The Coven Tendency Summary, Characters and Themes

The Coven Tendency by Zoe Hana Mikuta is a dark and atmospheric novel that dives into the world of magic, death, and resurrection.  Set in a city where witches are treated as both objects of fascination and exploitation, the story follows the life of Monroe, a foreign student, and his journey into the complex and unsettling underworld of witchcraft.

As he becomes embroiled in the world of necromancy and magical rituals, he crosses paths with several characters, including the mysterious Vanity, whose struggle with her powers is both captivating and tragic.  The narrative explores themes of identity, power, and the human toll of magic in a world dominated by privilege and control.

Summary

Monroe, a foreign student, arrives in the City with high expectations for his study abroad experience.  However, the place is far from what he anticipated.

Instead of the sophisticated and unique environment he imagined, he finds himself in a city steeped in dark and unsettling traditions.  His roommate, Riley, takes him to a secret underground witch show, which turns out to be far from the avant-garde experience Monroe expected.

Instead, the show features a grotesque spectacle in which a witch, confined in a cage, performs a disturbing act of necromancy.  Monroe is horrified by the lack of refinement and the dehumanizing nature of the display.

Riley explains the nature of witches, revealing that their magic, especially necromancy, stems from an “overexposure” to nature and often manifests in violent and obsessive tendencies.  Monroe, who comes from a background of witch-hunting practices in Miyeon, is shocked by the casual treatment of such dark magic.

His revulsion begins to turn into a detached curiosity as he witnesses a witch perform the act of resurrecting a dead deer, only for a disturbing, human-like form to emerge from the carcass.

Monroe’s fascination with this dark magic grows, but he remains emotionally distant, even as Riley continues to talk about the so-called “purging machines” used in Monroe’s homeland to control witches.  This difference in perspective further highlights the divide between Monroe’s foreign background and the City’s nonchalant approach to witchcraft.

The witch, after completing her performance, is drugged and subdued, leaving Monroe to reflect on the power of magic and its effect on the human mind and body.

In parallel, the story delves into the lives of the Adams sisters, Vanity and Ro, who are witches with necromantic abilities.  They live in a world where they are treated as mere spectacles, their powers exploited by the wealthy elite who visit the Museum to see witches like them on display.

Vanity, who can bring the dead back to life, struggles with her identity and the burden of her supernatural abilities.  Ro, her twin, is more aware of their magic and the complex relationship she shares with Vanity.

The two are deeply bonded, but their connection is also fraught with tension and rivalry.

Vanity’s inner conflict deepens as she becomes fascinated with Ellis, a young man from a family of witches who has recently become involved with the Museum.  Ellis, much like Vanity, struggles with his relationship to his magic, and his introduction to the Museum’s rituals mirrors the grotesque process Monroe witnessed.

Vanity’s growing feelings for Ellis complicate her already fragile sense of self, and her desire for connection clashes with the destructive nature of her abilities.

As Vanity grapples with her powers, she begins to fear the consequences of bringing the dead back to life.  She sees her magic as both a gift and a curse, and the emotional weight of it grows heavier as her relationship with Ellis deepens.

Their connection, however, is not without its complications, as Ellis struggles with his own feelings for Vanity and the emotional turmoil that accompanies their bond.  The Museum, a place that is supposed to be a prestigious institution, becomes a site of exploitation, where the witches are treated as commodities for the wealthy to gawk at and manipulate.

Meanwhile, Wren Athalia, a wealthy heir, becomes entangled in the lives of the witches at the Museum.  He meets Clover Rao, a witch with a bold personality, who challenges him with her biting questions about his role in a world dominated by privilege and power.

Wren, intrigued by Clover’s resilience, attempts to connect with her, but she remains skeptical of his intentions.  Their interactions highlight the divide between the privileged world of the elite and the witches, who are trapped in a cycle of exploitation.

Ellis, in a state of emotional turmoil, begins to reflect on his past, particularly his connection to Vanity and Ro.  Haunted by the memories of Vanity’s death, Ellis is consumed by guilt and confusion.

His desire to save Vanity from her own destructive tendencies is complicated by his own internal chaos.  He realizes that his bond with her is both a source of deep affection and a path to self-destruction.

As Ellis becomes more disconnected from reality, his mental state deteriorates, and he finds himself trapped in a web of witchcraft that he cannot escape.

In the Museum, Vanity’s struggles with her identity and her relationship with Ellis intensify.  She becomes more aware of the dangers of her magic, especially the toll it takes on her and those around her.

The deeper she falls into this world of magic and death, the more she fears the price of her power.  Her feelings for Ellis grow more complicated as she navigates the complex emotions tied to their bond.

However, as her power grows, she begins to realize the destructive nature of the magic she wields.

The narrative reveals that the witches, including Vanity, are part of an experiment gone wrong.  Wren, who is disillusioned by the system that exploits the witches, reflects on how they were created to fail.

The witches were designed to be trapped in a cycle of death and resurrection, with no hope of breaking free.  Vanity, despite her growing power, is unable to escape the destructive forces that control her existence.

As Vanity’s magic becomes more unstable, the consequences of her actions spiral out of control.  The creation of a monstrous entity, Ro, symbolizes the collapse of their illusions and the loss of control over their powers.

The story builds to a tragic climax, where the characters are forced to confront the consequences of their choices.  Vanity’s journey culminates in a moment of self-realization, but it is too late to undo the damage caused by the cycle of death and rebirth.

The world around them collapses into chaos, and the characters are consumed by the destruction they have wrought.

In the end, Vanity’s cry of “Goodbye” signals the tragic conclusion of her journey.  The story leaves readers with a sense of unease, reflecting on the destructive nature of magic, the fragility of life, and the inescapable cycle of pain and redemption.

The characters, trapped in their own turmoil, are left to face the consequences of their actions in a world where death and resurrection are inseparable.

Characters

Monroe

Monroe is a foreign student who initially feels detached from the City’s chaotic, supernatural environment.  He is disillusioned by the ordinary nature of the place, which doesn’t meet his expectations for a study abroad experience.

Monroe’s journey begins with a curiosity that morphs into detached fascination as he witnesses the underground witch show.  Despite his initial repulsion, especially toward the grotesque display of necromantic magic, he becomes gradually absorbed in the city’s dark magic.

This inner conflict reflects Monroe’s complex relationship with his emotions and his environment—caught between cultural foreignness and a fascination with the power of witchcraft.  His background in witch-hunting practices, from his homeland, further intensifies his horror at the City’s casual approach to witchcraft.

However, he also grows more intrigued and even somewhat desensitized to the dark forces at play, symbolizing his inner struggle and his journey toward understanding the complex world of magic and its consequences.

Riley

Riley is Monroe’s local roommate and acts as a guide to him through the City’s hidden witch culture.  While Monroe views the underground witch show with horror and disbelief, Riley is more accustomed to it, demonstrating an unsettling indifference to the exploitation of witches.

His character represents the normalization of supernatural powers in the City’s culture, where dark magic is seen as part of everyday life.  Riley’s interest in necromancy and the purging machines used in Monroe’s home country serves to deepen the cultural rift between him and Monroe.

However, Riley’s complex views about witches—especially their violent tendencies and necromantic practices—reveal an unacknowledged vulnerability and a deeper involvement with the world he shows Monroe, which hints at his own emotional struggles and the moral ambiguities of the society they inhabit.

Vanity

Vanity is a deeply introspective and conflicted character, whose necromantic abilities—especially her power to resurrect the dead—serve as both a blessing and a curse.  Her magic is central to her identity, but it also weighs heavily on her, leaving her torn between her desire for connection and the fear of what her abilities may turn her into.

Vanity’s relationship with her twin sister, Ro, is fraught with complexity, marked by both protective and destructive tendencies.  Her feelings for Ellis add another layer to her emotional turmoil, as she oscillates between a need for love and the understanding that her magic is inherently dangerous and uncontrollable.

Vanity’s journey is marked by intense self-reflection, as she grapples with the moral implications of her powers and the disillusionment that comes from using them.  Her path highlights the struggle between the desire for connection and the inevitable destructive consequences of her magic.

Ro

Ro, Vanity’s twin sister, is more attuned to the reality of their necromantic abilities and the life they lead as witches.  While Vanity is consumed by her emotional struggles, Ro maintains a certain awareness and detachment from the world around them.

This detachment is often seen as a protective mechanism, a way to shield herself from the emotional chaos that Vanity faces.  Ro’s role in the story is largely shaped by her relationship with Vanity, and her presence in Vanity’s life is both stabilizing and isolating.

Ro serves as a constant reminder of the pressures and burdens that come with their shared abilities, especially as Vanity begins to spiral deeper into her emotional conflict.  Ro’s perspective on their magic adds a layer of realism and practicality to the otherwise emotionally charged narrative of Vanity’s journey, providing a necessary contrast to Vanity’s inner chaos.

Ellis

Ellis is introduced as a young man from a family of witches who becomes entangled in the dark world of the Museum, where witches are exhibited for the elite’s pleasure.  His complex relationship with Vanity is both deeply emotional and destructive, as he struggles with feelings of love, guilt, and the toxic cycle that binds him to her.

Ellis represents the internal conflict that arises when one is caught in a web of power, desire, and self-doubt.  His emotional struggles with Vanity are amplified by his inability to break free from the cycle of death and resurrection, which forms a central theme in the narrative.

As Ellis becomes more deeply involved with Vanity and the world of magic, he is increasingly consumed by his own inner turmoil and the consequences of his actions.  His descent into madness and self-loathing underscores the dark cost of magic and the emotional toll it takes on individuals who are unable to escape the destructive patterns that define their lives.

Clover Rao

Clover is a bold and unpredictable woman who challenges Wren Athalia with her questioning of the world they inhabit.  She is a witch who, unlike other characters, possesses a deep skepticism about the system they are caught in, particularly the Museum where witches are both controlled and commodified.

Clover’s relationship with Wren is marked by a push-and-pull dynamic, where Wren attempts to offer her a chance at a more meaningful existence, while Clover remains bound by her family’s oppressive rules.  She is portrayed as someone who desires control and autonomy but is constantly restricted by external forces, such as the bomb in her ankle that limits her freedom.

Clover’s character embodies the struggle for agency within a world where witches are both powerful and powerless.  Her motivations are complex, driven by a need for control and the desire to escape the cyclical nature of magic and death that defines her existence.

However, her actions, especially in her interactions with Vanity, reveal a darker side to her character—a side that ultimately contributes to the destructive cycle in which the characters are trapped.

Wren Athalia

Wren is a wealthy heir who offers a cynical perspective on the lives of witches and their role in society.  As a member of the elite, Wren’s disillusionment with the system becomes evident in his interactions with Clover and the others.

He is aware of the flaws within the magical system and the way witches are treated as spectacles to be exploited.  Wren’s character represents the privileged few who, despite their power, are equally caught in a system that fails them.

His indifference toward the struggles of witches, particularly his cold treatment of Clover, suggests a deeper, unspoken loneliness and a desire for meaningful connections.  His role in the story is to provide insight into the broader dynamics at play, especially the exploitation of witches for the sake of entertainment and profit.

Wren’s perspective on the witches’ world adds a layer of complexity to the narrative, as he both critiques and benefits from the system that sustains their lives.

Themes

Power and the Consequences of Magic

In The Coven Tendency, the theme of power and the consequences of magic runs through the veins of the narrative, shaping the lives and identities of the characters in ways both profound and destructive.  Magic is portrayed as both a gift and a curse, with its practitioners unable to escape the repercussions of wielding such potent forces.

The characters in the story, particularly the witches, are deeply connected to the world of magic, but their abilities come with a heavy emotional and physical toll.  For Vanity, her necromantic abilities, which allow her to bring the dead back to life, are both a source of power and a constant reminder of her inability to escape her past actions.

This cyclical nature of death and resurrection, especially in Vanity’s case, reveals how magic can entrap its wielders, making them prisoners of their own abilities.  The witches are caught in a web of magical control, wherein they are bound by the systems that exploit their powers for the benefit of the elite.

This commodification of magic, as shown in the Museum, where the witches are displayed as both curiosities and tools for the wealthy, emphasizes the exploitation inherent in their abilities.  The power of magic is shown to be uncontrollable, destructive, and ultimately a force that isolates its practitioners from others, leading to a tragic breakdown of personal relationships and self-worth.

The characters struggle with their own identity and sense of agency, often questioning whether their power is truly their own or if it is something imposed upon them by external forces.

Identity and Self-Destruction

The theme of identity is explored through the experiences of Vanity, Ellis, and Clover, as they grapple with their sense of self in a world where their magical abilities constantly redefine who they are.  Vanity’s internal conflict is central to the narrative as she navigates her power to resurrect the dead, struggling with the implications it has on her own sense of self.

She is caught in a constant state of rebirth, which blurs her understanding of who she is and what her purpose might be.  Her magical abilities both empower and destroy her, pushing her into a state of emotional numbness as she cycles through life and death.

Her deep desire for connection, especially with Ellis, is driven by a need for validation, but this longing also causes her to manipulate and hurt those around her.  Vanity’s identity is inextricably tied to the trauma of her resurrection, creating a fractured sense of self.

Similarly, Ellis’s journey reflects a loss of self as he is consumed by his feelings for Vanity, which only serve to amplify his internal chaos.  He is unable to escape the toxic relationship they share, and his identity becomes increasingly unstable as he spirals further into the destructive patterns created by his connection with her.

Clover, too, is caught in a web of manipulation and control, with her own identity being shaped by her need for power over Vanity and the fear of being trapped in the cycle of death and magic.  Their identities are not only shaped by their magical powers but by the emotional and psychological consequences that result from their actions.

This constant struggle with self-definition leads to self-destruction, as the characters fail to break free from the cyclical nature of their trauma and magical powers.

The Exploitation and Commodification of Magic

The story starkly illustrates how magic is commodified and exploited within the world it inhabits.  The Museum, a central setting in the book, serves as a grim metaphor for how supernatural abilities are treated as objects for consumption by the elite.

The witches, particularly the Adams sisters, are displayed as living spectacles, their magical abilities turned into a form of entertainment for the wealthy.  Vanity and Ro’s powers, especially their necromantic abilities, are treated as curiosities rather than gifts, and the Museum itself operates under the guise of a high-class institution, masking the dehumanizing treatment of these witches.

The Museum’s practices, which include the resurrection of the dead and the forced performances of witches, show the complete disregard for the witches’ autonomy and humanity.  The elite, who control the institution, profit off of the witches’ pain and powers, treating them as objects to be displayed rather than individuals with complex identities and desires.

This exploitation of magic highlights the darker aspects of society, where individuals are valued based on their utility and ability to serve the interests of those in power.  The characters’ struggles with their identities are compounded by this commodification, as they are constantly reminded that their worth is determined by their magical abilities and how they can be used for the benefit of others.

This theme of exploitation is a key element in understanding the oppressive structures that govern the witches’ world and the emotional toll it takes on those who are subjected to it.

Death, Resurrection, and the Cycle of Pain

The theme of death and resurrection is central to the plot and the emotional arc of the characters, especially Vanity.  The repeated cycles of life and death that Vanity and other witches undergo are not processes of healing or rebirth but rather a painful cycle of trauma, numbness, and emotional devastation.

Vanity’s ability to bring the dead back to life is not portrayed as a miraculous gift but as a form of punishment, where each resurrection strips her of more of her humanity.  The process of resurrection is depicted as a twisted, painful experience that leaves its practitioners in a state of emotional paralysis, unable to move beyond the trauma of their actions.

The witches, in their cyclical rebirth, are forced to confront the ghosts of their pasts, unable to escape the consequences of their power.  Vanity’s constant return from the dead does not lead to growth or healing but to further isolation and confusion, as she is trapped in a never-ending loop of pain and detachment.

The narrative reflects the fragility of existence and the difficulty of breaking free from destructive patterns.  Vanity’s relationships with Ellis and Clover, both of whom are complicit in her resurrection, serve as a reminder of how interconnected and, ultimately, destructive the cycle of death and rebirth can be.

The theme of death and resurrection explores the idea that in a world where magic is intertwined with life and death, there is no true escape from the emotional and physical toll of such a powerful force.  It is a cycle that ultimately leads to self-destruction, as the characters are consumed by their own desires, guilt, and the weight of their magical abilities.