The Characters
Who is who in the world of Hollydeva? Here you will find the people, masters and beings of the series, grouped by place and allegiance.
As of the beginning of Book 2, “Eremitess Hollydeva”. If you have not read Book 1 yet, this page reveals some of how it ends.
Hollydeva and Her Family
Hollydeva
Novicess in the Yana of the Ravens on Linden Island. She speaks with plants, animals and devas, has a dry sense of humour and little patience with people. At the end of Book 1 she kills Abbess Tilia and flees with Master Finster.
Seren Tondeuse
Hollydeva’s father, Grand Inquisitor of the Nine Nacharya. He took her in at the age of nine and trained her at Georgeburg Castle. Struck by a wizardeurs’ curse, he is recovering only slowly.
Rosa de Valmere
Hollydeva’s mother, garden mistress of Linden Island. She never wanted to be a gardener; she wanted to be “a wild animal”. Her bond with her daughter is a difficult one.
Nacharya Daman
Hollydeva’s uncle and her mother’s brother, guardian of the Yana of the Lambs. A powerful champion of the Church of the OneGod.
- Einar, Adept Avela – Hollydeva’s eldest brother, missing since Book 1
- Baldar, Adept Eragrostis – Hollydeva’s second brother
- Algard, called Granna – Hollydeva’s grandmother, once Maestra Malus; the only one who loved her without conditions
The First-Year Novices
Aquaria
Spokeswoman of her year, ambitious and strategic. She means to become abbess of Linden Island one day, and she is drawn to the Tigers, where her secret lover Master Sycamor teaches.
Ariëa
Daughter of a dervish from Timbuktu, brave and outspoken; she likes to open with an exclamation. Her elder sister Miona lives among the wizardeurs.
Tauro
Son of an Italian businessman. He loves to eat, sprinkles his speech with Italian and wants to prove to everyone what he is worth, with tricks if need be.
Gemina
She lived on the streets until Prior Anguinaga brought her to the island. Every sentence she speaks begins with a hiss: “Zss.”
Cancra
Small, quick-witted and from Chyna. She speaks in telegram style, cooks with fire and is a master of kung fu.
Leo
Crown prince of the Ice Kingdom and son of the ice sorceress Sigfreya. He speaks of himself as “We” and is in love with Prioress Shyena.
Virgo
Raised in a travelling commedia troupe, a joker given to absurd exclamations. He cannot yet speak with the bees, for they demand seriousness.
Libra
Sent to the island by the Guild of Midwives. She loves gardens and flowers, and she carries a secret mission.
Sagittario
Sober, scientific and technically gifted. He wants to write a science of mysticism.
Capricornus
He fights to protect wild animals and is counselled by his goddess Iëmanjá. When he speaks, he draws out his A’s.
Piscio
An orphan and once the ferryman’s ship’s boy, who turns out to be the son of Oaëia, queen of the Nereids. He talks with small animals and loves diminutives.
- Hollydeva, Novicess Scorpio – Yana of the Ravens – see above
At the Caldera Refuge
Master Finster
A “Black Mystic”, once Prior of the Sharks on Linden Island as Master Shishumara. He teaches that the world is a game, and lives with a small community in an extinct volcanic crater in the Silver Land.
Kalima
A being from the Otherworld who can enter and leave this world through secret doors. The crater belongs to her. She and Hollydeva share a history that reaches far beyond this life.
- Chiyona – one of the seekers in the crater
The Nine Nacharya
Nacharya Peredur
Master Finster’s son, guardian of the Dragons and Hollydeva’s most reliable protector. He watches over the Sacred Valley.
Nacharya Saphed
Guardian of the Dolphins and the adversary of the series. He wants to build a simulation within the simulation so that this world can never be shut down.
The Bhogi
Guardian of the Bees, Hollydeva’s friend and mentor. He died at the end of Book 1 and left her his medallion.
- Nononn – primus inter pares of the Nacharya, murdered in Book 1
- Onthronn Achmar – guardian of the Tigers, held captive in Mount Lead
- Tworonn Daman – guardian of the Lambs, Hollydeva’s uncle
- Dresonn Tatu Njena – guardian of the Angels, keeper of the Sacred Valley
- Verionn Quavert – guardian of the Snakes
- Sessionn Rokudan Aoi – guardian of the Ravens
The Masters of Linden Island
Maestra Corvanya
Hollydeva’s most important teacher on the island: strict, direct and warm beneath the surface.
Master Ulmus
Deputy abbot and bursar of the monastery. He has no wish to become abbot.
Maestra Fraxina
She belongs to no yana and brings the paths of the others together.
Master Sycamor
Teacher of the Inner Way in the Yana of the Tigers, and Aquaria’s secret lover.
Maestra Simhana
An experienced master and a candidate for abbess.
Abbess Tilia
The former abbess, Vritra of the dragons. She died by Hollydeva’s hand at the end of Book 1.
- Master Platanus – cellarer of the monastery
- Maestra Arla – cameraria
- Master Quercus – master of the watch
- Master Alyapis – Prior of the Bees
- Master Anguinaga – Prior of the Snakes
- Maestra Sura – Prioress of the Angels
- Maestra Urana – Prioress of the Lambs
- Master Baghora – Prior of the Tigers
- Maestra Shyena – Prioress of the Dragons
- Professor Griseo – Prior of the Dolphins
- Master Abiës – master of the martial arts, Yana of the Tigers
- Master Fagus – master of geomancy and building, Yana of the Dragons
- Master Salix – teacher of healing, Yana of the Snakes
- Maestra Betula – teacher of divination, Yana of the Angels
- Master Cedrus – teacher of the mental martial arts
- Adept Felisa – formerly Novicess Bagatto, Yana of the Tigers
- Adept Opalia – Yana of the Bees
- The cooks – Emily, Maisy, Marjorie, Raelyn, Babette, Laenna
Aquaria’s Family and the Counter Island Avalonya
Brannifer
Aquaria’s mother, formerly a master of the Dragons. Together with other masters who were driven from Linden Island, she wants to found the counter island Avalonya.
Envin
Aquaria’s quiet father, formerly a master of the Ravens.
Mannech
Aquaria’s uncle, formerly a master of the Dolphins.
- Henliam – Aquaria’s younger brother
- Swany – Mannech’s wife
- Branton Llewin – Aquaria’s missing fiancé
- Master Abeilleur – master of the Bees
- Maestra Vasuki – master of the Snakes
Druyds, Nereids and Other Allies
- Medea – seer of the Druyds
- Odiën – a Druyd
- Thoro and Loke – Druyds
- Oaëia – queen of the Nereids, Piscio’s mother
- Kymothoë – ambassador of the Nereids
- Galene – Nereid of the windless calm
- Astrello – the star boy, Hollydeva’s friend
Alchymists and Wizardeurs
- Magia Negara, “Lady Black” – alchymist
- Doctor Albedo, “White” – alchymist
- Professor Rubedo (Ben Redding) – alchymist, master of Mount Lead
- Carbunculus – a young, wilful alchymist
- Fapha – Albedo’s wife, a scientist from another world
- Cevaine Mire – a young wizardeur of unknown origin
- Miona Yaboah – wizardeur, Ariëa’s elder sister
- Madame Owleya – wizardeur
- Andalf, the Theurg – wizardeur
- Charles Ostreaux – wizardeur, freelancer
This list grows with every book. Many characters carry a different name on Linden Island than in the world; the island name comes first.