Line #15 Literature/Chime


1	[[quoteright:225:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/chime_billingsley_3218.jpg]]
2	-> ''Believe me: Nothing in my story will absolve me of guilt. It will only prove what I’ve already told you, which is that I’m wicked.''
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4	A 2011 young adult novel by Franny Billingsley. The story centers around Briony Larkin, a self-proclaimed witch who's convinced she's "wicked." Why? Because years ago, in a fit of jealousy and "witchy rage," she conjured up a wind to knock her sister Rose off of a swing and onto a very hard rock and therefore caused Rose's, um, odd character. Meanwhile, there's a swamp cough going around (deadly 100% of the time), the nearby swamp is being drained, Briony's stepmother is recently deceased, and college dropout Eldric moves in. There's also a lot of "Old Ones" running about ... you know, witches, Boggy Muns, dead hands, Dark Muses, brownies, and the like. All of which Briony can see and talk to. Because she's a witch. Which she already told you, so why do you keep forgetting? Do you not believe her or something?
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6	!!This book provides examples of:
7	* AllGirlsWantBadBoys: Inverted. Briony is the damaged one with a [[DarkAndTroubledPast troubled past]], but she gradually learns that she is still loveable due to [[NiceGuy Eldric's]] influence.
8	* AnArmAndALeg: There's a dead hand that roams around the swamp. Dead hands have a nasty habit of ripping off live hands.
9	%% * AnimalMotifs: Wolfgirl and lion-boy.
10	* TheAtoner: Briony, who still feels guilt over causing Rose's "accident," as well as summoning a wave that nearly killed her stepmother and torching her house's library.
11	%% * AttemptedRape: [[spoiler:Cecil on Briony]], thwarted by [[spoiler:Eldric]].
12	* CloudCuckooLander: Rose. She often doesn't "prefer" to do things she doesn't like. She has a habit of repeating herself, despite whether or not people around her have heard her and/or responded already. Very adept at noticing subtle differences between colors, and not adept at much else.
13	%% * DeathByChildbirth: Why Briony and Rose have a ''step''mother.
14	* DefrostingIceQueen: Early in the novel, Briony claims she doesn't feel any emotions. She may comment that feeling something would be "nice," and that's the closest she gets. But prolonged exposure to Eldric changes things.
15	* HeroicSelfDeprecation: Briony is pretty hard on herself, giving herself constant reminders that she doesn't deserve kindness or love because she's a witch.
16	%% * IncurableCoughOfDeath: Swamp cough.
17	%%* LemonyNarrator: Briony.%%Quotes aren't context.
18	%%-->In a proper story, antagonistic sparks would fly between Eldric and me, sparks that would sweeten the inevitable kiss on page 324. But life doesn't work that way. I didn't hate Eldric, which, for me, is about as good as things get.
19	* LiteralMinded: Just one of Rose's many lovable quirks. When Briony says, "You don't see me complaining," Rose immediately debates whether you ever ''see'' anyone complaining.
20	%%* LoveRedeems
21	%% * LoveTriangle: Cecil, Briony, and Eldric. Also Briony, Leanne, and Eldric.
22	* NatureSpirit: The Boggy Mun is tied to the swamp, and makes a deal with Briony to stop the townspeople from draining it.
23	* ParentalNeglect: Briony's father, the local clergyman, pretty much left the care of his daughters to his late second wife.
24	* SelfProclaimedLiar: Briony doesn't try to hide it.
25	-->Don’t let my face fool you; it tells the worst lies. A girl can have the face of an angel but have a horrid sort of heart.
26	%%* SwampsAreEvil: Come on now.
27	* ThemeTwinNaming: Rose and Briony. Rose is a flower, Briony is a poisonous climbing vine. No wonder Briony sees herself as wicked.
28	* WillOTheWisp: They call the 'false lights' that lead you astray in the swamp Wykes (also known as Will-o-Wykes in some parts of Britain).

Context Literature / Chime