History Literature / FireAndHemlock

* WifeHusbandry: Tom has a fundamental role in Polly's development, something that's referenced in the book itself. They get together in the end.

A novel by Creator/DianaWynneJones, based on the stories of ''Literature/TamLin'' and ''Thomas the Rhymer'', with a [[The80s 1980s]] setting.

A novel by Creator/DianaWynneJones, based on the stories of ''Literature/TamLin'' and ''Thomas the Rhymer'', with a modern-day setting.

* OneSteveLimit: [[{{Aversion}} Averted]], and it's something of a plot point. Tom's alter ego is Thomas Piper the hardware store owner. [[spoiler:And Polly's grandfather, who was also ensnared by Laurel, was called Tom as well. Polly's Gran bitterly remarks that Laurel has a "fondness" for that name and it apparently dates back to Tam Lin himself.]]

* ProtectiveCharm: The heart necklace Polly's Gran gives her is ''supposed'' to be one, but never seems to do anything. Mr Leroy claims to have "got it's measure" at some point, and Polly suspects that he might have actually hacked into it to spy on her. She casually throws it away in the end, avoiding a DramaticNecklaceRemoval so that nobody will catch on to what she's doing.

* ForcedIntoEvil: Seb. Polly doesn't have much sympathy for him, but consider this: the first time she ever saw him was at a funeral for his own mother, who had been killed to help Laurel live even longer. He grew up knowing he was the second least valuable member of the family, and that if Tom wasn't there to die they would have no compunction about sacrificing him instead. Can you really blame him for not wanting to die?

* MyGrandsonMyself: Laurel pulls this to avoid anyone figuring out she uses human sacrifices to extend her life. There's also a bit of RefugeInAudacity at play, as it's strongly implied that Seb's mother was not only one of these sacrifices, but Laurel then passed the poor woman off as her own mother at the funeral Polly crashes in the beginning.

** Both Tom and Leslie were teenagers when the (actually ancient but physically twenty - thirty looking) Laurel took an interest in them. Justified, in that she has to ensnare men and use them to prolong her husband's life, and presumably it's easier to get them under her thumb if she starts young.

* WifeHusbandry: Tom has a fundamental role in Polly's development, something that's referenced in the book itself. They hook up in the end.

* ProtectiveCharm: The heart necklace Polly's Gran gives her is ''supposed'' to be one, but never seems to do anything. Mr Leroy claims to have "got it's measure" at some point, and Polly suspects that he might have actually hacked into it to spy on her. She casually throws it away in the end, avoiding a DramaticNecklaceReveal so that nobody will catch on to what she's doing.

* OneSteveLimit: [[{{Aversion}} Averted]], and it's something of a plot point. Tom's alter ego is Thomas Piper the hardware store owner. [[spoiler:And Polly's grandfather, who was also ensnared by Laurel, was called Tom as well.]]

* DrivesLikeCrazy: Tom. It's established that he can get away with this because his life is protected from danger until it's time for Laurel to claim it.

* YourSoulIsMine: It's Laurel's.

* OneSteveLimit: [[Averted {{Aversion}}]], and it's something of a plot point. Tom's alter ego is Thomas Piper the hardware store owner. [[And Polly's grandfather, who was also ensnared by Laurel, was called Tom as well.]]

** Tom and Polly. They meet when she's a child, and he's old enough to have been married. Polly gets a bit of a crush on him as a teen, but they don't actually start a relationship till she's in college.

While staying at her grandmother's, Polly Whittaker wandered onto the grounds of an old neighbouring mansion, Hunsdon House, and met a man called Thomas Lynn, with whom she struck up a peculiar friendship. Together they created stories in which their alter egos were heros - but soon things from their imaginary world became real (though not always as expected), and Tom's mysterious relatives persistently badgered Polly to stay away from him.

** Both Tom and Leslie teenagers when the (actually ancient but physically twenty - thirty looking) Laurel took an interest in them. Justified, in that she has to ensnare men and use them to prolong her husband's life, and presumably it's easier to get them under her thumb if she starts young.

* ParentalAbandonment: Polly. ''Twice''. Her mother sends her to live with her father, under the belief Polly is the reason for all her failed relationships. Her father's too cowardly to tell his girlfriend Polly's staying with them indefinitely, so he pretends it's only a short visit and then has her leave, with no way to get back home. Lucky for Polly her grandmother steps in.

* PurpleProse: An in-story example - Polly writes like this until Tom gives her some rather odd tips.

While staying at her grandmother's, Polly Whittaker wanders onto the grounds of an old neighbouring mansion, Hunsdon House, and meets a man called Thomas Lynn, with whom she strikes up a peculiar friendship. Together they create stories in which their alter egos are heros - but soon things from their imaginary world become real (though not always as expected), and Tom's mysteriously relatives persistently badger Polly to stay away from him.

Now ninteen and preparing to leave for univeristy, Polly has no memories of Tom or anything to do with him. But when she realizes so many bits of her life don't make sense, she slowly unconcovers her hidden memories and becomes determined to find out what happened to her friend.

** Tom and Polly. They meet when she's a child, and he's old enough to have been married. Polly gets a bit of a crush on him as a preteen, but they don't actually start a relationship till she's in college.

* TheFairFolk

* LaserGuidedAmnesia: Polly is manipulated into agreeing to forget about Tom...and she does.

** Tom and Polly. They meet when she's a child, and he's old enough to have been married and divorced (though they don't get romantically involved until she's older).
** Laurel took an interest in Tom (and later Leslie) when he was quite young. He says she seemingly adopted him! Even discounting her long life, that's still a huge age gap.

* ParentalAbandonment: Both Polly's mother and father send her away for the convenience of their love interests; fortunately her grandmother steps in.

* RewritingReality: Tom and Polly's stories have a slight tendency to come true...

** Tom scolds Polly for plagiarizing TheLordOfTheRings.

* BigBreastsBigDeal: Nina is proud of developing breasts early.

* MayDecemberRomance: Tom and Polly. They meet when she's a child, and he's old enough to have been married and divorced. Likewise, Laurel took an interest in Tom (and later Leslie) when he was quite young. He says she seemingly adopted him! Even discounting her long life, that's still a huge age gap.
** Tom is actually only fourteen years older than Polly - he's ten years older than Sebastian, who is fourteen at the start of the book. So, by the end of the book, Tom is 33 to Polly's 19, which isn't so bad.
*** Except that he first starts seeming to be romantically interested in her no later than when she is 14 or 15, which IS that bad. He was twice her age!

* MayDecemberRomance: Tom and Polly. They meet when she's a child, and he's old enough to have been married and divorced.

A novel by Creator/DianaWynneJones that retells the ''Literature/TamLin'' story in modern times.

* MayDecemberRomance - Tom and Polly. They meet when she's a child, and he's old enough to have been married and divorced.

* MindScrew - Wait, ''what'' happens at the end again?
* OurDragonsAreDifferent - They're made of ''garbage''! [[spoiler:And Tom's friend Sam]].
* ParentalAbandonment - Both Polly's mother and father send her away for the convenience of their love interests; fortunately her grandmother steps in.
* ThePowerOfLove - The only way Tom (or any of the men Laurel targets) can be saved.
* PurpleProse - An in-story example - Polly writes like this until Tom gives her some rather odd tips.
* RewritingReality - Tom and Polly's stories have a slight tendency to come true...
* ShoutOut - to various literary works.

* WifeHusbandry - Tom has a fundamental role in Polly's development, something that's referenced in the book itself. They hook up in the end.