History Literature / UnderThePendulumSun

''Under the Pendulum Sun'' is the 2017 debut novel of Jeannette Ng. It was a finalist for the 2018 UsefulNotes/BritishFantasyAward for Best Fantasy Novel, and earned Ng the Best Newcomer award.

* UsefulNotes/VictorianBritain: In chapter 2, Catherine makes reference to UsefulNotes/QueenVictoria's wedding dress, and says the wedding was 7 years ago. Since that wedding was in 1840, the book is set in 1847.
-->''...wide necked and layered in lace, it reminded me of the etchings of the queen's wedding dress and the subsequent efforts to imitate it in the seven years since.''

* AccentSlipUp: The gnome Mr. Benjamin affects a proper Oxford accent among [[CuriosityCausesConversion the other human customs he's adopted]], but slips into an [[WhatTheHellIsThatAccent unplaceable Fae accent]] when he's distracted or distraught.

* ApocalypticLog: Reverend Roche's journal. He gets increasingly paranoid and stressed out as the entries go on.

* BetaCouple: Penemue and Kasdaye, who provide the Helstones with a model of [[spoiler:siblings who openly flirt with each other]].

* BrotherSisterIncest: [[spoiler:Cathy and Laon have been in love since childhood. Laon had his LoveEpiphany years ago, while Cathy--despite mentioning her feelings for Laon after some fashion frequently--[[UnknowinglyInLove hasn't quite admitted it to herself yet]].]] [[spoiler:InvokedTrope, in that Mab summoned Cathy to Arcadia deliberately so they'd get together.]]

* ClingyJealousGirl: Very much a DownplayedTrope--Cathy keeps it under wraps, she doesn't say or do anything about it. But as she is narrator, we are privy to her feelings, and she side-eyes the relationships between Laon and just about every woman he crosses paths with.

* GeekyAnalogy: Cathy assumes the clock-maker is making a joke based on a biblical reference. He's not, and when she tries to explain it it goes right over his head.

* LiterallyFallingInLove: When Cathy and Laon reunite, Laon has an injured ankle and is walking with a cane. He discards the cane, runs to her, and they share a glomp hug, and for a moment Laon is balanced against Cathy but then they topple over. It's {{UST}}y and when Mr Benjamin interrupts them as a MomentKiller, Cathy is embarrassed.

* MomentKiller: They're doing a HeldGaze when the trumpets for the hunt sound and they have to go.

-->[[spoiler:'''Laon:''' I have seen you naked already. I've even dressed you.\\

'''Laon:''' And I do intend to see you naked again.\\
'''Cathy:''' I intend to let you, but it's still hardly proper.]]

* OutDamnedSpot: DiscussedTrope
-->''Day and night, I found myself washing my hands over and over. Not so much because I believed them stained with blood, but that I wanted to feel that guilt. I wanted that sweet madness that [[{{Theatre/Macbeth}} Lady Macbeth]] once felt. For all the deed weighed upon me, for all the echoes of it I saw behind my closed eyes, it was not enough.''

* WeirdMoon: The "fish moon"--an AlluringAnglerfish swimming in the sky.

* UsefulNotes/VictorianBritain: Set in 1847. In chapter 2, Catherine makes reference to an ivory dress, "wide necked and layered in lace, it reminded me of the etchings of the queen's wedding dress and the subsequent efforts to imitate it in the seven years since." That's UsefulNotes/QueenVictoria's wedding dress, and her wedding was in 1840.

-->''The Society has recently received correspondence from your sister, Catherine Helstone, who appears to be under the impression that we both approve of and are financing her passage to Arcadia. [[spoiler:This is not the case. We could but surmise that someone has been writing to her using our name. We have no idea why anyone would attempt such, but it is possible that they are trying to bring disrepute to the Society's good name. We urge you to proceed with the utmost caution?]]''

* BrotherSisterIncest: [[spoiler:Cathy and Laon have been in love since childhood. Laon had his LoveEpiphany years ago, while Cathy--despite mentioning her feelings for Laon after some fashion frequently--hasn't ''quite'' admitted it to herself yet.]] [[spoiler:InvokedTrope, in that Mab summoned Cathy to Arcadia deliberately so they'd get together.]]

-->'''Laon''': The two we met at the market, the ones who said we were like them.

* BetaCouple[=/=]{{Foil}}: Penemue and Kasdaye, who provide the Helstones with a model of [[spoiler:siblings who openly flirt with each other]].

-->'''Laon''': The two we met at the market, the ones who said we were like them.

'''Miss Davenport:''' Sixteen miles. It is sixteen miles away. We’ll arrive well before dark. ''[glaring at the coachman]'' He says that for the tourists.

--->'''Coachman:''' Distances don’t work like they do where you were. In Arcadia it’s about the journey, and I thought I’d count yours instead of mine. But you were slow. And should’ve made sure those revelations be true, since fake ones don’t count. They just loop me right round, you know? Gets me real lost.

-->'''Mab''': [[spoiler:And if I had not forbidden you to read Roche’s journals, would you have read it? I made it all the sweeter for being forbidden fruit. I made you all the more curious.]]

-->'''Miss Davenport:''' There’s a geas that knows you.\\

'''Miss Davenport:''' A ban, though some call it fate. It keeps your brother and those of his blood safe. The Pale Queen has promised him that he and those of his blood would not die in these walls and it protects you because you’re staying within them. They can’t touch you here, no matter how much they want to.

-->'''Laon:''': [[spoiler:Cathy… I adore you, treasure you, desire you. Beyond reason. Beyond hope.]]

-->[[spoiler:'''Laon:''' I have seen you naked already. I’ve even dressed you.\\
'''Cathy:''' That’s not the point.\\

'''Cathy:''' I intend to let you, but it’s still hardly proper.]]

* NotBloodSiblings: [[spoiler:Cathy is a changeling, making her relationship with Laon pseudo-incestuous]].

--->''I was the only one who knew of the stolen woman that Mab kept somewhere in the castle. There were times I would imagine rescuing her, leading Laon to her like a damsel in ''Le Morte d’Arthur''. I would then remember the story of Sir Gareth of Orkney, known as Beaumains, guided on a quest by Lynette to save her sister Lyonesse. My brother would insist that Lynette was secretly in love with the knight and that the ending was pointlessly tragic.''

* UsefulNotes/VictorianBritain: Set in 1847. In chapter 2, Catherine makes reference to an ivory dress, “wide necked and layered in lace, it reminded me of the etchings of the queen’s wedding dress and the subsequent efforts to imitate it in the seven years since.” That's UsefulNotes/QueenVictoria’s wedding dress, and her wedding was in 1840.

* BaldWomen: In her [[{{Humanshifting}} human form]], the Salamander looks like an ash-white bald woman with a snake tail instead of legs. When her [[PlayingWithFire powers]] manifest, she gains FlamingHair and eyebrows.

* AccentSlipUp: The gnome Mr. Benjamin affects a proper Oxford accent among [[CuriosityCausesConversion the other human customs he's adopted]], but slips into an [[WhatTheHellIsThatAccent unplaceable Fae accent]] when he's distracted or distraught.
* BaldWomen: In her [[{{Humanshifting}} human form]], the Salamander looks like an ash-white bald woman with a snake tail instead of legs. When her [[PlayingWithFire powers]] manifest, she gains flaming ElementalHair.
* BleedEmAndWeep: [[spoiler:Cathy kills Miss Davenport at her own request]], and is a mess about it.

* {{Bizarrchitecture}}: Gethsemane

* ChildOfTwoWorlds: Changelings are neither fae nor human.

* SpeakOfTheDevil: Don't call Mab by her name. "The Pale Queen" is a satisfactory substitute.

* WhenTheClockStrikesTwelve: At the masquerade ball, the clock chimes 12 as Cathy runs back to her room.