Spoilers: Crimson Death
This article or section contains spoilers for 2016 novel Crimson Death.
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Fey, or fairies, are a preternatural species in the Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter series. They are classified as Homo arcanus rather than Homo sapiens, although they can have children with humans.
Fey characteristics[]
- Fey are cross-fertile with humans. Humans with part fey ancestry, such as Magnus Bouvier and Dorcas Bouvier may share some characteristics of full blooded fey. In Crimson Death there is some speculation that even Nathaniel might have some fey blood in him, as evident from his eyes. In Ireland where the wild magic is stronger than anywhere else in the world these part-fey are likewise far more common than elsewhere. The only full-blooded fey to appear in the books beyond a brief mention are two exotic specimens, Rawhead and Bloody Bones and Xavier, as well as Moroven, whose appearance doesn't immediately betray her origins. This section discusses primarily part-blooded fey descended from the fairy high court, such as the Bouviers.
- Part-fey such as the Bouviers appear primarily human. In the case of the Bouviers, their most striking physical characteristics are their otherworldly androgynous beauty, and the ability of their irises to "pinwheel" closed when their powers are active.
- Enhanced physical abilities. All fey seen in the Anita Blake novels to date have been preternaturally fast and strong, and unusually resistant to damage. Some fullblooded fey, such as Rawhead, are completely immortal under normal conditions. (Ultimately, Rawhead shared blood with Magnus, rendering Rawhead capable of being killed while Magnus lived).
- Healing. Fey are capable of accelerated healing, and it's suggested that they have better healing ability than most lycanthropes.[1]
- Weaknesses:
- Cold iron. Unlike vampires and lycanthropes, fey are not bothered by silver. Cold forged iron or even lead is more damaging to them.
- Fairie ointments. The use of a four-leaf clover, Saint-John's-wort, red verbena, daisies, rowan, and ash can break glamour. As such special ointments are made of either four-leaf clovers or Saint-John's-wort, and spread on the eyelids, mouth, ears, and hands, making a person proof against glamour.
- Salt. Temporarily disturbs fey magic, either by throwing it on the fey or the thing being magicked.
- Powers:
- Glamour. One of the key abilities of the high court fey is that of glamour, an ability to cast illusions. Humans can resist glamour by placing a variety of magic ointments over their eyes *Example of Glamour; Making mud look and taste like ham.
- Sensitivity. Both Magnus and Dorcas were mentally powerful as well, possessing psychic abilities, such as touch clairvoyance.
- Harmony with nature. When Anita walked through the forest with Dorcas, it appeared as if the forest plants moved aside for her, or that she was in harmony with them. Anita never sees a plant move, but somehow, forest plants were never wherever Dorcas happened to walk.
- Vampirism. Supposedly, it is impossible to raise a member of the fey as a vampire. However, as Xavier showed, this does not appear to be entirely true. In Crimson Death we learn that Moroven is another example of a fey turned into a vampire. However, the wild magic of the fey does indeed interfere with the process, and in Ireland (thanks to the prevalent wild magic) only a sourdre de sang would be powerful enough to create new vampires—and even then the process is far more likely to fail than not and most thrice-bitten bodies simply stay dead instead of rising as vampires.
Fey social organization[]
- In the Anitaverse, Unseelie fey are barred by law from immigrating into the United States. Because fey are not native to North America, the only fey present in the U.S. are therefore either illegal or are descended from ancestors who arrived in North America before the formation of the United States. (This is in contrast to the Merry Gentry novels, in which the U.S.A is one of the few countries that welcomes full-blooded fey.)
- The Daoine Sidhe, or fairy high court, is composed of some of the most powerful of the fey. When Anita sees Magnus using glamour, she concludes that he must be descended from the Daoine Sidhe. It is divided into a seelie court of neutral or good fey and an unseelie court of "bad" fey. The Unseelie argue that they are neutral like nature, although Anita points out that people can die of exposure. Some Unseelie Fey hunt and eat humans.
- Many people in the Anitaverse have partial fey heritage, and, at least in the U.S., they officially have the same rights and privileges as ordinary humans (although being half-Unseelie is considered grounds for barring entry or deportation). Even Dolph Storr, who regards most supernatural beings with some dubiousness, considers having fey blood a non-issue. In practice, however, prejudice against part-fey is prevalent enough that many conceal their heritage.
Known fey and part-fey[]
- Magnus Bouvier
- Dorcas Bouvier
- Rawhead and Bloody Bones
- Xavier
- a Nuckelavee, which is a skinless and nearly formless fairy from the British Isles, performs at the Circus of the Damned at the time of the events of Dead Ice.
- Moroven
- Terry Rankin
- A Love-Talker, a species of Fey known to seduce and drown women and children, considered Unseelie.
Trivia[]
- The fey of the Anitaverse share many similarities with those of her later Merry Gentry series of novels.
See Also[]
References[]
- ↑ The Harlequin, chapter 32. Upon seeing a shapeshifter heal from silver bullets: "It was fucking silver and she was treating it like it was ordinary bullets. I’d never seen a shapeshifter able to do that. Even fairies, once you opened a hole in them that big, didn’t heal like this."