Nocticadia Summary, Characters and Themes
Nocticadia by Keri Lake is a dark academia gothic horror novel steeped in psychological suspense, parasitic science, and a slow-burning romance that veers into the forbidden.
Set primarily on the eerie, isolated Dracadia Island, the story follows Lilia Vespertine, a young woman scarred by trauma and mystery, as she uncovers the terrifying truth behind a parasite known as Noctisoma. Through secretive laboratories, haunted academia, and disturbing genetic legacies, Nocticadia explores themes of madness, memory, and obsession. With lush, atmospheric writing and creeping dread, the novel blurs the lines between science and the supernatural in a story that’s as romantic as it is chilling.
Summary
The novel opens in 1753 with a chilling prologue: Lord Adderly and his British troops arrive on Dracadia Island and witness a supernatural disaster involving parasitic black worms and spontaneous human combustion.
The scene establishes the long-standing curse and scientific anomaly tied to the island—a harbinger of what’s to come.
In the present day, teenager Lilia Vespertine struggles to survive in a crumbling home. Her mother, once kind and nurturing, is now violent and unrecognizable, plagued by hallucinations, bloodlust, and grotesque physical symptoms. When she attempts to kill Lilia and her younger sister Bee in a deranged episode, black worms burst from her body—a horrifying event that scars Lilia mentally and emotionally.
Fast-forward four years: Lilia is a cautious, traumatized college student working night shifts to support herself and Bee. Haunted by hallucinations and episodes of dissociation, Lilia writes a fictional case study for her microbiology class describing “Blackworm Syndrome”—which turns out to eerily resemble a real disease.
Her professor shares it with a colleague at the elite Dracadia University, which quickly offers Lilia a scholarship. Though skeptical, Lilia is drawn by the chance to uncover the truth behind her mother’s condition.
Arriving at the secretive and Gothic Dracadia University, Lilia is immersed in a world of ancient buildings, strange insects, emotionally closed-off students, and heavily guarded research.
The university sits at the heart of a remote island with a dark history and ominous natural surroundings. Lilia becomes curious about the Nocticadia Lab, an elite parasitology research facility connected to a mysterious moth species called the Sominyx and a parasite known as Noctisoma—both endemic to the island.
Among the faculty is Professor Bramwell, a cold, enigmatic figure whose intellect and demeanor intrigue Lilia. As she investigates further, she finds disturbing links between the Nocticadia Lab and human experimentation, including signs that her mother had been part of early Noctisoma studies.
Bramwell himself is infected with the parasite and lives in constant struggle between control and madness. A dangerous and passionate connection develops between them, shaped by mutual curiosity, trauma, and unresolved desire.
Lilia uncovers evidence of unethical research, including experiments on unwilling participants. Some students exhibit symptoms, and as paranoia spreads, the boundary between scientific inquiry and horror collapses.
The parasite appears to affect not just the body but the psyche, inducing hallucinations, memory distortions, and obsessive behaviors.
She learns that the infection may be hereditary—her own body possibly a host-in-waiting. As the situation spirals, Lilia must choose between running from the truth or facing it head-on. Bramwell, consumed by his condition, begs her to end his life before he loses control.
Instead, she devises a treatment using the research she’s pieced together, gambling on a chance to save him—and herself.
In the climactic chapters, Lilia exposes the lab’s secrets, risking her life to bring truth to light. There are violent confrontations, betrayals, and surreal episodes that suggest the parasite feeds not just on flesh, but on identity and memory. The university begins to crumble—figuratively and literally—as the parasite’s influence grows too great to contain.
The epilogue offers a quiet aftermath. Lilia has left the island, physically changed and psychologically scarred. Bramwell’s fate is left ambiguous—possibly dead, possibly alive in some altered form. Though the lab has been discredited, the Noctisoma parasite is not eradicated. It remains, waiting. And Lilia, now part of the legacy, lives with the weight of what she’s endured—and what might still be coming.
Characters
Lilia Vespertine
Lilia, the protagonist of Nocticadia, is a deeply complex and layered character, shaped by both her traumatic past and her unyielding curiosity. At the start of the story, she is introduced as a young woman burdened with a heavy responsibility—caring for her ailing mother and her younger half-sister, Bee.
The trauma of witnessing her mother’s violent transformation, and later her mother’s death, haunts Lilia throughout the novel. The psychological scars from this experience, including PTSD and hallucinations, influence much of her behavior in the early chapters.
As the narrative progresses, Lilia evolves from a vulnerable, confused girl into a resilient and resourceful young woman determined to uncover the truth behind her mother’s mysterious illness. Her decision to accept the scholarship to Dracadia University represents both an escape from her past and a commitment to confronting the horror that has shaped her life.
Lilia’s strength lies in her capacity to balance skepticism with an unrelenting drive for knowledge, even when faced with terrifying discoveries about her own genetic predisposition toward the parasitic disease. Her relationships, particularly with Professor Bramwell, reflect her internal conflict between seeking answers and the emotional cost of the truth.
Professor Bramwell
Professor Bramwell is an enigmatic and troubled character who plays a pivotal role in Lilia’s journey. He is a brilliant but reclusive academic, teaching parasitology at Dracadia University.
Initially, Bramwell appears to be cold and distant, yet his interactions with Lilia reveal a depth of vulnerability that grows throughout the novel. He is personally affected by the Noctisoma parasite, a condition that makes him both a victim and a potential threat.
Bramwell’s struggle with his own infection mirrors Lilia’s internal battle with the traumatic memories of her past and the growing realization of the horrors that she might be genetically predisposed to. His relationship with Lilia is complex—at times, it is intellectual, driven by shared curiosity and fascination with the disease, while at other times, it is deeply emotional, as they share moments of tenderness and raw honesty.
As Bramwell’s condition deteriorates, his relationship with Lilia becomes increasingly fraught with tension, leading to moments of intense passion and desperation. His character is marked by a tragic flaw: his inability to fully resist the parasitic influence, which causes him to push Lilia away, despite their undeniable connection.
Bramwell’s fate is left ambiguous in the epilogue, underscoring the enduring question of whether the parasitic affliction can ever truly be overcome.
Bee
Bee, Lilia’s younger half-sister, serves as a catalyst for many of Lilia’s decisions early in the story. Though she is not as central a character as Lilia or Bramwell, Bee represents innocence and vulnerability in the face of the horrors that unfold.
Bee’s near-death experience at the hands of their mother, driven by the parasitic infection, sets the stage for Lilia’s protective instincts. Throughout the narrative, Bee’s well-being is one of Lilia’s primary concerns, driving her to uncover the secrets of Dracadia University and the parasite.
Bee’s role is also symbolic; she represents the generational nature of the parasitic affliction, highlighting the stakes not just for Lilia, but for future generations who might inherit this curse. While Bee’s character doesn’t evolve as much as others, her presence is crucial as a grounding force for Lilia, offering both emotional motivation and a personal connection to the stakes of the story.
Connor
Connor, Lilia’s guardian and Bee’s father, is an unreliable and morally ambiguous character. His presence in the story highlights the dysfunctional and toxic environment that Lilia and Bee must navigate.
Connor is often depicted as a “deadbeat,” tied to shady dealings and exhibiting little care or responsibility for the well-being of his family. His character contrasts sharply with Lilia’s determination to protect her sister and pursue her dreams, showcasing the difficulties Lilia faces in balancing familial obligation with personal aspiration.
While Connor’s role in the story is largely peripheral, his influence on Lilia’s early life is profound, shaping her sense of duty and her desire to escape the chaos of her home life. His moral decay and irresponsibility act as a foil to Lilia’s more nurturing and self-reliant nature.
The Sominyx Moth (Noctisoma Parasite)
Although not a character in the traditional sense, the Sominyx moth and the parasitic Noctisoma organism are central to the plot and serve as a looming, almost malevolent presence throughout the story. The parasite’s connection to Dracadia Island, its horrific influence on the characters, and its unsettling ability to drive people to madness form the backbone of the novel’s mystery.
The Noctisoma parasite is particularly significant in its symbiotic relationship with its insect host, the Sominyx moth, and its impact on the infected individuals, including Lilia’s mother and Professor Bramwell. The moth’s mysterious nature, its connection to the island’s curse, and its ability to shape-shift and manifest in various forms serve as a metaphor for the deep, hidden evil that lurks in the shadows of Dracadia University.
The parasite embodies the story’s theme of contamination—both physical and psychological—and it challenges the characters’ understanding of reality as they struggle to separate fact from illusion.
Dr. Wilkins
Dr. Wilkins, Lilia’s microbiology professor, plays a crucial role in her academic journey. He is the one who first recognizes the eerie accuracy of her fictional case study on the “Blackworm Syndrome,” which leads to her scholarship offer from Dracadia University.
While his character doesn’t have a major presence beyond the initial chapters, his actions drive Lilia toward Dracadia Island, where the true horror of the parasite awaits. His role is somewhat ambiguous, as he provides both validation and a pathway to the institution that holds the answers to the mystery, yet there’s a sense that he too may be complicit in the larger secrets of the Nocticadia Lab and its research.
Themes
The Complex Interplay of Science and Supernatural Forces in Nocticadia
In Nocticadia, the novel intricately brings together science and supernatural forces, creating a world where rational medical inquiry clashes with eerie, inexplicable phenomena. Lilia Vespertine’s journey starts with her scientific curiosity, as she investigates her mother’s mysterious condition, only to uncover a deeper, more sinister reality.
The presence of Blackworm Syndrome serves as a metaphor for this battle, where medical knowledge attempts to explain the unexplainable, but the eerie, supernatural forces surrounding Dracadia Island resist any such rationalization. This interplay between science and the supernatural becomes even more pronounced when Lilia discovers that the very research she is drawn to at Dracadia University is deeply rooted in both parasitology and ancient mysteries.
The enigmatic Nocticadia Lab, with its secretive research on parasitic organisms and human experimentation, exemplifies this tension. As the characters delve deeper into the origin and effects of the parasite, they find themselves caught in a cycle of escalating horror, as both scientific and supernatural forces converge in ways that challenge their understanding of reality.
The Destructive Nature of Secrets and Hidden Truths
A central theme in Nocticadia is the destructive impact of secrets—both personal and institutional. Lilia’s journey is defined by her gradual unearthing of the truth about her mother, the parasite, and the university’s sinister involvement in both.
These revelations are not just a path to knowledge but also a descent into madness and despair. The Nocticadia Lab’s experiments and the university’s long-held secrets about the origins of the parasite are slowly unveiled, suggesting a corrupt institution that values knowledge over human life.
The campus, isolated on the eerie Dracadia Island, becomes a metaphor for this hidden world of secrets, where every discovery leads to more dangerous truths. Similarly, Lilia’s relationship with Professor Bramwell is filled with concealed emotions and hidden motivations, which both protect and harm them.
As these secrets unravel, they reveal the island’s cursed history and its deep-rooted connection to the parasitic infestation. This emphasizes how uncovering the truth can lead to irrevocable change and destruction.
Identity, Memory, and the Fragility of Perception
Another profound theme explored in Nocticadia is the fragility of memory and perception, particularly in the context of trauma. Lilia is haunted by vivid hallucinations and visions of her mother, blurring the line between reality and delusion.
These experiences echo the broader motif of memory being manipulated by both the parasitic infection and the psychological toll of past trauma. As Lilia’s connection to Dracadia Island deepens, she begins to question whether her memories of her mother’s illness and the mysterious black worms are accurate or the products of her own disturbed mind.
The theme of shifting perception is further explored through the experiences of Professor Bramwell, whose infection causes him to lose control over his own mind, thus distorting his sense of self and reality. Lilia’s struggle to make sense of her past, her memories, and her role in the unfolding events reflects the larger questions of identity and the reliability of perception in a world where the boundary between the real and the unreal is ever more uncertain.
The Corrupting Influence of Power and Obsession
Nocticadia also delves into the corrupting influence of power, both institutional and personal. The Nocticadia Lab represents the unchecked ambition of scientific research, where the pursuit of knowledge becomes a justification for morally questionable actions, including experimentation on humans.
The university’s leaders and researchers, blinded by their obsession with controlling the parasite, manipulate their students and colleagues in pursuit of their own agenda, regardless of the cost to human life. This theme of power is also reflected in the personal dynamics between Lilia and Professor Bramwell.
While their relationship begins with mutual intellectual curiosity, it gradually morphs into something darker and more controlling, as both characters are bound by the destructive forces of the parasite. Bramwell’s increasing dependence on Lilia and the parasite’s influence over him highlights the way in which obsession and power dynamics can twist even the most intimate relationships.
The story ultimately reveals that both scientific and personal power, when left unchecked, lead to ruin and suffering.
The Cycle of Infection, Legacy, and Rebirth
The cycle of infection and the legacy of the parasitic organism are central to the novel’s exploration of inheritance and generational trauma. Lilia’s discovery that her mother was part of earlier experiments involving the Noctisoma parasite reframes her understanding of her own identity and the fate that awaits her.
The genetic link between Lilia and the infection suggests that the curse of Dracadia Island is not only physical but also hereditary, passed down through generations. The connection between the island’s residents and the parasite reveals how deeply embedded this cycle of infection is, creating a legacy that is both biological and cultural.
In the epilogue, Lilia’s departure from the island signifies a break in this cycle, though the parasite itself remains dormant, waiting for another host. This cyclical nature of the parasite serves as a metaphor for the persistence of trauma and the difficulty of escaping one’s past.
Despite her efforts to free herself and others from the parasitic influence, Lilia is forever marked by her experiences, highlighting the theme of legacy and the inescapable consequences of past actions.