Vanished in Silver
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Authors
Boers, Natascha
Issue Date
2023
Type
Thesis
Language
Keywords
Abuse , Botany , Greek Mythology , Magic , Urban Fantasy , Witch
Alternative Title
Abstract
Vanished in Silver is a novel that explores several different themes, including the internalization of childhood abuse, the sins of capitalism, and the commodification of culture and belief. As this novel operates within the genre of Urban Fantasy, influences come from moments in history, legend, folklore, and mythology. The story is told through the 1st person narration of Lyra Kazan, a Thessalian witch more than 2,500 years old who runs an apothecary in Long Beach, California. The seemingly mundane setting falls away to reveal physics-bending, trans-planar realm systems where every magical tale and creation myth is real. With the help of new friends and old, Lyra must save the entirety of Southern California from a plot involving foul magic and an enchanted mirror called a Vanishing Silver. In the process, she must confront the parts of her power that fill her with fear and dread, especially because they connect to older, hidden memories that she’d rather leave buried. More broadly, the magic system in this world combines both rational and eclectic elements that help reconcile the fantastic with the familiar, teasing out the curiosities—both good, bad, and the places in between—of the human experience.