Class, Magic, and Betrayal in And He Shall Appear

And He Shall Appear by Kate van der Borgh is a fascinating read, blending gothic fantasy with a sharp critique of the British class system.

Synopsis: And He Shall Appear

Kate van der Borgh is a haunting exploration of obsessive friendship, dark magic, and how we shape our past into myths.

When a first-year student arrives at Cambridge, he immediately feels out of place. The traditions—the punting, the politics, the wine and waistcoats—seem familiar to everyone but him. Then he meets Bryn Cavendish.

Bryn is a notorious partygoer and a gifted magician, exuding a magnetic charm that pulls people into his orbit. Life with Bryn means indulging in a world of freedom and ecstasy, untouched by rules. But being cast out of his circle is a different story—you become a ghost haunting the edges of campus life.

As the year progresses, Bryn’s magic grows darker and more dangerous, and the question that lingers is whether Bryn’s charm is the source of his power or if something much darker is fuelling his influence.

Review: And He Shall Appear

And He Shall Appear by Kate van der Borgh is a gothic fantasy novel set against the backdrop of the prestigious Cambridge University. It explores themes of class, privilege, and self-reinvention through the lens of a narrator who is both an outsider and a participant in a world of wealth and intellectual elite.

And He Shall Appear Overview

The story follows an unnamed narrator, who comes from a working-class background, as he enters the exclusive world of Cambridge University. This new environment provides him with an opportunity to reinvent himself, shedding his past and adopting a more refined persona. He is soon captivated by Bryn, a charismatic and enigmatic magician whose supernatural abilities may stretch beyond the limits of the ordinary world. However, their relationship becomes entangled with dark events, culminating in Bryn’s death, an event the narrator may be responsible for.

The novel is structured around two timelines: the first is set during the narrator’s time at university, and the second takes place several years later when he returns for a dinner. The shift between these timelines is clearly marked at the beginning of each chapter, which helps to maintain clarity as the narrative unfolds. Through this dual timeline, the story slowly reveals the complexities of the narrator’s relationship with Bryn, as well as the consequences of their actions.

And He Shall Appear Themes and Style

One of the core themes of And He Shall Appear is the exploration of the British class system, particularly how it manifests at elite institutions like Cambridge. The narrator’s working-class roots provide a stark contrast to the world of privilege he finds himself in, and his observations about this divide are central to the novel’s commentary on class, power, and identity. The narrative allows the reader to understand the class struggles of the protagonist without fully understanding his background, creating a sense of mystery around his character.

The novel leans into the Dark Academia genre, combining elements of gothic fantasy with the intellectual and often melancholic atmosphere of elite academic settings. This helps create a tense, introspective tone throughout the story, and the exploration of supernatural elements adds a layer of intrigue. While not overtly a gothic novel in the traditional sense, it uses gothic aesthetics to craft a haunting atmosphere that underscores the protagonist’s inner turmoil and the mysterious nature of his relationships.

Narrative Techniques in And He Shall Appear

Kate van der Borgh’s choice to tell the story from a single perspective makes the narrative deeply subjective. The reader only knows what the narrator knows, and the sense of misunderstanding and misinterpretation plays a crucial role in the unfolding mystery. The use of unreliable elements, while not overtly emphasized, is woven into the story, leading the reader to question both the narrator’s motivations and the events that transpire.

The intertwining timelines help to reveal the gradual evolution of the narrator’s understanding of the events that happened in the past, while also showcasing the lingering consequences of those actions in the present. This creates a dynamic and unfolding narrative that keeps the reader engaged, constantly reevaluating their understanding of the characters and events.

Final Thoughts And He Shall Appear

And He Shall Appear is a fascinating read, blending gothic fantasy with a sharp critique of the British class system. Through its single-perspective narrative, it allows for deep immersion into the protagonist’s inner world while exploring the complex relationships and mysterious events surrounding him. The use of Dark Academia aesthetics and the supernatural elements of the story add a layer of depth, making this novel not only an exploration of class and privilege but also a compelling, atmospheric mystery.

For readers who enjoy a mix of psychological complexity, suspense, and gothic flair, And He Shall Appear is well worth the read. It’s a novel that invites introspection while offering an intriguing narrative that challenges perceptions of both character and society.

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