Chapter 17: Colin — Summary and Analysis
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
The chapter opens with Colin locked in combat with a reaper that lunges at Anna. He manages to disarm it, but when he drives the scythe into its chest, the creature collapses into a pile of black cloth—it was only a costume. Before he can recover, a werewolf grabs him from behind and hurls him into a wall of costumes. Colin tries to summon his Saint Knives, but his connection to the journal feels cold and inaccessible. The werewolf pins him down, but Colin punches it in the snout, and it too dissolves into brown clothes.
Colin hears Anna's voice and rushes to the front of the shop. There, Anna and Rose have trapped a dark-haired woman against the wall. Max, glowing silver, sits on Anna's shoulder. Anna identifies the woman as the third wraith from Kara's photo with Kaden—she is possessing the witch from the bakery who had given Colin and Anna cream puffs. The wraith taunts them, claiming she is afraid of Max because she hasn't absorbed her host's soul like Kaden did. She reveals that her master will make her a permanent resident when he returns, and that the living will belong to the dead. When Colin asks how they found them, the wraith claims Colin led them straight to the shop. Anna insists he is warded, but the wraith laughs. Colin admits he cannot summon his knives, and the wraith lunges at Anna. Max leaps from Anna's shoulder, transforms midair, and absorbs the wraith's spirit, freeing the witch. The woman crumples to the floor.
They untie Seamus, the shopkeeper, who had been bound in the back. Anna retrieves her costume pieces and finds a black and silver mask that she seems surprised to discover. Seamus identifies it as a Radharc, a mask that gives visions—one per wearer. Anna reveals she saw a man with dark hair and the greenest eyes she's ever seen, fighting a battle long ago. Colin recognizes this as the same man he saw in his vision of Fin. They pay for their costumes and leave.
In the car, the silence is heavy. Colin brings up the wraith's claim that he led them to the shop, but Anna cuts him off, insisting she is lying. Yet her voice sounds worried, and she keeps glancing at him in the rearview mirror. Max pats Colin's cheek reassuringly.
Back at the house, they find a young couple standing outside the front door, staring at something on the ground. It is a very damp, very dead raven. Max lets out a guttural snarl, his fur prickling and flickering. The couple tries to dismiss it as a practical joke, but Max roars, and they flee. Rose cradles Max as he howls in pain. Anna quietly explains that the raven is a Jabberwocky—nearly impossible to kill—and that whatever did this is extremely powerful. She concludes that it must be Kaden's boss, and that he is back.
Key Events
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Colin fights a reaper and a werewolf, both revealed to be costumes, but he cannot summon his Saint Knives.
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Anna and Rose trap a wraith possessing the witch from the bakery; Max absorbs the wraith, freeing the witch.
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The wraith claims Colin led them to the shop, planting doubt in the group.
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Seamus is freed and identifies a mask as a Radharc, which gives one vision per wearer.
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Anna's vision shows a man with dark hair and green eyes—the same man Colin saw in his vision of Fin.
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The group returns home to find a dead raven at the door, causing Max to react violently.
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Anna reveals the raven is a Jabberwocky and that Kaden's boss has returned.
Character Development
Colin faces a crisis of confidence. His inability to summon his Saint Knives shakes his sense of identity as a Raven. He feels guilt and self-doubt, especially after the wraith's accusation that he led the enemy to them. His internal struggle is evident when he tries to bring up the topic in the car, only to be shut down by Anna. He also shows protectiveness and a desire to understand the truth, even when it's uncomfortable.
Anna demonstrates both strength and vulnerability. She is quick to defend Colin, insisting the wraith lied, but her worry shows in her glances and her tone. She also carries a secret—she seems to know more about the mask and the vision than she reveals. Her guilt is hinted at when she winces at Colin's injury, suggesting she may feel responsible for the danger they're in.
Max acts as both a protector and a barometer of supernatural threats. His violent reaction to the dead raven underscores the severity of the situation, and his absorption of the wraith shows his power and loyalty. His howling in pain at the raven suggests a deep connection to the omen.
Rose remains calm and practical, helping to subdue the wraith and later comforting Max. She also notices Anna's strange behavior with the mask, hinting at her perceptiveness.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Trust and Secrecy are central. The wraith's claim about Colin creates a rift of doubt, and Anna's insistence that she is lying feels forced. The group's inability to fully share what they know—Anna's vision, Colin's failing powers—highlights how secrets can undermine trust.
Guilt weighs on Colin, who feels responsible for the attack. His inability to summon his knives makes him feel useless, and the wraith's accusation plants a seed of self-blame.
Living vs. Dead is explored through the wraith's desire to become permanent in a living body. The contrast between the living characters and the dead spirits they fight emphasizes the stakes of the conflict.
Omens and Symbols appear in the dead raven, a classic harbinger of death. The Jabberwocky, a creature from folklore, symbolizes an unstoppable force, and its presence signals the return of a powerful antagonist.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter is a turning point in the novel. It confirms that the antagonist—Kaden's boss—has returned, raising the stakes for the protagonists. It also deepens the mystery of Colin's connection to the journal and his failing powers, which may be linked to the larger conflict. The revelation of the Radharc mask and Anna's vision ties directly to Colin's earlier vision of Fin, suggesting a shared history or prophecy. The chapter also tests the group's trust, as the wraith's accusation and Anna's evasiveness create tension that will likely drive future character development.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why is Colin unable to summon his Saint Knives, and what does this reveal about his character?
Colin's inability to summon his knives stems from a cold, inaccessible connection to the journal. This reveals his dependence on the journal for his powers and his vulnerability when that link is broken. It also highlights his internal doubt and fear, as he struggles to fight without his primary weapon.
2. What is the significance of the Radharc mask and Anna's vision?
The Radharc mask grants a single vision to each wearer. Anna's vision of a man with dark hair and green eyes matches Colin's earlier vision of Fin, suggesting a shared prophetic experience. This connection may indicate that Anna and Colin are linked by fate or that the mask reveals a common enemy or ally.
3. How does the dead raven function as an omen, and what does it foreshadow?
The dead raven is a classic omen of death and danger. Max's violent reaction and Anna's identification of it as a Jabberwocky—a nearly impossible creature to kill—foreshadow the return of a powerful antagonist. It signals that the threat they face is greater than any they've encountered, and that the safety of Ravenfall is at risk.
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