Line #37 Literature/TheNullweaverCycle


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3	[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/image_2023_01_06_132828784.png]]
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6	->''Welcome to a hidden world that lurks beneath mundane notice, of occult rites and arcane sciences, of relics and divinations, of primeval spirits whose loyalties may be won with the lure of a wand and the threat of a knife.''
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8	''[[https://readformandvoid.com/the-nullweaver-cycle/ The Nullweaver Cycle]]'' is a collaboration between co-creators {{Creator/Mabel Harper}} and {{Creator/Emrys Webb}}, and set in the {{Literature/Form And Void}} multiverse. The setting and story are notable for featuring a large {{UsefulNotes/LGBT}} cast, highlighting [[{{UsefulNotes/Transgender}} transgender]] protagonists, and openly processing [[{{Dark And Troubled Past}} sexual trauma]].
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10	Set in a [[{{Urban Fantasy}} switchblade-and-sorcery]] modern day Chicago, ''The Nullweaver Cycle'' novels feature a [[{{UsefulNotes/LGBT}} queer cast]], apocalyptic themes, and aesthetics inspired by action-adventure anime series.
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12	The story begins when a [[{{Murderous Malfunctioning Machine}} hijacked war golem]] turns on the crowd at a meeting of the [[{{Magical Society}} Auctoritas Magicae]], and prodigy apprentice [[{{UsefulNotes/Transgender}} Jules Nimri]] deploys his newly-developed "[[{{Magic Knight}} combat alchemy]]" to bring down the automaton — but only after the construct has [[{{Downer Beginning}} slaughtered dozens]]. Accusations fly in the aftermath of the tragedy, rekindling an ancient inter-faction feud that could plunge the [[{{Secret War}} arcane world into war]].
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14	Meanwhile, in nearby {{UsefulNotes/Chicago}}, young [[{{Blue Collar Warlock}} ex-mage]] Rory Navarrete is swept back up in the esoteric life he left behind when he stumbles on a coven of [[{{Fantastic Underclass}} apostate mages]] in the middle of a [[{{Human Sacrifice}} ritual human sacrifice]]. After [[{{Wizard Duel}} striking them down]] with his own forbidden magic, Rory rushes the victim to the Auctoritas Magicae's Enclave to seek treatment for a [[{{Wound That Will Not Heal}} supernatural injury]] — only to be clapped in irons the moment he sets foot on premises.
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16	Jules [[{{Teeth Clenched Teamwork}} negotiates Rory’s release]], tentatively reviving a [[{{Childhood Friends}} childhood friendship]] that ended in betrayal. The star-crossed {{odd couple}} join forces to investigate the murderous apostates — only to find clues of a deep conspiracy, and a malignant magic long thought extinct. Their discovery could [[{{Prevent The War}} prevent tensions from boiling over]], but finding proof is no easy task, and time’s working against them, as Hunter Lockwood, scion of a potent magic dynasty — and Jules’s depraved ex-betrothed — stokes the fires of separatism to [[{{Sleazy Politician}} fuel his own political rise]], pushing the alliance toward the brink much faster than anyone could have imagined.
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18	%% [[AC: The main characters:]]
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20	%% * Jules Nimri — An alchemy prodigy from a family of daemonologists, he is a highly skilled {{badass bookworm}} who both developed and mastered a magical combat system from his innovative research into non-research applications of alchemy by age 18. Jules is also a [[{{Magic Knight}} magic enforcement agent]] and uses those privileges to investigate Rory's story.
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22	%% * Rory Navarrete — A blue-collar runaway when he returns to the magical society after three years
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24	%% * Elisha Weyland —
25
26	[[AC: The series so far consists of:]]
27	-->''Those Who Create and Destroy: Part I'' (2021)
28	%% -->''Those Who Create and Destroy: Part II'' (2022)
29
30	----
31	!!Provides examples of:
32	[[foldercontrol]]
33
34	[[folder:A-F]]
35	* {{After Action Healing Drama}}: After Jules manages to [[spoiler:trap the rouge war golem in the collapse of the Hall of the Tribunal]], he is rushed off to {{psychic surgery}}. While recovering, the reaction his parents have ends in [[spoiler:his father misgendering him]].
36	* {{Alchemy Is Magic}}: Requires at least [[{{Geometric Magic}} arrays]], an [[{{Magic Is Mental}} altered state of mind]], and purified {{mana}} to analyze or transmute matter into potions, metals, elements, and other mundane or magical substances.
37	* {{Alien Geometries}}: In the story, [[{{Place of Power}} the Fathoms]] are this, as — despite having specifically designated entry points in the material world — they have no set location themselves.
38	%% * {{All There In The Manual}}: Word of God on the Discord sharing background info like the history of La Messe Noire, explaining what "tranquilization" is, elaborating on the Fathoms, etc. Also, the glossary on the website counts?
39	* {{The Archmage}}: Levi Weyland holds the position of Archmagus as leader of the Ordo Arcanus faction.
40	* {{Background Magic Field}}: The City of Delphi is a magically charged location with abundant mana reserves due to its proximity to [[{{Place of Power}} the Fathoms]].
41	* {{Badass Bookworm}}: Jules can read at least four languages, and is well-read on a wide range of research papers, theses, and ancient texts. In addition to this, Jules is also [[{{Military Mage}} a member of the Order of Martial Magi]], having developed his magic specialties for use in combat. For example, during the opening of the story when Jules is presenting a paper before the Tribunal (similar to [=PhD=] thesis presentations), he defeats war golems as evidence of his experimental findings in a field of alchemy he has pioneered.
42	* {{Ban On Magic}}: Certain schools of magic are restricted or banned by [[{{The Magocracy}} the Auctoritas Magicae]], such as mind-control magic (cogimancy), body-harming magic (maleficium), and some methods of receiving supernatural insight (pythias). In addition to these specific schools, mages are banned from discussing or practicing magic in the presence of [[{{Muggles}} mundanes]].
43	* {{Black Magic}}: Many of the schools of magic [[{{The Magocracy}} the Auctoritas Magicae]] has [[{{Ban on Magic}} banned]] causes direct suffering to the body or mind.
44	%% * {{Blue Collar Warlock}}: Rory??
45	%% * {{Cast Full Of Gay}}: One of the two protagonists is {{UsefulNotes/transgender}} and the {{deuteragonist}} is in a {{UsefulNotes/homosexual}} relationship.
46	%% ** The second installment will [[https://twitter.com/ReadFormAndVoid/status/1447910299126931461 explore the transfemininity of two existing characters]] — one of whom is [[spoiler:the second protagonist, Rory]].
47	* {{Cellphones Are Useless}}: Characters repeatedly mention that [[{{Background Magic Field}} interference from the Fathoms]] blocks wireless signals from reaching the headquarters.
48	%% * {{Childhood Friends}}: Rory and Jules.
49	* {{Chosen Conception Partner}}: Elisha and [=DeShay=] choose [=DeShay's=] cousin, Devisha, as Elisha's surrogate and egg donor. Elisha and [=DeShay=] manage to subvert any {{adoption angst}} as they are transparent with their daughter, Leshayva, about her biological parentage during her upbringing. Leshayva refers to Devisha as "Mom", [=DeShay=] as "Daddy", and Elisha as "Dad" in the story.
50	%% * {{Cigarette Of Anxiety}}: Rory only stress-smokes, as the narrative points out that Rory only smokes cigarettes when he is not doing well.
51	* {{Color Coded Eyes}}: Jules inherited the black eyes of his mother's magic bloodline. Rory notes that it is not the dark-brown that occurs in the [[{{Muggles}} mundane world]], but rather that his eyes are ink-black.
52	* {{Content Warnings}}: Each chapter opens with content warnings at the beginning, which can be expanded to specify the context without spoilers. For example, the first chapter has a content warning for ''misgendering'' that reads [[spoiler:"a young trans man is deliberately, repeatedly deadnamed and called by the wrong pronouns"]].
53	** The authors' statement at the beginning of the book opens with, "This book (besides being a fun, kickass action-fantasy epic) has processing of sexual trauma and transcendence of heteronormative patriarchal oppression as two of its central themes. It includes explicit scenes of harassment, misgendering, abuse, and sexual and physical assault that many readers may find upsetting.... If you’re in such a sensitive place, we encourage you to do what feels best for yourself and read with mindfulness and caution, or maybe not at all. (We totally understand.)"
54	%% * {{Conveniently Coherent Thoughts}}: Averted when using cogimancy.
55	%% * {{Dark And Troubled Past}}:
56	* {{The Dark Arts}}: Many of the schools of magic [[{{The Magocracy}} the Auctoritas Magicae]] has [[{{Ban on Magic}} banned]] causes direct suffering to the body or mind. Unlike other settings, magics that focus on taming daemons or summoning ghosts are not considered dark arts.
57	%% * {{Dark Is Not Evil}}: Schools of magic that are usually labeled as evil, such as necromancy and contracting daemons, are not evil in this setting.
58	* {{Darker And Edgier}}: ''The Nullweaver Cycle'' is a {{Spiritual Successor}} to the [[{{Literature/The Dread Eclipse}} web serial]] in the [[{{Literature/Form And Void}} same multiverse]], but is much more explicit and more disturbing. In the authors' own words, "[[https://youtu.be/9uZOWMh-BNA If the web serial is rated R, then the novel is rated NC-17.]]"
59	* {{Deuteragonist}}: While Rory and Jules investigate a coven of apostates, Perfect Elisha provides his point of view in several chapters as he investigates the golem attack on the Enclave.
60	%% * {{Does This Remind You Of Anything}}: the xenophobic campaigning taking place in Ordo Arcanus
61	%% * {{Downer Beginning}}: lots of people died. Also, human sacrifice ritual
62	* {{Equivalent Exchange}}: To cause an effect, alchemists are required to either convert their own mana or transmute substances available in the environment. In Jules' words, "[[https://readformandvoid.com/the-nullweaver-cycle/those-who-create-and-destroy/chapter-nine/ In spite of appearances, it all checks out in terms of equivalency.]]"
63	* {{Everyone Is Related}}: Specifically, in the eldership of Ordo: the faction's Prefect is the son of the Archmagus, his cousin is the Magistrate married to the previous Grand Philosopher, his husband is the cousin of the Master-General, his nephew's ex-fiance is the current Grand Philosopher, and the current Grand Philosopher's father is the incumbent Magistrate his nephew is running against.
64	%% * {{Everytown America}}: Delphi, Illinois
65	* {{Extraordinary World Ordinary Problems}}: Hunter Lockwood's fearmongering campaign focuses on [[{{Does This Remind You Of Anything}} xenophobic rhetoric and a return to their days of past superiority]].
66	* {{Fantastic Underclass}}: Inter-faction law classifies users of [[{{Black Magic}} certain schools of magic]] as "apostates", whom the [[{{Magical Society}} Auctoritas Magicae]] aggressively seek and control. In the story, [[spoiler:Rory (who has an intuitive understanding of maleficium, the school used to harm other's bodies) and Perfect Elisha (who likewise uses cogimancy to read and manipulate other's minds)]] must keep their abilities secret to avoid imprisonment, punishment, or execution.
67	* {{Flashback}}: Used throughout the story for background and exposition. Thanks to the {{Switching POV}}, the novel has covered flashbacks from the points of view of the two protagonists and of the {{deuteragonist}}.
68	* {{Flashback B Plot}}: During the chapters that Rory narrates, he recounts how he and Jules got to know each other as school children, some of their interactions as friends, and hints at how he [[{{Once Done Never Forgotten}} ruined their friendship]].
69	* {{Functional Magic}}: [[{{Mage Species}} Mages]] spend their childhoods {{Training The Gift of Magic}} at a {{Wizarding School}}, and tend to [[{{Master Of One Magic}} specialize]] in a discipline. Examples in the story include divination, {{necromancy}}, [[{{Transmutation}} alchemy]], [[{{Summon Magic}} goetia]], and the assorted [[{{Black Magic}} apostasies]].
70	[[/folder]]
71
72	[[folder:G-L]]
73	* {{Geometric Magic}}: Alchemical arrays, transmutation circles, and elemental symbols are used to effect transmutations and alchemical changes.
74	%% * {{Gentleman And A Scholar}}: The aristocracy of [[{{Magical Society}} Auctoritas Magicae]]
75	* {{Glamour}}: Several glamors are introduced in the story, ranging from a set of city-spanning ones used to hide the supernatural attributes of the story's {{Wainscot Society}}, to a card that appears to be whatever [[{{Muggle}} mundanes]] most expect to see. Most glamors only work on mundanes and are distinguishable to the eyes of mages, but a master enchanter is capable of making artifacts that cast illusions powerful enough to fool even mages' eyes.
76	%% * {{Happily Married}}: Elisha and [=DeShay=].
77	* {{Hermetic Magic}}: The first paragraph of the novel muses on [[{{Sympathetic Magic}} the bonds between heavenly bodies and earthly ones]] and [[{{Western Zodiac}} astrology]], and start with the classical Hermetic phrase "As above, so below". The story also features Hermetic schools of magic like [[{{Alchemy Is Magic}} alchemy]], [[{{Functional Magic}} demonology]], and [[{{Astrologer}} divination]]. One of the major factions of the [[{{Magical Society}} Auctoritas Magicae]] is even named the ''Hermetic Order'' of Khmun.
78	* {{Heroic BSoD}}: While reading Max's scar, Jules [[spoiler:has an episode of dream-like memories, then falls to the floor and has to be slapped awake by Max]].
79	* {{Human Sacrifice}}: Rory stumbles on a coven of [[{{Fantastic Underclass}} apostate mages]] at the beginning of the story who are in the middle of a ritual human sacrifice.
80	* {{Interclass Friendship}}: In their childhoods, Rory and Jules were quite close. While Rory's family is part of the [[{{Hard Work Fallacy}} Rising Houses]], Jules' family is one of the [[{{Blue Blood}} First Houses]].
81	%% * {{Love Triangle}}: [[spoiler:Max shows an interest in Rory at the start of the story and in Jules when she first meets him.]]
82	[[/folder]]
83
84	[[folder:M-R]]
85	* {{Made of Indestructium}}: Adamantine, a.k.a. "cold iron", is an untransmutable, unyielding metal that is indestructible by anything else.
86	* {{Mage Species}}: The ability to do magic is passed from parents to children, and it is ultimately based on inheritance. This separation from mundanes has contributed to the isolated community of only mages in the story.
87	* {{Magic Fire}}: Greek fire, a.k.a. brimstone, is the celestial version of sulphur. It is referred to as "the dreaded unquenchable flame", as it can burn through any substance in the universe except for [[{{Made of Indestructium}} adamantine]].
88	%% * {{Magic Is Mental}}: gnostic states
89	%% * {{Magic Knight}}: combat alchemist
90	%% * {{Magical Potion}} mentioned in passing
91	* {{Make Some Noise}}: The leader of the Auctoritas Magicae's Tribunal uses a gilded gavel and block that can magically silence the room when used, snatching the vocalizations from the lips of those assembled.
92	%% * {{Muggle Mage Romance}}: Max and Rory, Max and Jules
93	* {{Magical Society}}: Ordo Arcanus, the Hermetic Order of Khmun, Fraternitas Mercurii, Hekate Aristokratia, Initiates of the Divine Flame, La Messe Noire are members of the the Six Orders Alliance that established the Auctoritas Magicae. Much of the story takes place in and around the Enclave, the Auctoritas Magicae's headquarters.
94	%% * {{The Magocracy}}: the Auctoritas Magicae is the ruling body of the Six Orders Alliance
95	%% * {{Military Mage}}: the order of martial magi?
96	%% * {{Mind Probe}}: Elisha / cogimancy
97	%% * {{Mana}}:
98	%% * {{Master Of One Magic}}: necromancers, goetians, alchemists, etc
99	%% * {{Masquerade}}: the hotel
100	%% * {{Mind Rape}}: cogimancy
101	%% * {{Muggles}}: mundanes
102	%% * {{Mundane Utility}}:
103	%% * {{Murderous Malfunctioning Machine}}: third war golem
104	%% * {{My Skull Runneth Over}}: "neutronneutronprotonneutron" scene
105	%% * {{Mysterious Past}}: eigth-year Magic Theory class
106	%% * {{Necromancer}}: the Hekate group
107	%% * {{Never the obvious suspect}}: invoked with [[spoiler:Duncan]]
108	%% * {{No Eye in Magic}}: cogimancy (mention Rory's comment about not looking them in the eye)
109	%% * {{No Tech But High Tech}}: the fathoms and phones with magic
110	%% * {{Odd Couple}}: Rory and Jules
111	* {{Once Done Never Forgotten}}: Rory did [[{{Mysterious Past}} something]] to hurt Jules during their eighth-year Magic Theory class when they were schoolboys, though the specifics have yet to be revealed.
112	%% * {{Place Of Power}}: The Fathoms under [[{{Everytown America}} Delphi]] are part of what make the town such a magically charged location, and they're the reason Ordo Arcanus built its headquarters there, with the Enclave right on top of the entrance.
113	%% * {{Portal Cut}}: Rory mentions it being possible when he and Max first teleport
114	%% * {{Psychic Surgery}}: On Jules
115	* {{Power Of The Void}} This seems to be the end-goal of the apostate mages' coven, to [[spoiler:bring about the Nihility, a parallel dimension of darkness and void.]]
116	%% * {{Power Tattoo}}: "the red-glowing tattooed channels on Jules’s left arm." "the tattoos began to glow faintly red, then blazed like molten silver in a sequential pattern." "his tattoos, which had begun to take on their scarlet glow." "A faint red glow emanated from his coat sleeve as he pressed his left palm to the pavement." "his sleeve emitting that faint red glow." "The finger-pads and palm of the right one were tattooed with copper-hued symbols and line fragments in scattered array - similar markings peeked out from the edge of his left sleeve." "trellis of tattoos that adorned it from bicep to wrist." "a thick web of coppery tattoos." "The scarlet gleam of Jules’s tattoos dulled once more to copper." word of god: "Jules converts his own essential energy (mana) to prima materia, which is a novel method he (re?)discovered himself, as explained in Chapter 1. But he can and does modify/add to his tattoos to enable different kinds of transmutations"
117	%% * {{Prevent The War}}: Elisha and his dad's goal
118	%% * {{Red Herring Mole}}: averted with Duncan
119	%% * {{Rescue Romance}}: Max and Rory, and also Max and Jules
120	%% * {{Rich Bitch}}: Rory mentions old money and calling Jules an "old money bitch"
121	%% * {{Roaring Rampage of Rescue}}: Rory for Max at the start, then Rory for Jules at the bar
122	[[/folder]]
123
124	[[folder:S-Z]]
125	%% * {{Safety In Muggles}}: Rory realizes at the bar
126	%% * {{Secret War}}: 300 years ago between Ordo and Khmun
127	* {{Sequel Hook}}: The first book ends with [[spoiler:Perfect Elisha losing his only lead on the apostate mages and almost dying in a Void attack, one of the apostate mages making contact with Rory at his concert, and Jules and the Archmagus being placed at the center of a smear campaign designed to push two factions of the Auctoritas Magicae (Ordo Arcanus and the Hermetic Order of Khmun) to go to war.]]
128	%% * {{Smart People Wear Glasses}}: Jules and Winter and Draven
129	* {{Sobriquet Sex Switch}}: Jules has kept his name largely intact, with his deadname being nearly identical.
130	%% * {{Sleazy Politician}}: Hunter
131	%% * {{Spiritual Successor}}: This novel is to The Dread Eclipse
132	%% * {{Strange Secret Entrance}}: Hotel elevator
133	%% * {{Summon Magic}}: demonology
134	%% * {{Switching POV}}: Jules to Rory to Elisha to Shay to that-one-bad-person-at-the-end
135	%% * {{Teeth Clenched Teamwork}}: Rory and Jules
136	%% * {{Training The Gift Of Magic}}: Arcanus Academy
137	* {{Trans Relationship Troubles}}: Neatly subverted with Jules, who at one point anxiously anticipates disclosing to a potential sexual partner. However, [[spoiler:Max, who he shared some semi-autobiographical writing with]] wasn't as oblivious as he worried.
138	%% * {{Transmutation}}: Alchemy
139	* {{Unequal Rites}}: An [[{{The Dark Arts}} apostate]] is any mage that violates the laws of the Auctoritas Magicae. Some of these mages learn apostatic magics formally, but some mages are simply born with an intuitive understanding and approach to an apostate art, their forbidden gifts manifesting during childhood. Regardless of origin, they are persecuted and are either imprisoned, mutilated, or executed if found.
140	* {{Urban Fantasy}}: The story takes place in and around modern-day Chicago, except that there is a secret society of magic users hidden in plain sight.
141	%% * {{Wainscot Society}}: The magocracy (list factions?). "A city founded by mages centuries before, Delphi had two faces — a true one only magic adepts could see, and a false one that masked its many arcane secrets from mundanes"
142	* {{We Used To Be Friends}}: Jules and Rory were best friends for two years during their time as students at [[{{Wizarding School}} Arcanus Academy]] before Rory betrayed Jules' trust.
143	%% * {{Weak But Skilled}}: Jules' whole thing
144	%% * {{Wizard Duel}}: fights with apostates: Max's rescue fight, the bar fight, Caliban in church
145	* {{Wizarding School}}: Both the protagonists were schoolmates at Arcanus Academy in their childhoods, though (as both are young adults by the start of the story) it is only seen in a few flashbacks. Specific classes mentioned so far are Divine Geometry, Esoterica, and Magic Theory.
146	%% "As above, so below, was a precept taught to magus children on the first day of Magic Theory class [at the tender age of six]: that heavenly bodies moved in lockstep with earthly ones, and invisible bonds wove together the whole of existence in a rhythmic dance."
147	%% * {{Words Do Not Make The Magic}}:
148	%% * {{Wound That Will Not Heal}}: Max's chest
149	%% * {{Write What You Know}}: The story deals candidly with
150	[[/folder]]

Context Literature / TheNullweaverCycle