History Literature / WitchellASymphony

* AwesomeMcCoolname: Nicknames for mage children. More mature characters seem to go by out-dated but modern names, though historical characters seem to go by more fanciful monikers that are like the nicknames acquired in childhood. It appears to depend on the 'style' of the time.

* SpotOfTea: Tavin is an ardent adherent to the fixall properties of tea.

->Though he'd been awake for hours, it was still much to early to deal with Lyvance. In fact, it would still be too early to deal with Lyvance if he didn't make an appearance until eight in the evening. It would be too early if they encountered each other any sooner than sometime next week. No matter how curious Tavin was regarding Emmaliss's and Lyvance's sudden appearance, he wasn't curious enough to linger where Lyvance might find him. He knew his curiosity would be sated, and his relative peace shattered. There was no reason to hasten either event.

* VoiceTypes: Potentially the only example of vocal tropes in literature. Played mostly straight, but since the reader cannot 'hear' the book like an opera, the characters vocal types are usually suggested through the instrument they play.

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* Foreshadowing: Everywhere.

* ReluctantHero: Tavin, in droves.

* ShipperOnDeck: Lyvance and Amelia. Later on, Tavin.
* ShoutOut: Nice and mostly subtle.

Witchell: A Symphony is a {{Deconstruction}} of the Urban Fantasy genre, albeit with no classic werewolves or vampires. (The book hints at an explanation for such, but never provides it directly.) There is however, a great deal of magic, manners and intrigue, despite most of the characters fighting gamely against saving the world.

* ABoyAndHisX: Tavin and his favorite cello.

* ABoyAndHisX: Tavin and his favorite cello.
* AChildShallLeadThem: Emmaliss was prepared to be the Empress, until the realm fell apart. Now she's trying to adjust to being merely well-off and at leisure.

* StillWearingTheOldColors: The Witchells are, and always have been the leaders of the Sanguinarians (not to be confused with Vampires) since they formed and have worn the 'old colors' since the civil war (implied to be some centuries prior.)
* TakeThat: the author gets an affectionate dig in at romance novels.
* UnlimitedWardrobe: The closet upstairs at Witchell Hill and possibly the wardrobe Claude buys Amelia
* ViewersAreGeniuses: A good chunk of the foreshadwoing in the book comes from the classical songs assigned to each chapter. Good luck!

* OneHourWorkWeek: Subverted with Tavin. He's living on a diminished trust fun, teaches cello to high school students and plays in the symphony. The bulk of the story takes place in September before he has a lot of students and before the symphony's season starts in earnest. Aversion with Ben – he's busy until he loses his job and his school leaves him a lurch.

-->'''Though he'd been awake for hours, it was still much to early to deal with Lyvance. In fact, it would still be too early to deal with Lyvance if he didn't make an appearance until eight in the evening. It would be too early if they encountered each other any sooner than sometime next week. No matter how curious Tavin was regarding Emmaliss's and Lyvance's sudden appearance, he wasn't curious enough to linger where Lyvance might find him. He knew his curiosity would be sated, and his relative peace shattered. There was no reason to hasten either event.' -- Witchell: A Symphony, Chapter Six''

* HarsherInHindsight: Coco's angry speech to Tavin.

* MoralEventHorizon: Margy crosses one early in the book.

* ChekhovsNews: Balled up inn the kitchen trash. Too bad Tavin disregards it as actual garbage.

* OneHourWorkWeek: Subverted with Tavin. He's living on a diminished trust fun, teaches cello to high school students and plays in the symphony. The bulk of the story takes place in September before he has a lot of students and before the symphony's season starts in earnest. Hard Aversion with Ben – he's busy until he loses his job and his school leaves him a lurch.

Witchell: A Symphony is a {{Deconstruction]] of the Urban Fantasy genre, albeit with no classic werewolves or vampires. (The book hints at an explanation for such, but never provides it directly.) There is however, a great deal of magic, manners and intrigue, despite most of the characters fighting gamely against saving the world.

* FemmeFatale: Margy's plans hinge on this. [[Spoiler: too bad she's aged out of the role]]

* OhCrap: [[Spoiler: Amelia thinks she can beat Lyvance because she has a magical sword that remembers every fight. Unfortunately, Lyvance has a talent for controlling the actions of other people. Tavin and Claude have a moment of “Oh Crap” when they realize there is likely nothing they can do to stop what will be a grisly, horrible fight to the death.]]

* (Almost) FatalFlaw: As Lyvance puts it, Tavin is usually the direct object in sentences, meaning that he lets things happen to him. [[spoiler:This apathy nearly gets Ben killed and endangers Tavin's own life. Twice.]]

* OneHourWorkWeek: Subverted with Tavin. He's living on a diminished trust fun, teaches cello to high school students and plays in the symphony. The bulk of the story takes place in September before he has a lot of students and before the symphony's season starts in earnest. Hard Aversion with Ben – he's busy until he loses his job and his school leaves him a lurch.

* (Almost) FatalFlaw: As Lyvance puts it, Tavin is usually the direct object in sentences, meaning that he lets things happen to him. [[spoiler:This apathy nearly gets Ben killed and endangers Tavin's own life. Twice.]]

* VoicelTypes: Potentially the only example of vocal tropes in literature. Played mostly straight, but since the reader cannot 'hear' the book like an opera, the characters vocal types are usually suggested through the instrument they play.

* ZeroHourWorkWeek: Subverted with Tavin. He's living on a diminished trust fun, teaches cello to high school students and plays in the symphony. The bulk of the story takes place in September before he has a lot of students and before the symphony's season starts in earnest. Hard Aversion with Ben – he's busy until he loses his job and his school leaves him a lurch.

* (Almost) FatalFlaw: As Lyvance puts it, Tavin is usually the direct object in sentences, meaning that he lets things happen to him. [[spoiler:This apathy nearly gets Ben killed and endangers Tavin's own life. Twice.]]

* ViewersAreGenuises: A good chunk of the foreshadwoing in the book comes from the classical songs assigned to each chapter. Good luck!
* VocalTypes: Potentially the only example of vocal tropes in literature. Played mostly straight, but since the reader cannot 'hear' the book like an opera, the characters vocal types are usually suggested through the instrument they play.

* ZeroHourWorkWeek: Subverted with Tavin. He's living on a diminished trust fun, teaches cello to high school students and plays in the symphony. The bulk of the story takes place in September before he has a lot of students and before the symphony's season starts in earnest. Hard Aversion with Ben – he's busy until he loses his job and his school leaves him a lurch.

* (Almost) FatalFlaw: As Lyvance puts it, Tavin is usually the direct object in sentences, meaning that he lets things happen to him. [[spoiler:This apathy nearly gets Ben killed and endangers Tavin's own life. Twice.]]

* RagnorakProofing: Subverted – the Underworks are in nearly inoperable condition.

* ZeroHourWorkWeek: Subverted with Tavin. He's living on a diminished trust fun, teaches cello to high school students and plays in the symphony. The bulk of the story takes place in September before he has a lot of students and before the symphony's season starts in earnest. Hard Aversion with Ben – he's busy until he loses his job and his school leaves him a lurch.

-->'Though he'd been awake for hours, it was still much to early to deal with Lyvance. In fact, it would still be too early to deal with Lyvance if he didn't make an appearance until eight in the evening. It would be too early if they encountered each other any sooner than sometime next week. No matter how curious Tavin was regarding Emmaliss's and Lyvance's sudden appearance, he wasn't curious enough to linger where Lyvance might find him. He knew his curiosity would be sated, and his relative peace shattered. There was no reason to hasten either event.' --From Chapter Six

* BloodMagic: And how!

* ChekovsSkill: Lyance's dancing and Amelia's fencing.
* ChekovsNews: Balled up inn the kitchen trash. Too bad Tavin disregards it as actual garbage.

(Almost)*FatalFlaw: As Lyvance puts it, Tavin is usually the direct object in sentences, meaning that he lets things happen to him. This apathy nearly gets Ben killed and endangers Tavin's own life. Twice.
* FemmeFatale: Margy's plans hinge on this. (Spoiler: too bad she's aged out of the role)

* GoodIsNoNice: The Witchells are heavily implied to harbor an ability to borrow other people's youth, and they have been pulling the strings for centuries. However it looks to outsiders, they actually go against their own desires for the greater good.

* OhCrap: [Spoiler] Amelia thinks she can beat Lyvance because she has a magical sword that remembers every fight. Unfortunately, Lyvance has a talent for controlling the actions of other people. Tavin and Claude have a moment of “Oh Crap” when they realize there is likely nothing they can do to stop what will be a grisly, horrible fight to the death.

* ScrewDestiny: Tavin's attitude. See You Can't Fight Fate” below. {Spoiler] In the end he manages to warp destiny just enough to avoid the worst of it.

ZeroHourWorkWeek: Subverted with Tavin. He's living on a diminished trust fun, teaches cello to high school students and plays in the symphony. The bulk of the story takes place in September before he has a lot of students and before the symphony's season starts in earnest. Hard Aversion with Ben – he's busy until he loses his job and his school leaves him a lurch.