Chapter 16 Summary: Prince Charming Plays Tomb Raider

⚠️ 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

Six years before the main narrative, Devon is confined to her quarters at Easterbrook Manor, two weeks after her marriage to Matley Easterbrook. She spends her days in a fog of grief, thinking only of her daughter Salem, whom she was forced to leave behind. Each night, Matley visits for what he calls their “nightly duty”—attempts to conceive a child—and Devon endures it by repeating a mantra: Think only of Salem, and seeing her again. She has no interest in the manor's luxuries and has not left her room since arriving.

One morning, Jarrow Easterbrook, Matley's younger brother, knocks on her door and invites her to play Tomb Raider in the manor's games room. Devon is surprised but accepts, seeing the video game as a form of escape—a way to climb out of her tower, even if only in her mind. They spend the afternoon playing, and Devon finds her spirits lifting for the first time since being torn from Salem. Jarrow reveals that the games room belonged to his older sister, Victoria, who no longer lives there. He mentions that Devon's bedroom was also Vic's. The room carries Vic's presence—the dragonfly wallpaper, the choice of games—and Devon senses an unspoken grief in Jarrow.

Over the next three weeks, Devon returns daily. She and Jarrow form an unspoken alliance in distraction, playing Tomb Raider and then Final Fantasy, never discussing the Family, Matley, or Vic. The games give Devon a mental refuge from the unpleasant physicality of her nights. After two months of marriage, her menstrual cycle stops. A human doctor named John is brought to the manor to examine her. Devon is struck by the fact that John can write—a skill book eaters lack—and she watches him fill out forms with a mixture of awe and unease. John confirms she is pregnant, tells her it is almost certainly her final pregnancy, and notes that a second girl is excruciatingly unlikely. Matley hopes for a daughter, but John warns that the odds are against it.

After the examination, Devon reflects on the coming birth. She takes out the compass Luton gave her, which contains a preserved image of Salem's face, and traces the lines of her daughter's features. The compass is a tangible anchor to her daughter, a reminder of why she endures.

Key Events

Devon remains confined to her quarters for two weeks after her marriage, enduring nightly visits from Matley.
Jarrow invites Devon to play Tomb Raider in the games room, which once belonged to his absent sister Vic.
Devon accepts and returns daily for weeks, finding distraction and a sense of escape in video games.
Jarrow reveals that Devon's bedroom was also Vic's, hinting at a deeper family wound.
After two months, Devon's cycle stops, and a human doctor named John is summoned.
John confirms Devon is pregnant, says it is almost certainly her last pregnancy, and that a second girl is highly unlikely.
Matley expresses hope for a daughter, but John's warning casts doubt.
Devon takes out the compass Luton gave her and traces Salem's preserved face, reaffirming her emotional anchor.

Character Development

Devon: This chapter deepens her portrayal as a woman enduring captivity through emotional shutdown. She uses a mantra to survive, but the games with Jarrow offer a rare flicker of relief. Her decision to return to the games room shows a small act of agency within her constrained life. Her reaction to the pregnancy—resilience, numbness, and a focus on Salem—reveals her survival mechanism of caring for nothing so she cannot be robbed.
Jarrow Easterbrook: He emerges as a more complex figure than the easygoing brother. His boredom with book eater life, his grief over Vic's absence, and his awkward kindness toward Devon suggest a discontent that mirrors her own. He claims he's not being kind, only courteous, but his repeated invitations and his unspoken understanding of her situation hint at a deeper empathy.
Matley Easterbrook: He remains cold and transactional, referring to their attempts to conceive as “nightly duty.” His hope for a daughter is framed as a desire for a “repeat performance,” not an emotional connection. His casual dismissal of Devon's discomfort and his willingness to employ a human doctor for convenience underscore his pragmatism and lack of regard for her feelings.
John the doctor: Though a minor character, he introduces the term “Librovarian” and demonstrates human technology and knowledge that book eaters lack. His presence highlights the divide between the two species and the risks the Easterbrooks take by employing humans.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Memory as anchor: The chapter opens with the metaphor of memory as an anchor—both grounding and weighing down. Devon's memories of Salem keep her sane but also burden her. The compass with Salem's face is a tangible symbol of this anchor, a physical object she can trace to stay connected to her daughter.
Escapism through video games: Tomb Raider and Final Fantasy offer Devon a mental escape from her captivity. The games represent a world where she can be an adventurer, not a prisoner. Jarrow's games room becomes a sanctuary, a place where the rules of the Family don't apply.
Fairy tales as prison: Devon is fed a stack of fairy tales, which she rips apart in frustration. The fairy-tale narrative of princesses being rescued or enduring is inverted—Devon is not rescued, and the tales are a form of indoctrination. The chapter's epigraph from George MacDonald's The History of Photogen and Nycteris hints at themes of light and darkness, captivity and freedom.
Marriage as captivity: Devon's marriage is explicitly framed as a transaction—she is there to endure Matley, pregnancy, and childbirth. The manor is a gilded cage, and her confinement to her quarters mirrors her lack of agency.
Forced pregnancy: The chapter deals with the physical and emotional toll of coerced reproduction. Devon's body is not her own; she is expected to produce a child for the Easterbrooks. The doctor's confirmation that this is likely her last pregnancy brings a mix of relief and dread.
Human technology versus tradition: John's ability to write and his medical knowledge contrast with book eater limitations. The Easterbrooks' willingness to employ a human doctor shows a pragmatic breach of tradition, while Devon's awe at his writing underscores the species divide.
Boredom and discontent: Jarrow's admission that he is “bloody bored” with book eater life reveals a broader malaise. His boredom is a form of existential dissatisfaction, a theme that resonates with Devon's own trapped existence.
Victoria's absent presence: Vic's absence looms over the games room. Her belongings, her choice of wallpaper, and Jarrow's grief all point to a missing person whose story is yet to be told. Vic's absence becomes a symbol of the costs of Family life.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is a crucial flashback that explains Devon's past and sets up the central conflict of the novel. It establishes the circumstances of her second pregnancy—the child who will become the focus of the main narrative. The chapter also introduces Jarrow as a potential ally and hints at the mysterious fate of Victoria Easterbrook, a thread that will likely pay off later. Devon's emotional state here—her numbness, her reliance on the mantra, and her fragile connection to Jarrow—deepens our understanding of her character and the sacrifices she has made. The themes of captivity, forced reproduction, and escapism are central to the novel's critique of Family structures and the roles assigned to women.

Study Questions and Answers

Why does Devon agree to play Tomb Raider with Jarrow, and what does the game represent to her?

Devon agrees because the game offers a form of escape from her confined life. She sees it as a way to “climb out of her tower,” even if only mentally. The game represents agency, adventure, and a temporary reprieve from the reality of her marriage and pregnancy. It also provides a connection to Jarrow, who offers a kind of courtesy she no longer expects.

How does the chapter use the compass to symbolize Devon's relationship with Salem?

The compass is a tangible object that contains a preserved image of Salem's face. Devon traces its lines as a way to stay connected to her daughter. It functions as an anchor—both grounding her in her purpose (enduring for Salem) and weighing her down with grief. The compass is a physical manifestation of her memory and her motivation.

What does Jarrow's admission of boredom reveal about book eater society?

Jarrow's boredom suggests that even within the privileged, book-eating Families, life can feel hollow and purposeless. His discontent points to a lack of meaningful choice or fulfillment, despite the abundance of books and material comforts. It also creates a parallel between him and Devon, both trapped in roles they didn't choose. This boredom hints at a deeper critique of the Family system and its rigid expectations.