Line #24 Literature/TheSagaOfTheNobleDead


1	[[quoteright:286:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/noble_dead.jpg]]
2
3	Series of novels by Barb and JC Hendee. Basically, VampireFiction meets HighFantasy meets DarkFantasy, with some twists along the way. Main protagonist [[ActionGirl Magiere]] is a {{Dhampyr}} (born of human and vampire) and a supernaturally powerful hunter of the undead, charging exorbitant fees to protect the countryside peasants from all manner of things that should have remained in the grave- or is she?
4
5	The truth is, Magiere and her half-elf partner Leesil are con-artists, taking advantage of peoples' gullibility to make a living (he plays the vampire and she dramatically "slays" him). After saving up enough money, they decide to retire to a sleepy port town and open an inn- but a chance encounter with a ''real'' vampire sets much larger events in motion, and Magiere winds up having to really become the thing she's pretended to be for years. It gradually becomes apparent, however, that there are ''much'' more dangerous things out there than the living dead, and some of them have taken an interest in the protagonists' doings...
6
7	The series is divided into arcs, which tell largely self-contained stories while advancing the overall plot. The series is currently complete at 14 books taking place across three arcs.
8
9	--> '''First Arc''':
10	--> ''Dhampir''
11	--> ''Thief of Lives''
12	--> ''Sister of the Dead''
13	--> ''Traitor to the Blood''
14	--> ''Rebel Fay''
15	--> ''Child of a Dead God''
16
17	--> '''Second Arc''':
18	--> ''In Shade and Shadow''
19	--> ''Through Stone and Sea''
20	--> ''Of Truth and Beasts''
21
22	--> '''Third Arc''':
23	--> ''Between Their Worlds''
24	--> ''The Dog in the Dark''
25	--> ''A Wind in the Night''
26	--> ''First and Last Sorcerer''
27	--> ''The Night Voice''
28
29	A number of e-book novellas that are not directly part of the MythArc but further flesh out the world have been released, and Barb Hendee is currently releasing ''The Mist-Torn Witches'', a spin-off series set in the same world; this series is much smaller-scale and more episodic in nature, following a pair of sisters who serve as [[CourtMage court seers]] to a prince in Droevinka (Magiere's homeland).
30
31	--> '''Mist-Torn Witches'''
32	--> ''The Mist-Torn Witches''
33	--> ''Witches in Red''
34	--> ''Witches With the Enemy''
35	--> ''To Kill a Kettle Witch''
36
37	A second spin-off by both Hendees, ''The Dead Seekers'', had its first installment released in January 2017.
38
39	----
40	!!This series provides examples of:
41
42	* AbortedArc: Several times:
43	** In ''Through Stone and Sea'', Wynn is blamed for the death of [[spoiler: Freadherich Areskynna]] by Duchess Reine. It seems as though this grudge will come up later, but it never does.
44	** The majority of the third series has Magiere and Leesil being hunted by anmalghk, until their numbers are whittled down to just two. At this stage they head back to Most Aged Father with any resolution to the subplot being dropped unceremoniously.
45	** A resolution to the civil war amongst the elves is never given
46	** Are you wondering why Osha is given the weapons of the she'ith by the Chein'as? While he does get trained by them, there is never an explanation for why they set him on the path.
47	* ActionGirl: Magiere; she has hints of DarkActionGirl as well despite being the protagonist. Most female elves are also examples.
48	* AntiAntiChrist: [[spoiler: Magiere]]
49	* AntiHero: Magiere and Leesil at first, though they gradually move more towards straight heroism
50	* AntiVillain: The three vampires from the first novel (well, maybe not [[DirtyCoward Ratboy]]), who may be bloodsucking fiends but avoid killing where possible and just want the same thing the heroine does- to be left alone. They probably wouldn't have fought at all [[spoiler: if Welstiel hadn't arranged it as a test for Magiere]].
51	* AristocratsAreEvil: Well, not all of them, but some certainly are, and most others who appear are still either arrogant or out of touch with reality.
52	* ArtifactOfDoom: The orb Welstiel's after so he doesn't have to feed anymore; used properly, it could fuel an army of undead indefinitely.
53	* BatmanGambit: Il'Samar's EvilPlan is built around Magiere and Welstiel, which actually includes Welstiel's own BatmanGambit to [[spoiler: manipulate Magiere into stealing the orb for him]]. And don't even get started on the elves, who seem to do this sort of thing in their spare time...
54	* BadassNormal: Leesil
55	* BattleCouple: [[spoiler: Magiere and Leesil, eventually]].
56	* BigBad: il'Samar, the Night Voice. Creepily, originally known as Beloved to its minions.
57	** So far, each arc has also had its own BigBad- [[spoiler: Welstiel]] in the first arc, [[spoiler: Sau'ilahk]] in the second, and a BigBadEnsemble of [[DarkActionGirl Danvarfij]] and [[spoiler: Sau'ilahk again]] in the third.
58	* BlackAndGreyMorality: The BigBad is an EldritchAbomination, but the major forces opposing it aren't exactly squeaky clean themselves, and the heroes just want to be left alone.
59	* BlackCloak: Ubad wears one, and [[spoiler: Sau'ilahk]] pretty much ''is'' one.
60	* BodyguardBetrayal: [[spoiler:Chane towards Welstiel]] in the climactic battle of ''Child of a Dead God''
61	* BrokenBird: Magiere
62	* CanineCompanion: Chap
63	* TheCaligula: Warlord Darmouth was always a brutal tyrant, but by the time he shows up in ''Traitor to the Blood'', his rampant paranoia has pretty much driven him completely nuts as well.
64	* [[RoomFullOfCrazy Castle Full Of Crazy]]: [[spoiler: Li'kän was apparenly once a scholar of some sort, but by the time she and the keep she guarded was found in ''Child of a Dead God'' there were incoherent ramblings in multiple dead languages [[GoMadFromTheIsolation scrawled on half the walls in her own blood]].]]
65	* TheChessmaster: Most Aged Father
66	* ChildByRape: Magiere's mother did ''not'' volunteer for Ubad's little project.
67	* TheChosenOne: [[spoiler: Leesil]], who is supposed to [[spoiler: kill il'Samar]]. As of yet, he has no intention of trying to fulfill it, though this is partially due to lack of knowledge on his part.
68	* TheCon: Leesil would pose as a ghostly undead while Magiere posed as a dhampir vampire hunter. This was before they found out vampires were real and that Magiere actually is a dhampir.
69	* CosmicKeystone: Possibly the five "anchors of existence"
70	* CouldntFindAPen: Li'kan ran out of paper, and began writing on the walls of her fortress; she ran out of ink, and began writing in her own blood.
71	* CoversAlwaysLie: Largely averted, as each cover shows a scene that takes place in the novel. Played straight in that apart from the first and third, which have appropriately creepy looking Magieres, they show the heroine as looking like an ordinary human woman rather than the spooky half-undead she is.
72	* DarkAndTroubledPast: Both Magiere and Leesil have them
73	* DefrostingIceQueen: [[spoiler: Leesil]] eventually defrosts [[spoiler: Magiere]] toward the end of ''Thief of Lives''.
74	%% * {{Dhampyr}}
75	* TheDeterminator:
76	** Magiere. Especially when her Dhampir nature is in effect or she is influenced by [[spoiler: the dreams of il'Samar.]]
77	** The Anmaglahk aspire to this, never deviating from an assigned purpose for any reason. Obviously if Anmaglahks were ever assigned conflicting purposes and set on a collision course with one another the results would be disasterous...
78	* DismemberingTheBody: Vampires are beheaded and burned to prevent their return as just staking and burning them is quickly discovered not to keep 'em down.
79	* TheDragon: Chane, at first to Toret and later to [[spoiler: Welstiel]]
80	** Vordana is TheDragon to Ubad.
81	* DrivenToMadness: During the Forgotten History, the Eaters of Silence used sorcery to drive the entire population of Baalale Seatt mad.
82	* EatMe: Chap's Spirit is so powerful that any vampire which drinks his blood is destroyed by it. He uses this method to take down attackers in ''Child of a Dead God'' and ''The Dog in the Dark''.
83	* EldritchAbomination: il'Samar. It's hard to tell exactly ''what'' it is at this point, but it seems to fit this most closely.
84	* EnemyToAllLivingThings: All undead in this universe, who have to feed on the living to survive. Precisely how varies - vampires consume a large amount of energy from one person (usually fatally), while others gradually drain the energy from their environment. Magiere is like this too, but only when her dhampir powers fully activate.
85	* EvenEvilHasStandards: [[spoiler: Welstiel]] dislikes feeding, considering it demeaning - he uses magic to absorb energy much more quickly and efficiently for himself (though not for the victim). [[PsychoForHire Chane]] also has standards, but his are the reverse- he's often bothered by his partner's absolute clinical cruelty, even though hot-blooded murder is something he can actively enjoy.
86	* EvilChancellor: Ubad was this to [[spoiler: Welstiel and Magiere's father]].
87	* EvilMentor: [[spoiler: Welstiel]] was training Magiere to kill vampires so she could [[spoiler: fetch an ArtifactOfDoom for him]].
88	* EvilOldFolks: Ubad, Most Aged Father.
89	* EvilSorcerer: Ubad. [[spoiler: Welstiel]] and Chane are less extreme examples.
90	** [[spoiler: Sau'ilahk]] from the second arc.
91	** In this setting, the term "sorcerer" specifically refers to mages who deal with spirits, such as necromancers. It's generally considered the most dangerous kind of magic, though not all sorcerers are capital E evil.
92	* TheFairFolk: The Fae definitely seem to oppose il'Samar, but otherwise come across as mysterious, amoral, and not exactly ''nice'', Chap excepted.
93	* FakeDangerGambit: Magiere and Leesil were a pair of con artists who stage fake vampire hunts; he plays the vampire and she dramatically "slays" him, to scam people out of money.
94	* FakeRealTurn: Magiere and Leesil had a good scam going until they accidentally blunder into the lair of an actual vampire clan and have to become hunters for real.
95	* FantasticRacism: The elves distrust humans and look down on them a great deal. [[spoiler: This is because their leader, Most Aged Father, was present at the creation of the first vampires from human stock, and views all humans as potential undead]].
96	* FighterMageThief: Magiere, Wynn, and Leesil respectively, although Wynn's more of a scholar than a traditional mage.
97	* FishPeople: The ''Dunidae'', "Deep Ones"
98	* TheFogOfAges: Pawl a'Seatt is a vampire so old that he has forgotten most of the details of his early life.
99	* FreudianExcuse: Several.
100	** Chane's experiences with his abusive father fueled misanthropy that turned into full blown homicidal psychosis after becoming a vampire.
101	** Magiere got the idea for conning villagers because of how her own village hated and feared her for her [[strike: obviously supernatural nature]] unusual appearance.
102	** Most Aged Father is a paranoid KnightTemplar as a result of witnessing the creation of the first vampires.
103	* FullFrontalAssault: Li'kan fights naked in the ice-bound castle. Being a vampire, the cold doesn't bother her.
104	* FunctionalMagic: Anybody can learn Rule Magic; vampires and some others have Inherent Gift, and elven magic seems somewhere in between.
105	** In general, magic is divided into three spheres- thaumaturgy (deals with the physical, used for crafting artifacts), conjury (used for summoning elemental forces and spirits) and sorcery (dealing with the mind and spirit). The schools are not mutually exclusive, and can be combined to produce more dramatic effects (necromancy, for example, is a blend of conjury and sorcery).
106	* GenreShift: The first book resembles ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' [[RecycledInSpace IN MEDIEVAL TRANSYLVANIA]]! The second has elements of this, but starts introducing the overall HighFantasy plotline. This plotline becomes dominant from there on out.
107	* GoMadFromTheIsolation: [[spoiler: The vampire Li'kän is apparently the last guardian of an artifact that can sustain an army of undead indefinitely. By the time Magiere and co. find the keep she had been alone so long she had almost forgotten what speech ''was''.]]
108	* GodInHumanForm: Technically, Chap is a Fae in Canine Form, but the basic idea is the same.
109	* GrandTheftMe: [[spoiler:Chap uses his power as a Fay to take over the body of a human in ''The Dog in the Dark'']].
110	* HalfHumanHybrid: Both protagonists, though Magiere [[spoiler: was created by magic]], while Leesil was born normally. Additionally, the second arc has [[spoiler:Prince Frey, who is part Deep One]].
111	* TheHeart: Wynn, who specifically describes herself as Magiere's conscience.
112	* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler: Sgaile]] makes one.
113	* HiddenAgendaVillain: [[spoiler: Welstiel]] is this for several books, with his scheme only gradually being revealed. The Fae seem to be becoming this as well- they were always mysterious, but the last several books have started moving them into the territory of the downright ''dangerous''.
114	* InterspeciesRomance: Leesil's parents & [[spoiler: Leesil himself with Magiere.]]
115	* JackassGenie: Il'samar seems to have these tendencies; [[spoiler: Sau'ilahk]], one of its most loyal servants, was a vain man who was jealous of the vampires because they could keep their youth and beauty eternally, and he requested that it make him immortal as well. [[spoiler: It did so by turning him into a wraith- a creature that is literally TheFaceless]].
116	* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Magiere.
117	* SugarAndIcePersonality: Magiere, though she also has elements of {{Tsundere}}.
118	* LukeIAmYourFather: Welstiel, Magiere's occasional mentor and ultimate nemesis, is actually [[spoiler: her brother]].
119	* MagicKnight: Chane.
120	* TheManBehindTheCurtain: Most Aged Father, who true to his title is a withered old elf who's barely moved in centuries. Don't think for a moment he isn't dangerous, though- he's got impressive magical powers, formidable intellect, and a secret organization of fanatically devoted followers on his side, and he doesn't hesitate to use all three.
121	* TheManBehindTheMan: [[spoiler: Il'samar]] is behind [[spoiler: Welstiel and Ubad both]].
122	* MeaningfulRename: All elves do these at their coming of age based on a vision quest. The most notable in the series, though, was to Aoishenis-Ahare (Most Aged Father) from [[spoiler: Sorkhafare]].
123	* MoralityPet: Wynn ultimately takes on this role to Chane, though at first without her knowledge
124	* MutualKill: [[spoiler:Sgaile and Hkuan'duv]]
125	* MyHovercraftIsFullOfEels: Leesil's attempts at speaking Elvish. At one point, his attempt to ask an elf for directions comes out as an insult against the elf's mother.
126	* MysteriousProtector: Welstiel appears and disappears seemingly at random, gives Magiere information and aid as she needs it [[spoiler: but in a subversion, is probably the most dangerous human scale villain in the series]]
127	* NoOneCouldSurviveThat: So you [[KryptoniteFactor burn and maim]] the local vampires then wreck their coffins before burning their lair and the warehouse above it to ashes. Not bad for first timers, but not nearly good enough.
128	** [[spoiler: Magiere defies this trope during her final confrontation with Welstiel. When he starts toppling into a ravine she drags him back so she can cut his head off.]]
129	* ObfuscatingStupidity: Chap and later Shade initially hide the true extent of their intelligence
130	* OmnicidalManiac: Il'samar, apparently- there are only so many goals for which "create an army of undead that will wipe out everything in its path before devouring itself" is an effective strategy, after all.
131	* OurDragonsAreDifferent: They are called ''gi'uyllae'', "all-eaters", and are descended from the Fay.
132	* OurDwarvesAreAllTheSame
133	* OurElvesAreDifferent: They ''are'' long lived and highly advanced, but they're also arrogant, manipulative {{Well Intentioned Extremist}}s. Not all of them are bad, but the human characters generally have no problem with calling those who are on their [[ScrewYouElves transgressions]].
134	* OurGoblinsAreDifferent: Furry, bestial humanoids used as pack animals by the forces of il'Samar during the war.
135	* OurVampiresAreDifferent: They're fairly standard bloodsucking undead who fall dormant during the day, though they have PsychicPowers (precisely what this does varies from vamp to vamp), create others of their kind by draining mortals extremely quickly, and [[spoiler: were created by the BigBad to cleanse the world of mortal life]]. There are also "ordinary" vampires, who fit the more intelligent and sophisticated modern stereotypes, as compared to "ferals", which are more like the shambling animalistic corpses of medieval legend.
136	* OverlyLongName: Most elves have these. Translated into English, they tend to become {{Meaningful Name}}s as well.
137	* ParentalAbandonment: Magiere's mother died giving birth to her [[spoiler: and her father died in the act of siring her as a key compoment of the ritual that made her conception even possible]]. Leesil's parents sacrificed their own lives to save their teenaged son from Darmouth's hunters [[spoiler: but his mother is actually still alive]].
138	* PetTheDog: The only things Chane cares about apart from killing are scholarship and Wynn, and he's wiling to risk himself to protect her. Otherwise, he has no redeeming qualities. [[spoiler: By the end of ''Child of a Dead God'', though, he appears to recognize this and seems genuinely depressed about it, which may or may not count as a redeeming quality in and of itself, depending on how charitable one is]].
139	* PostClimaxConfrontation: Between the heroes [[spoiler: and the Anmaglahk]] in ''Child of a Dead God'', which happens several chapters after [[spoiler: Magiere's climactic duel with Welstiel]].
140	* PowerIncontinence: In one book, Wynn uses a spell to give herself mantic sight- the ability to see residual traces of magical energy. Problem is, this turns out to be rather hard to turn ''off'', and has lingering effects throughout the series. Magiere also sometimes has problems controlling her dhampir side.
141	* PunctuationShaker: Most elvish names have at least one apostrophe in them. [[FridgeBrilliance Considering how hard elvish is to pronounce, though, it's possible that they represent a sound the Latin alphabet has no letter for]].
142	* ProfessionalKiller: [[spoiler: Leesil used to be an assassin, as were both his parents. There turns out to be a whole Elven ''caste'' of these, but they don't ''just'' kill people...]]
143	* PsychoForHire: Chane
144	* RedRightHand: The fact that Magiere has chalk-white skin no matter how much sun she gets is a pretty solid indicator that she isn't human. The fact that her eyes turn jet black and she grows fangs when angry clinches the deal. She's not actually evil, but as a result of these traits has been treated like she is by the superstitious all her life.
145	* RetiredMonster: In the second arc, Chane is still evil, but has dialed it down to more "ordinary" vampire levels- this has next to nothing to do with guilt or remorse, and a lot more to do with the fact that he's the TokenEvilTeammate now, and if he goes too overboard, Wynn (the only mortal he respects) won't tolerate his presence any longer. [[spoiler: As of the end of ''Of Truth and Beasts'' he seems to have had an epiphany- only time will tell if it sticks]].
146	* RiteOfPassage: All elves undergo one to receive their true name
147	* ScrewYouElves: Magiere and especially Leesil aren't afraid to call the elves out on their... issues. The elves usually ignore it, but that doesn't stop the two from doing it.
148	* ShootTheHostage: Done with a thrown stiletto rather than a gun in ''The Dog in the Dark''.
149	* SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism: Near the middle, leaning somewhat towards cynical. There are definitely good people out there, and ThePowerOfLove is a real force, at least for love as strong as Magiere and Leesil's, but the world itself isn't a happy place, and most of the major factions can be... unpleasant if rubbed wrong.
150	* TheSmartGuy: Wynn
151	* SmugSnake: Ratboy, aka Toret, morphs into this in the second book when he tries to set himself up as the leader of his own coven of vampires, rather than a lackey. [[spoiler: It doesn't work out all that well for him]].
152	* SquishyWizard: Played straight with Wynn, Most Aged Father, and Ubad. Averted with the vampire spellcasters.
153	* StarterVillain: Rashed and Teesha in ''Dhampir''.
154	* SuperpoweredEvilSide: Magiere's dhampir nature.
155	* TroubledButCute: Leesil, who puts on an air of roguish charm but drinks constantly [[spoiler: so he won't have to think about all the people Darmouth made him kill]].
156	* VampiresAreSexGods: some are, anyway. You'd have to have some [[RuleThirtyFour ''very'']] strange fetishes to go for Ratboy or ''especially'' the ferals, though.
157	* VampireBitesSuck: Chane and some vampires just tear into their victims throats.
158	* VampireHunter: Magiere and Leesil fake being vampire hunters before actually becoming hunters of the undead.
159	* VillainousBreakdown: [[spoiler: Welstiel]] goes into one for pretty much all of the sixth book, after realizing that [[spoiler: all along he'd been just an expendable pawn to il'Samar]].
160	* TheVoiceless: Chap, who despite being a fully sentient Fae has the body and vocal chords of a dog and therefore can't make intelligible speech. He's usually able to find a way to express himself, though.
161	* VoluntaryShapeshifting: Some of the Mondyalitko people can transform into cats at will
162	* WackyWaysideTribe: What most of the plot involving the Dunidae in ''In Shade and Shadow'' ultimately amounts to.
163	* WellIntentionedExtremist: Most Aged Father, ''possibly'' the Fae
164	* WhiteMagicianGirl: Wynn again, who is a very weak fighter but has a variety of useful support magic. In the first arc this is mostly limited to sensing and identifying supernatural influences; in the second, she gets a literal staff that projects beams of sunlight, which in a setting full of undead, is a very handy weapon to have.
165	* YouKilledMyFather: Leesil to Lord Darmouth, Hedi Progae to Leesil
166	* YourSoulIsMine: Ubad is surrounded by an entourage of souls, implied to be the souls of people he's killed, which add power to his magic.
167

Context Literature / TheSagaOfTheNobleDead