Love and Connection

The author uses the theme of love and connection to demonstrate that there is hope in darkness when there is love.

Throughout the stories, there are fractured love stories. Henry and Mary are separated by a witch on their wedding night. Rose and the Duelist are kept from each other by the curse Carmela uses to possess Rose’s body. Sally runs from her impending arranged marriage and finds love with the man who will be revealed as her future husband. Xīng must murder her former lover, Maude.

While the stories in the collection are dark, there is hope in some of the connections. Sally and Mickel get their happy ending, as do Lucy and Barnabus. But, while Lucy helps to reunite Henry and Mary, there is ambiguity in whether or not Henry and Mary will get their happy ending. They are reunited...