Chapter 22: 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 on the morning of the Samhain party. The household is busy with last-minute decorations, and even Max, the magical raven, pitches in by changing the house’s hat to a black pointed witch’s hat. Guests are already arriving in costume, including the Andrades in matching crow masks, Dilara (Rose’s girlfriend) dressed as a garden of flowers, and Alice, the witch from the motel, whose skin is covered in glowing tattoos of autumn leaves and ghostly steam.

In the kitchen, the narrator (Colin) finds Anna, who offers him a soul cake. Anna explains that Dilara spelled the cakes to prevent possession for the night, and they toast to avoiding that fate. Colin admits he’s been thinking about his brother Liam, who has been missing for over two weeks. Anna agrees it’s strange, and Colin appreciates her honesty—he says he likes facts and truth, and that Anna never lies to him, which is more than he can say for many people in his life.

The rest of the day is spent on chores: decorating, showing guests to their rooms, and reassuring them that the house isn’t haunted—though Anna mentions there is a ghost in the attic that the house refuses to let Gran send on.

As the sun sets, Anna leads Colin outside to the Charger, where Elaine and Max are waiting. Anna explains that Elaine can speak to spirits, and if Liam is gone, she might be able to contact him. Colin hesitates, fearing the answer, but decides he needs to know. They climb into the car, and Elaine explains she will channel through an object Liam spent time with—the Charger he worked on. She lights candles and begins a séance, calling out “Reveal yourself!” three times.

The air thickens, and Liam’s spirit manifests in pieces: a pale hand, a gray eye, a bloodied shoulder, torn clothes, a gash above his brow. His face appears with wild eyes and a silent scream. Colin reaches for him, but his hands pass through. Liam flickers in and out of existence, moving closer to the car, reaching for Colin. Max hisses, and Elaine pulls Colin back. Liam’s mouth opens, and he utters a single word: “Run.” Then he vanishes, and the candles burn out.

Colin is devastated, believing Liam is truly gone. But Elaine says she’s never experienced a séance like that—Liam’s spirit had far more force than a typical spirit, and it felt like he was pulling her toward wherever he is. She admits she’s not sure what that means, leaving Colin and Anna with a flicker of hope.

Key Events

The household prepares for the Samhain party, with Max changing the house’s hat to a witch’s hat.
Guests arrive in costume, including the Andrades, Dilara, and Alice with glowing tattoos.
Anna gives Colin a soul cake spelled to prevent possession.
Colin confides in Anna about Liam’s disappearance, and Anna offers to have Elaine contact Liam’s spirit.
Elaine conducts a séance in the Charger, channeling through the car Liam worked on.
Liam’s spirit manifests, bloodied and wild-eyed, and says “Run” before disappearing.
Elaine reveals that Liam’s spirit had unusual force, suggesting he may not be fully gone.

Character Development

Colin continues to grapple with his need for certainty. He tells Anna that he likes facts and truth, and that honesty keeps him steady. This explains his earlier reluctance to accept vague reassurances. When faced with the possibility of contacting Liam’s spirit, he initially hesitates because the answer might be final, but he ultimately chooses to know rather than live in uncertainty. His reaction to Liam’s appearance—reaching out, shouting, and then despair—shows his deep love for his brother and his vulnerability.

Anna emerges as a grounding presence. She offers Colin a soul cake, listens to his worries, and admits when she doesn’t have answers. Her honesty is a contrast to the coded words Colin mentions from others. She also takes the initiative to arrange the séance, showing her care for Colin’s emotional state.

Elaine demonstrates her supernatural abilities and her role as a guide. She explains the séance process and channels Liam’s spirit, but she also shows humility by admitting she doesn’t understand the unusual force she felt. This suggests that even experienced practitioners are encountering something new and potentially dangerous.

Liam appears only as a spirit, but his condition—bloodied, torn, and wild-eyed—implies he suffered a violent end. His single word, “Run,” is a warning, suggesting he is trying to protect Colin from a threat that may still be active.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Samhain and the thinning veil: The chapter is set on Samhain, a time when the boundary between worlds is thin. This makes the séance possible and also raises the risk of other spirits coming through. The soul cakes are a protective measure, highlighting the supernatural danger of the night.

Uncertainty and the search for truth: Colin’s desire for facts clashes with the ambiguity of Liam’s fate. Even after the séance, Elaine’s uncertainty leaves the truth unresolved, reinforcing the theme that some answers are not easily obtained.

Hope vs. despair: Colin initially believes Liam is gone, but Elaine’s observation that Liam’s spirit had unusual force rekindles hope. The chapter balances the despair of loss with the possibility that Liam might still be reachable.

Family bonds: Colin’s willingness to face the séance, despite his fear, stems from his love for Liam. Anna’s support and Elaine’s assistance also reflect the found-family dynamic that has developed at Ravenfall.

The Otherworld and supernatural danger: The séance connects to the broader threat of the Otherworld, where Fin may be trapped. Liam’s warning to “Run” suggests that whatever is after them is still a present danger.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is pivotal because it provides the first concrete evidence about Liam’s fate. The séance confirms that Liam is dead, but Elaine’s observation that his spirit was unusually forceful opens the door to the possibility that he might not be fully lost. This ambiguity drives the plot forward, as Colin and the others will likely investigate what happened to Liam and what his warning means.

The chapter also deepens Colin’s character, showing his emotional vulnerability and his reliance on truth. It reinforces the supernatural stakes of the story, particularly the dangers of Samhain and the Otherworld. The soul cakes and the séance are practical elements that ground the fantasy in the world-building, while Liam’s warning adds urgency to the quest.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Colin decide to participate in the séance, despite his fear of the answer?

Colin is torn between the possibility that Liam might still be alive and the need to know the truth. He tells Anna that he likes facts and that not knowing is worse than a painful answer. His decision reflects his character’s core need for certainty, even when that certainty is devastating.

2. What does Elaine’s reaction to Liam’s spirit suggest about the nature of his death or his current state?

Elaine says she has never experienced a séance where the spirit had so much force, and that it felt like Liam was pulling her toward him. This suggests that Liam’s spirit is not a typical passive ghost—it may be trapped, angry, or connected to something powerful, possibly the Otherworld. It leaves open the possibility that Liam is not fully gone or that his spirit is being held.

3. How does the chapter use the setting of Samhain to heighten the tension?

Samhain is a time when the veil between worlds is thin, making supernatural events more likely. The soul cakes are specifically spelled to prevent possession, and Elaine notes that séances carry the risk of other spirits coming through. The setting amplifies the danger of the séance and makes Liam’s manifestation more plausible, while also tying the chapter to the larger threat of the Otherworld.