Plot Summary
Obsession in the Shadows
In the heart of Darkland's Umbrage, Alice and Vane Maddred's relationship is a storm of lust, pain, and mutual self-loathing. Their nights are spent in frenzied, punishing sex, each using the other to escape their own demons. Vane, a jabberwocky who must drink blood to keep his monstrous side at bay, is both Alice's torment and her anchor. Their connection is obsessive, not loving—rooted in the darkness they see in each other. Alice, exiled from Wonderland, clings to the Maddred brothers for belonging, even as she's haunted by her past and the spirits she can hear. The trio—Alice, Vane, and Roc—are bound by shared trauma, secrets, and a hunger for something they can never quite name.
Blood, Power, and Betrayal
The Maddred brothers, once nobility, are now feared mob bosses in the Umbrage, their power built on violence and cunning. Negotiations with the Lorne royal family for control of Caligo Port force Vane into an engagement with Lady Genevieve, a political move that threatens the fragile balance between the brothers and Alice. Jealousy and rivalry simmer beneath the surface, as Alice's flirtations and Vane's possessiveness escalate. The brothers' past—marked by their father's betrayal and their own monstrous natures—casts a long shadow, and every relationship is a negotiation of power, loyalty, and survival.
Ghosts of Wonderland
Alice's exile from Wonderland is not just physical; she is pursued by the voices of the dead, reminders of trauma and loss. Her unique power to hear—and sometimes command—the dead is both a curse and a secret weapon. The Seven Isles are quieter than Wonderland, but on full moons, the spirits grow loud, pushing Alice to the edge. She finds solace in a magical hat from the Madd Hatter, which grants her invisibility and a rare peace from the dead. Yet, the past is never far, and the ghosts of Wonderland shape her every choice, fueling her need for distraction and connection.
Dangerous Games Begin
As Vane's engagement becomes public, Alice's pain and anger drive her to reckless acts. She seeks comfort with Roc, whose easy affection contrasts Vane's intensity, but even this is fraught with longing and dissatisfaction. Alice's attempts to provoke Vane—flirting with others, disappearing, and leveraging her own desirability—become a game with escalating stakes. The trio's entanglement grows more toxic, as each tries to assert control or escape the pain of unrequited love and impossible choices. The arrival of outsiders, like the assassin Nix, further complicates loyalties and desires.
The Maddred Brothers' Pact
The Maddred brothers' bond is forged in loss and necessity. Their little sister, Lainey, is their last hope for redemption and innocence, hidden away for her safety. The brothers' criminal empire is both a shield and a prison, and every decision is made with Lainey's future in mind. Alice, though not family by blood, is drawn into their pact, her own need for belonging making her complicit in their schemes. The brothers' willingness to do anything for each other—and for Lainey—sets the stage for tragedy, as love and loyalty become weapons as much as shields.
Secrets at the Seaside Cottage
At the Maddred safe house by the sea, Alice glimpses the softer side of the brothers, especially in their devotion to Lainey. The cottage is a rare haven, filled with warmth and laughter, but the peace is fragile. News of Vane's engagement shatters the illusion, and Alice's sense of betrayal deepens. Lainey, ever perceptive, counsels Alice on how to manipulate Vane, revealing the family's penchant for games and emotional warfare. The visit is tinged with longing and regret, as Alice realizes she can never truly belong, and the shadows of the past are never far behind.
Engagement and Jealousy
The announcement of Vane's engagement to Gen is a public spectacle, stoking jealousy and resentment. Alice, desperate to reclaim agency, enlists Nix to make Vane jealous, sparking a dangerous rivalry. The Joker's Den becomes a stage for their toxic dance, as power, desire, and vengeance intertwine. The games escalate, with each move calculated to wound or provoke. The lines between love and hate blur, and the consequences of their actions ripple outward, threatening to unravel the fragile alliances that hold their world together.
Graveyard Confessions
In the graveyard, Alice confronts her own darkness and the true extent of her power over the dead. Her ability to command spirits is both a secret and a danger, one that could be exploited by those in power. Roc warns her of the risks, but Alice is drawn to the graveyard's solace, even as it exposes her vulnerabilities. The confessions exchanged here—of love, regret, and fear—reveal the deep fractures within the trio. The graveyard becomes a crucible, where secrets are unearthed and the cost of power is laid bare.
The Price of Power
Alice's jealousy and pain drive her to a fateful decision: she tampers with Roc's pocket watch, intending to frighten Gen but instead unleashing Roc's monstrous side. During a public celebration, Roc shifts into his jabberwocky form, devouring the Lorne princess and setting off a chain of violence and cover-ups. The brothers and Alice scramble to contain the fallout, but the damage is done. The cost of their power—and their inability to control it—becomes tragically clear, as the line between victim and perpetrator blurs.
The Monster Unleashed
The aftermath of Roc's transformation is chaos and blood. The trio must hide the evidence, kill witnesses, and clean up the mess, all while grappling with guilt and fear. Alice, wracked with remorse, helps Vane and Roc cover up the crime, but the weight of her actions is crushing. The bonds between them fray, as trust is shattered and blame festers. The monster within is not just Roc's curse, but a metaphor for the darkness in all of them—unleashed by pain, jealousy, and the desperate need for control.
Consequences and Cover-Ups
The Lorne family's response is swift and brutal. Vane and Roc are hunted, shot with mercury bullets that subdue their monstrous forms. Alice barely escapes, using her magical hat to evade capture. But the true cost is yet to come: the Lorne family seeks an "eye for an eye," targeting Lainey as retribution for the princess's death. Alice races to warn her, but her efforts are in vain. The cycle of violence and vengeance claims its most innocent victim, and the trio's world collapses under the weight of their sins.
A Sister's Death
Lainey's death shatters the Maddred brothers and Alice. The loss is unbearable, a wound that festers with guilt and rage. Vane and Roc are hollowed by grief, their bond strained to the breaking point. Alice, consumed by remorse, is ostracized, her role in the tragedy both secret and damning. The trio is united only by their pain, and the desire for vengeance becomes the only thing keeping them alive. The cost of their power, their games, and their betrayals is finally, devastatingly clear.
Guilt and Vengeance
In the aftermath, the trio spirals into self-destruction. Vane and Roc drown their pain in drink and rage, plotting revenge against those who wronged them. Alice, isolated and broken, is haunted by guilt and the ghosts of her past. The desire for vengeance is all-consuming, but it cannot fill the void left by Lainey's death. The lines between justice and retribution blur, and the trio is left to reckon with the consequences of their choices, each seeking redemption in their own way.
The Underland Gambit
Determined to undo the tragedy, Alice hatches a desperate plan: to return to Wonderland and the Underland, the realm of the dead, in hopes of retrieving Lainey's soul. To do so, she must gather a full court of magical cards—diamonds, clubs, spades, and hearts—each a key to the realms beyond. The quest is perilous, requiring her to barter, steal, and confront old enemies. The journey is as much about facing her own darkness as it is about saving Lainey, and the risks are immense.
The Cards Are Gathered
Alice enlists the help of Jade, Salty, and the assassin Nix to gather the necessary cards. Each alliance comes at a price—her magical hat, her trust, her safety. The final card, the queen of hearts, is held by Callista, the witch who betrayed them. Alice's confrontation with Callista is fraught with danger, and the arrival of Vane threatens to unravel everything. The web of lies, secrets, and betrayals tightens, and Alice must make impossible choices to see her plan through.
The Witch's Heart
In a final, violent confrontation, Alice and Nix kill Callista and subdue Vane, who is consumed by rage and betrayal. The truth of Alice's role in the tragedy is revealed, and Vane's fury is boundless. Alice, sobbing and broken, escapes with the final card, vowing to bring Lainey back or die trying. The cost of her actions is incalculable, and the path ahead is uncertain. The trio is irrevocably fractured, and the future hangs in the balance.
Betrayal Revealed
Vane and Roc, devastated by Alice's betrayal, seek out their uncle, the Madd Hatter, to hunt her down. The looking glass—a portal between worlds—becomes the focus of their vengeance. The brothers, once bound by love and loyalty, are now united only by their desire to make Alice pay. The cycle of violence and retribution continues, as the sins of the past echo into the future. The hunt for Alice—and for redemption—begins anew.
The Looking Glass Hunt
Alice, armed with the full court of cards, steps through the looking glass into Wonderland and the Underland, determined to save Lainey. The Madd Hatter follows, promising vengeance. The brothers' world is forever changed, as the boundaries between life and death, love and hate, are shattered. The story ends with the promise of new journeys, new dangers, and the hope—however faint—of redemption and reunion.
The Return of Lainey
Years later, a mysterious woman steps through the looking glass into the palace, seeking the Devourer of Men—Roc. It is Lainey, returned from the Underland, and her arrival brings both joy and closure. The cycle of loss and redemption is complete, but the scars remain. The story ends on a note of hope, as the family is reunited, but the lessons of the past linger, a reminder of the darkness that shaped them all.
Characters
Alice
Alice is a survivor of Wonderland's wars, exiled and burdened by the ability to hear and command the dead. Her longing for belonging and love drives her into the arms of the Maddred brothers, but her relationships are fraught with obsession, jealousy, and self-sabotage. Alice's power is both a gift and a curse, isolating her even as it makes her valuable. Her psychological complexity is rooted in trauma, guilt, and a desperate need for agency. Throughout the story, Alice's choices—often reckless and impulsive—set off a chain of tragedies, but her determination to atone and save Lainey reveals a core of resilience and hope. Her journey is one of self-acceptance, learning to live with her darkness rather than be consumed by it.
Vane Maddred
Vane is the unofficial prince of the Umbrage, a jabberwocky whose monstrous nature is barely contained by ritual and blood. His relationship with Alice is defined by obsession and pain, each using the other to escape their own demons. Vane's sense of duty to his family—especially Lainey—drives him to make sacrifices, including a loveless engagement for power. Psychologically, Vane is torn between his need for control and his fear of vulnerability. His inability to communicate or process his emotions leads to destructive choices, and his rage at betrayal is both terrifying and tragic. Vane's arc is one of loss, as he is forced to confront the consequences of his actions and the limits of his power.
Roc Maddred
Roc, Vane's older brother, is both protector and enforcer, known as the Devourer of Men. He is more emotionally open than Vane, offering Alice comfort and stability, but is equally marked by trauma and guilt. Roc's devotion to Lainey is the anchor of his life, and her death devastates him. He is pragmatic, often the voice of reason, but his monstrous side is always lurking beneath the surface. Roc's psychological struggle is with guilt—over his own nature, his failures, and the loss of his sister. His journey is one of survival, seeking meaning and redemption in a world that offers little of either.
Lainey Maddred
Lainey is the light of the Maddred family, cherished by her brothers and protected at all costs. Her innocence and warmth are a stark contrast to the darkness surrounding her. Lainey's perceptiveness and honesty make her a confidante for Alice, and her death is the story's emotional nadir. Psychologically, Lainey represents hope and the possibility of redemption, and her loss is a catalyst for the others' descent into grief and vengeance. Her eventual return from the Underland is a symbol of forgiveness and the enduring power of love.
Lady Genevieve (Gen)
Gen is the daughter of the Duke of Darkland and Vane's fiancée by political arrangement. She is driven by status and a desire to possess Vane, but is ultimately out of her depth in the world of monsters and power games. Gen's rivalry with Alice is marked by insecurity and cruelty, and her inability to understand the true nature of the Maddred brothers leads to her downfall. Psychologically, Gen is a foil to Alice—privileged but powerless, ambitious but blind to the dangers around her.
Callista
Callista is a former Heart Court witch from Wonderland, now a healer for the Lorne family. Her loyalty is to power, and she is both ally and adversary to the Maddred brothers and Alice. Callista's knowledge of blood magic and her willingness to use it make her a formidable foe. Psychologically, she is pragmatic, ruthless, and unburdened by sentiment. Her confrontation with Alice is a battle of wills, and her death is both a victory and a loss for Alice.
Nix
Nix is a wingless fae assassin, skilled in illusions and subterfuge. His relationship with Alice is transactional but charged with mutual respect and attraction. Nix's motivations are opaque, and his loyalty is to himself, but he is drawn to Alice's darkness. Psychologically, Nix is a survivor, shaped by violence and secrecy. He is both a mirror and a contrast to the Maddred brothers—dangerous, but less burdened by guilt or loyalty.
Jade
Jade is Alice's best friend, a Diamond from Wonderland, and a stabilizing force in Alice's life. She is pragmatic, honest, and fiercely protective, offering Alice both support and tough love. Jade's loyalty is unwavering, but she is not afraid to challenge Alice or hold her accountable. Psychologically, Jade represents the possibility of healing and normalcy, a reminder that not all relationships must be defined by pain and obsession.
Salty
Salty is a Club from Wonderland, now a guard in the royal palace. His past is mysterious, but his loyalty to Alice and Jade is genuine. Salty's willingness to help Alice, even at personal risk, marks him as a true friend. Psychologically, Salty is adaptable, able to navigate shifting alliances and dangers with pragmatism and humor.
Madd Hatter (Uncle Madd)
The Madd Hatter is the brothers' uncle, a figure of mythic power and unpredictability. He is both creator and destroyer, his motives inscrutable. Madd's relationship with Alice is fraught with danger and fascination, and his role as arbiter of vengeance is both terrifying and necessary. Psychologically, Madd is a force of chaos, embodying the story's themes of time, power, and the cost of desire.
Plot Devices
Obsession, Power, and Cycles of Violence
The story is structured around cycles of obsession, betrayal, and retribution. The toxic relationships between Alice, Vane, and Roc are mirrored in the larger political machinations of Darkland, where power is always contested and loyalty is conditional. The use of magical objects—pocket watches, court cards, the invisibility hat—serves as both literal and symbolic keys to agency, control, and escape. Foreshadowing is woven through the narrative, with repeated warnings about the dangers of "murdering time" and the inevitability of consequences. The narrative structure alternates perspectives, deepening the psychological complexity and emotional stakes. The motif of the looking glass—portal, mirror, and threshold—underscores the story's themes of identity, transformation, and the blurred boundaries between life and death, love and hate.
Analysis
"Dark & Darker Still" is a searing exploration of obsession, trauma, and the cost of power. Nikki St. Crowe crafts a world where love is indistinguishable from pain, and every relationship is a negotiation of dominance, vulnerability, and survival. The story's emotional arc is defined by cycles of desire, betrayal, and loss, with Alice at its center—a woman whose power is both her salvation and her undoing. The narrative interrogates the myth of the "redeemable monster," exposing the ways in which trauma begets trauma, and the pursuit of agency can lead to self-destruction. The use of magical realism and gothic motifs deepens the psychological resonance, making the supernatural both metaphor and reality. Ultimately, the book is a meditation on the possibility of forgiveness and the necessity of living with one's darkness. The final image—of Lainey's return and the family's reunion—offers hope, but not absolution, reminding readers that redemption is a journey, not a destination, and that even the darkest stories can end in light.
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