Mélusine is a fantasy novel by Sarah Monette

Sarah Monette

Sarah Monette is an American novelist and short story author writing mostly in the genres of fantasy and horror. She was born and raised in Oak Ridge, Tennessee and she began writing at the age of 12. In 2004 she earned a PhD in English literature, specializing in Renaissance Drama and writing her...

. It is the first book of the Doctrine of Labyrinths

Doctrine of Labyrinths

The Doctrine of Labyrinths is a series of fantasy novels by Sarah Monette. Set in the fantasy world of Meduse, it tells the story of the adventures of Felix Harrowgate, a wizard, and his half-brother Mildmay the Fox, a former assassin...

 series, which includes The Virtu

The Virtu (novel)

The Virtu is a fantasy novel by Sarah Monette. It is the second book of the Doctrine of Labyrinths series, which includes Mélusine, The Mirador, and Corambis.-Plot summary:...

 and The Mirador

The Mirador (novel)

The Mirador is a fantasy novel by Sarah Monette. It is the third book of the Doctrine of Labyrinths series, which includes Mélusine, The Virtu, and Corambis.-External links:*...

. It was well received upon its release; Publishers Weekly

Publishers Weekly

Publishers Weekly, aka PW, is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers and literary agents...

gave it a starred review and called it "extraordinary."

Plot summary

The story revolves around two characters: magician Felix Harrowgate and thief Mildmay the Fox, who live in vastly different parts of the city of Mélusine. They are tossed together by fate when Felix is accused of destroying the crystal Virtu, an orb which channels the magical energy of the magicians in Mélusine.

Felix Harrowgate

A wizard who, at the start of the novel, is living with the elite of the city in the Mirador. When his sordid past is revealed to his upper-class lover, he retreats to his former master and mentor Malkar Gennadion.

Mildmay the Fox

A thief in the Lower City. When he accepts what he believes to be a simple job of stealing jewelry from a nobleman, he gets entangled in the magic and politics of the city.

Ginevra Thomson

The jilted mistress of a nobleman. She hires Mildmay to steal her jewels from her ex-lover.

Malkar Gennadion

A magician who was once Felix's master and lover. He physically and magically rapes Felix and binds him in order to force Felix to shatter the Virtu.

External links

• Sarah Monette's official site