The Book of Dead Days
| Company type | Novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Literature |
| Founder | Marcus Sedgwick |
The Book of Dead Days is a novel authored by Marcus Sedgwick that follows the intertwined lives of a 15-year-old boy known simply as Boy, the sorcerer Valerian, a girl named Willow, and a scientist called Kepler. The narrative unfolds during the interval between Christmas and New Year's Eve—termed the "dead days"—a mysterious timeframe existing outside the bounds of regular time.
Plot introduction
Within the dead days, invisible spirits wander freely. Valerian, a magician who has only four days remaining to live, must find a way to save himself or face dire repercussions linked to a previous pact with dark forces. Accompanied by his servant Boy, an orphan with no known history, and Willow, they embark on a hazardous quest through deathly fields and an underground city.
Plot summary
The story opens at the Grand Theater where Valerian exploits Boy’s rare talent for magic performances. Boy, subjected to harsh treatment as Valerian’s famulus, is dispatched to retrieve a music box from an associate named Green. Following Green’s unexplained demise, Boy flees with the music box and encounters Willow, who informs him that the Theater Director Korp was slain by a creature called the Phantom; both are detained but later freed by Valerian.
At Valerian’s residence, they uncover that the music box reveals the name "Gad Beebe," prompting them to search various cemeteries unsuccessfully. Facing pressure from his creditors, Valerian is aided by Boy and Willow. The trio then seeks out Kepler, Valerian’s former adversary now obsessed with cryptic codes and phrases. Utilizing Kepler’s expertise and electrical devices, they outmaneuver the funeral director and journey to Lindon in pursuit of Beebe’s grave.
Within Beebe’s burial site lies the mysterious Book of Dead Days. It emerges that Valerian sacrificed fifteen years of his life for a single night with a woman who ultimately rejected him—a source of ongoing tension between him and Kepler. After being apprehended once more for exhuming Beebe’s grave, they escape through underground passages charted by Kepler.
In a critical confrontation against time, Boy battles Kepler and forces him into the tunnels. Valerian locates and opens the book; conflict escalates as he threatens Boy. Kepler discloses that Boy is actually Valerian’s son, conceived when Valerian wagered his life years earlier. Stunned by this revelation, Valerian offers himself to a demonic vortex. Later, Kepler confesses that Valerian is not Boy’s biological father but used this claim to shield him. The tale concludes with Boy and Willow returning to the city accompanied by Kepler.
Main characters
Boy serves as Valerian's assistant. Willow is an orphan who previously worked for a theatre singer and as a cloak carrier in a gentleman’s club before fleeing; she is described as petite with dull brown hair. She tells Boy that her aunt sent her to an orphanage and is sharp-minded, frequently posing numerous questions. Their growing romantic connection in The Dark Flight Down plays a crucial role in helping Boy recover his spirit after enduring trauma and hardship.
Valerian employs Boy as his famulus. Though he initially attempts to save himself at Boy’s expense, he cannot bring himself to kill Boy once he believes him to be his son. Portrayed mainly through Willow’s perspective as irritable and ill-tempered, Valerian reveals moments of tenderness toward Willow. He drives much of the plot and, despite denying being a magician, appears to use hypnotic techniques such as over the Master of Burials’ secretary. He is tall with silver hair.
Kepler, once Valerian's companion from their time at the "Academy," pretends loyalty but ultimately resolves that Valerian must perish. Their bitter rivalry stems from a past dispute over a woman named Helena. Kepler is characterized as small and thin with several gold teeth.
Sequel
The Dark Flight Down, the follow-up novel, addresses numerous unanswered questions from The Book of the Dead Days, such as the enigma of the Phantom. Additionally, it develops the relationship between Boy and Willow, leading to their mutual declaration of love and Boy uncovering the identity of his biological father.