to be vulnerable once [[spoiler: the Book of the Mother urges her to reveal that she is Beatrice's mother.]]
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* ScarsAreForever: Beatrice has a scar from when she was a child. She was running from her stepmother Ortolana and ran into a boiling pot of water which scalded her face. Shortly after, she was sent to the convent. She gains more scars after she reaches into a bonfire to retrieve [[spoiler: Chiara's body.]]
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* TheFundamentalist: The Lambs are supposed to be so fundamentalist that they want to depose the Pontifex, the head of their religion, because he does not follow scripture to their satisfaction.
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* TheFundamentalist: The Lambs are supposed to be so fundamentalist that they want to depose the Pontifex, the head of their religion, because he does not follow scripture to their satisfaction.satisfaction.
* GoMadFromTheRevelation: The Mother reveals the truth [[spoiler: of his actions to Abramo]], causing the unfortunate soul to undergo an IdentityBreakdown and start raving incoherently.
* GoMadFromTheRevelation: The Mother reveals the truth [[spoiler: of his actions to Abramo]], causing the unfortunate soul to undergo an IdentityBreakdown and start raving incoherently.
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* HauntingTheGuilty: Abramo is confronted by the ghosts of the people he has hurt throughout his life, causing him to confront his latent guilt.
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* JerkassRealization: Beatrice never fancies herself a nice person, but she feels some guilt after realizing that she was unfairly judgmental towards Prudenzia and Giulia.
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* MassTransformation: During the final confrontation with Abramo, the defenders of the convent are transformed en masse into a forest of diverse trees.
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* MassTransformation: During the final confrontation with Abramo, the defenders of the convent are transformed [[{{Transflormation}} transformed]] en masse into a forest of diverse trees.
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* ShapeShifting: The Mother can transform her chosen into [[{{Animorphism}} animals]] and [[{{Transflormation}} plants]] which might suit an aspect of their personality. For example Beatrice, who hides herself away from the world, becomes a spider while strong, sheltering Chiara becomes a cedar.
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* BrawnHilda: Hildegard is broad and brawny from working the land and has a face likened to a gargoyle. She even has a typical Brawnhilda-esque name and is from Central Europe.
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* HijackedByJesus: Implied to be what happened to the Green Mary. She is worshipped as Our Lady All In Green, the virgin mother of the Son. When her veil is removed, it is revealed that she is in fact a [[TheHecateSisters triple goddess]], with a young girl and an old woman framing Mother Mary's face.
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* HijackedByJesus: Implied to be what happened in-universe to the Green Mary. She is worshipped as Our Lady All In Green, the virgin mother of the Son. When her veil is removed, it is revealed that she is in fact a [[TheHecateSisters triple goddess]], with a young girl and an old woman framing Mother Mary's face.
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* LukeIAmYourFather: Beatrice long believed that her mother had died giving birth to her. In fact, her mother is [[spoiler: Ortolana, her father's wife, though they only married after Beatrice was born.]]
* MassTransformation: During the final confrontation with Abramo, the defenders of the convent are transformed en masse into a forest of diverse trees.
* MassTransformation: During the final confrontation with Abramo, the defenders of the convent are transformed en masse into a forest of diverse trees.
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Shortly after, a preacher called Abramo comes to the convent demanding the book, which he claims is a ''radix'', a dangerous heresy. But Beatrice has already fallen under the book's spell. Though she is torn between her curiosity and obedience to the church's rules, she ultimately decides to protect the book, as decision which threatens everything she knows or thought she knew.
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Shortly after, a preacher called Abramo comes to the convent demanding the book, which he claims is a ''radix'', a dangerous heresy. But Beatrice has already fallen under the book's spell. Though she is torn between her curiosity and obedience to the church's rules, she ultimately decides to protect the book, as a decision which threatens will threaten everything she knows or thought she knew.
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* {{Omniglot}}: Beatrice speaks Common Greek and Latin in addition to the common language of her area. She knows a few words in Aramaic, Classical Greek, Hildegard's language, and a few others that Tomis taught her.
* PoirotSpeak: Hildegard uses awkward German-ifluenced phrasing at times, which highlights that [[TranslationConvention whatever language]] the other characters are speaking (probably Italian), it is not her first language. She and Sophia, who is a native speaker of Greek, both use HowDoYouSay when confronted with uncommon or situationally-specific words, like "tree bark."
* PoirotSpeak: Hildegard uses awkward German-ifluenced phrasing at times, which highlights that [[TranslationConvention whatever language]] the other characters are speaking (probably Italian), it is not her first language. She and Sophia, who is a native speaker of Greek, both use HowDoYouSay when confronted with uncommon or situationally-specific words, like "tree bark."
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* ThePowerOfLanguage: Language, both written and spoken, is a recurring theme in the novel. The Mother communicates through her own set of symbols, which only those She has blessed can read. As She works her power in the world, Beatrice's book gains new words in the unknown script. The words are a revelation of the reader's deepest secrets and trauma, allowing her to know herself fully. Beatrice valued language highly even before discovering the Mother's writing, as she uses language to connect with others (as when she speaks Greek with Sophia) and separate herself from them (she looks down on Giulia and Laura for not having good Latin). Abramo and his cohort fear the power of words and the ideas they communicate, which is why they want to destroy "heretical" books.
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* HolierThanThou: Arcangela is sanctimonious and judgmental towards her sisters and even Chiara, the convent's Mother Superior. She makes dramatic displays of piety, prostrating herself before the image of the Son, and is so modest that it doubles back around to being ostentatious. Brother Abramo is similarly convinced of his own righteousness. He makes public displays of mortifying his own flesh, preaches fire-and-brimstone sermons against the evils of his age, but he savours the attention from his followers.
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* KnightTemplar: Abramo thinks he is saving souls in the City and driving corruption out of poor, stubborn, misguided women. He sees himself as HolierThanThou and therefore divinely justified in committing murder, torture, and arson.
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* FantasyCounterpartReligion: The religion of the Father and His Son is clearly modelled on Roman Catholicism, but there are a few differences in naming conventions and rituals. This makes sense, as the world is not our own. For example, the country where the book takes place is called the Peninsula, and a neighboring country, Albion (England) is led by a Queen Ana.
* TheFundamentalist: The Lambs are supposed to be so fundamentalist that they want to depose the Pontifex, the head of their religion, because he does not follow scripture to their satisfaction.
* TheFundamentalist: The Lambs are supposed to be so fundamentalist that they want to depose the Pontifex, the head of their religion, because he does not follow scripture to their satisfaction.
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* TakingTheVeil: The convent houses both nuns who have pledged themselves to a cloistered life and [[LockedAwayInAMonastery temporary boarders]], especially post-pubescent girls of good breeding who have yet to be married. Reasons for taking the veil include religious callings (like for Chiara), avoiding marriage, being unmarriageable due to past dishonour or physical deformity, seeking a secure home, and simply wanting to retire from secular life.
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* TakingTheVeil: The convent houses both nuns who have pledged themselves to a cloistered life and [[LockedAwayInAMonastery temporary boarders]], especially post-pubescent girls of good breeding who have yet to be married. Reasons for taking the veil include religious callings (like for Chiara), avoiding marriage, being unmarriageable due to past dishonour or physical deformity, seeking a secure safe and stable home, and simply wanting to retire from secular life.life.
* ThreeSuccessfulGenerations: Beatrice is young, smart, and develops the courage to seek her own fortune at the end of the book. Ortolana is mature and capable, a recent widow who is secure in her own situation but struggles to prepare her children for the future. Chiara has lived a full life, gained lots of wisdom and experience, and is content to simply watch over the younger generations as they pursue their goals.
* ThreeSuccessfulGenerations: Beatrice is young, smart, and develops the courage to seek her own fortune at the end of the book. Ortolana is mature and capable, a recent widow who is secure in her own situation but struggles to prepare her children for the future. Chiara has lived a full life, gained lots of wisdom and experience, and is content to simply watch over the younger generations as they pursue their goals.
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* MotherNature: The Mother is associated with the untamed, fertile, natural world. She often manifests her power through eruptions of vegetation, like when she causes the crucifix in the chapel to sprout leaves and the crown of thorns to bloom. She transforms her faithful into animals and plants.
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* BookBurning: Abramo seeks to destroy the Book of the Mother and any heretical text. [[spoiler: He succeeds in burning most of the convent's library and the Book of the Mother.]]
* DirtyOldMonk: Diana is put in the convent after an old, high-ranking clergyman claims she tried to seduce him. In fact, ''he'' tried to seduce ''her'' while she worked on a painting he had commissioned. She rebuffed him and so he decided to ruin her reputation and career.
* TheHeretic: Anyone who worships the Mother is branded a heretic, so a good portion of the cast applies.
* HijackedByJesus: Implied to be what happened to the Green Mary. She is worshipped as Our Lady All In Green, the virgin mother of the Son. When her veil is removed, it is revealed that she is in fact a [[TheHecateSisters triple goddess]], with a young girl and an old woman framing Mother Mary's face.
* HotForPreacher: Arcangela is a fanatical follower of Abramo, straddling the line between religious fervor and carnal lust. Towards the end of the book, he calls her out for desiring him.
* SinisterMinister: Abramo uses psychological and physical torture to extract confessions from alleged sinners and leads a militant group of fundamentalists (the Lambs). He brutally enforces the status quo under the guise of piety. He cannot abide the idea of women living independently, so he tries everything he can to disband the convent. However, he seems to genuinely believe that he is on the side of good.
* HijackedByJesus: Implied to be what happened to the Green Mary. She is worshipped as Our Lady All In Green, the virgin mother of the Son. When her veil is removed, it is revealed that she is in fact a [[TheHecateSisters triple goddess]], with a young girl and an old woman framing Mother Mary's face.
* HotForPreacher: Arcangela is a fanatical follower of Abramo, straddling the line between religious fervor and carnal lust. Towards the end of the book, he calls her out for desiring him.
* SinisterMinister: Abramo uses psychological and physical torture to extract confessions from alleged sinners and leads a militant group of fundamentalists (the Lambs). He brutally enforces the status quo under the guise of piety. He cannot abide the idea of women living independently, so he tries everything he can to disband the convent. However, he seems to genuinely believe that he is on the side of good.
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* TakingTheVeil: The convent houses both nuns who have pledged themselves to a cloistered life and [[LockedAwayInAMonastery temporary boarders]], especially post-pubescent girls of good breeding who have yet to be married. Reasons for taking the veil include religious calling (like for Chiara), avoiding marriage, being unmarriageable due to past dishonour or physical deformity, and simply retiring from secular life.
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* TakingTheVeil: The convent houses both nuns who have pledged themselves to a cloistered life and [[LockedAwayInAMonastery temporary boarders]], especially post-pubescent girls of good breeding who have yet to be married. Reasons for taking the veil include religious calling callings (like for Chiara), avoiding marriage, being unmarriageable due to past dishonour or physical deformity, seeking a secure home, and simply retiring wanting to retire from secular life.
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* AsTheGoodBookSays: Abramo quotes scripture to elevate his own presence and power. For example, when he "exorcises" the Mother from Beatrice, he quotes the Son regarding a woman who He had saved from damnation.
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* GoodShepherd: Mother Chiara is a respected leader who wants nothing more than to protect her community. She helps women within and without the convent's walls. She is modest and compassionate but not sanctimonious.
* SoulsavingCrusader: Abramo imprisons and tortures sinners in an alleged attempt to save their souls. He and his Lambs roam the city, burning down the houses of heretics and coercing sinners into humilating public penances.
* SoulsavingCrusader: Abramo imprisons and tortures sinners in an alleged attempt to save their souls. He and his Lambs roam the city, burning down the houses of heretics and coercing sinners into humilating public penances.
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* GoodShepherd: Mother Chiara is a wise and respected leader who wants nothing more than to protect her community. She helps women within and without the convent's walls. She Despite her great fame as a holy woman, she is modest and compassionate but not sanctimonious.
sanctimonious. She develops personal friendships with all of her charges, even prickly Beatrice, and is on a first-name basis with many people of the City.
* SoulsavingCrusader: Abramo imprisons and tortures sinners in an alleged attempt to save their souls. He and his Lambs roam the city, burning down the houses of heretics and coercing sinners intohumilating humiliating public penances.penances.
* TakingTheVeil: The convent houses both nuns who have pledged themselves to a cloistered life and [[LockedAwayInAMonastery temporary boarders]], especially post-pubescent girls of good breeding who have yet to be married. Reasons for taking the veil include religious calling (like for Chiara), avoiding marriage, being unmarriageable due to past dishonour or physical deformity, and simply retiring from secular life.
* SoulsavingCrusader: Abramo imprisons and tortures sinners in an alleged attempt to save their souls. He and his Lambs roam the city, burning down the houses of heretics and coercing sinners into
* TakingTheVeil: The convent houses both nuns who have pledged themselves to a cloistered life and [[LockedAwayInAMonastery temporary boarders]], especially post-pubescent girls of good breeding who have yet to be married. Reasons for taking the veil include religious calling (like for Chiara), avoiding marriage, being unmarriageable due to past dishonour or physical deformity, and simply retiring from secular life.
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[[quoteright:979:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/bookeve_8.jpg]]
''The Book of Eve'' is a supernatural feminist novel by British author Meg Clothier. It is set in a fictional world based on Renaissance-era Italy. The titular book was inspired by the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voynich_manuscript Voynich manuscript]].
Beatrice is the recently-appointed convent librarian. She holds herself aloof from her sisters, but is deeply devoted to her work and studies. One night, two foreign women arrive at the convent's door carrying a mysterious book. They are weak and heavily injured, but they manage to secretly pass their cargo to Beatrice before dying. The book is blank, but gradually fills with strange symbols and drawings.
Shortly after, a preacher called Abramo comes to the convent demanding the book, which he claims is a ''radix'', a dangerous heresy. But Beatrice has already fallen under the book's spell. Though she is torn between her curiosity and obedience to the church's rules, she ultimately decides to protect the book, as decision which threatens everything she knows or thought she knew.
!!This book provides examples of:
* CrisisOfFaith: Beatrice was complacent in her worship of the Father, neither terribly pious nor doubtful. When she is introduced to the cult of the Mother, however, she is made to question her entire worldview. Here is a deity that embraces uncertainty and transformation, in opposition to the Father's constancy and preservation of the status quo. Here is a deity who protects women and interferes directly in their lives, in opposition to the patriarchal and distant Father. The Mother runs counter to everything Beatrice associates with the proper order of the world.
* GoodShepherd: Mother Chiara is a respected leader who wants nothing more than to protect her community. She helps women within and without the convent's walls. She is modest and compassionate but not sanctimonious.
* SoulsavingCrusader: Abramo imprisons and tortures sinners in an alleged attempt to save their souls. He and his Lambs roam the city, burning down the houses of heretics and coercing sinners into humilating public penances.
''The Book of Eve'' is a supernatural feminist novel by British author Meg Clothier. It is set in a fictional world based on Renaissance-era Italy. The titular book was inspired by the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voynich_manuscript Voynich manuscript]].
Beatrice is the recently-appointed convent librarian. She holds herself aloof from her sisters, but is deeply devoted to her work and studies. One night, two foreign women arrive at the convent's door carrying a mysterious book. They are weak and heavily injured, but they manage to secretly pass their cargo to Beatrice before dying. The book is blank, but gradually fills with strange symbols and drawings.
Shortly after, a preacher called Abramo comes to the convent demanding the book, which he claims is a ''radix'', a dangerous heresy. But Beatrice has already fallen under the book's spell. Though she is torn between her curiosity and obedience to the church's rules, she ultimately decides to protect the book, as decision which threatens everything she knows or thought she knew.
!!This book provides examples of:
* CrisisOfFaith: Beatrice was complacent in her worship of the Father, neither terribly pious nor doubtful. When she is introduced to the cult of the Mother, however, she is made to question her entire worldview. Here is a deity that embraces uncertainty and transformation, in opposition to the Father's constancy and preservation of the status quo. Here is a deity who protects women and interferes directly in their lives, in opposition to the patriarchal and distant Father. The Mother runs counter to everything Beatrice associates with the proper order of the world.
* GoodShepherd: Mother Chiara is a respected leader who wants nothing more than to protect her community. She helps women within and without the convent's walls. She is modest and compassionate but not sanctimonious.
* SoulsavingCrusader: Abramo imprisons and tortures sinners in an alleged attempt to save their souls. He and his Lambs roam the city, burning down the houses of heretics and coercing sinners into humilating public penances.
