Once upon a time, there was a malignant witch who resided in the west. She was known for her wickedness and dark magic. The witch had a reputation for spreading chaos and fear throughout the land. Many believed that she was born with a twisted soul and had chosen the path of evil. The witch's powers were unparalleled, and she used them for her own selfish desires. She would cast spells on innocent villagers, turning them into animals or placing them under her control.
She would cast spells on innocent villagers, turning them into animals or placing them under her control. It seemed as though no one could escape her wrath. The people of the west lived in constant fear of the witch's presence.
Dark Shadows in a Glittering Metropolis: Magic and Religion in Jaclyn Dolamore’s Dark Metropolis Series (a guest post for #FSYALit)
Today I am very excited to host a guest post as part of the #FSYALit Discussion on the Dark Metropolis series by Jaclyn Dolamore. Dark Metropolis is a book that I became familiar with as a Cybils judge and it is truly a fascinating book. Set in a dark world of fantasy, it adds a very interesting twist to the zombie tale while taking a very hard look at the issue of economic inequality. I could talk about this book forever, but instead let’s listen to what L. N. Holmes has to say. I’ve always been a fan of magic. As a Christian, that might be a controversial statement. The Bible has many verses rebuking magic and its practitioners. However, the fictional magic of fantasy novels is what I truly like, because it is an excellent literary device for examining the human condition.
SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENTTake, for example, the Harry Potter series. Some Christians despised it, but other Christians defended it as a “Book of Virtues with a preadolescent funny bone” and “a meaningful connection to the most significant principles of Christianity.” In the books, J. K. Rowling used magic as an avenue to discuss abuses of power and the consequences of good and evil choices. Jaclyn Dolamore also uses magic to discuss big ideas with her readers in her young adult series, Dark Metropolis. The heroine Thea, a waitress at a cabaret club in an alternate 1930s Germany, becomes unintentionally involved in a government conspiracy when her best friend, Nan, disappears. Freddy, a “reviver” that brings people back to life with his magical power, is connected to this conspiracy. When he starts frequenting the club where Thea works, the two form an unlikely duo against a city where people are gradually disappearing. Although not as famous or as polished as the Harry Potter series, Dolamore’s fantasy strongly relies on magic as a plot device. Neither inherently good nor evil, enchantments oftentimes serve the whims of the caster. There are people who choose to abuse it—the government in the first book and Ingrid and King Otto in Glittering Shadows (book two)—and others who simply use it for practical purposes. Many non-magic users are directly affected by these actions. In the books, Christianity and magic are not at odds. On the contrary, in Dark Metropolis, Thea notes that Father Gruneman of her church “reminded her of a fairy-tale creature himself, a wizard who had crawled out of a magic cave” (Dolamore 21) after he hands her a book of fairy tales. He later refers to Freddy’s magic as “a gift” (Dolamore 144). Father Gruneman embracing magic allows for him to deal with its existence objectively and take necessary action to help Thea and Freddy when they need it. Dolamore’s books focus more on Norse mythology than Christianity, however. This is subtly mentioned in Dark Metropolis and further explored in Glittering Shadows. Without giving too much away, the origin story of magic in book two is a direct nod to a specific Norse legend. The characters mirror the plot as they focus more on this mythology than religion. Ironically, it is an important character of book two that is connected to the Norse mythology that tries to explain the purpose of Christianity. Ingrid argues with Nan in book two that “even as you are looking for humanity in yourself, humans are looking to transcend those feelings inside of themselves. That’s why they go to church” (Dolamore, 194). While Ingrid’s motivations are not entirely pure during this argument, her ideas about religion may ring true for some Christians. Admittedly, the books were not always enjoyable reads. Oftentimes the plot dragged. Thea was irritatingly indecisive at times. There were many instances where the plot and character development could have been stronger. While the first book focused mostly on Thea and Freddy, Nan’s story was far more interesting. Finally, there were too many instances where the characters were too passive in their actions. That being said, Dolamore did well with portraying old stories in new ways. Her exploration into folklore, mythology, and religion—and how they intertwine—may be stimulating enough to readers to keep their interest. Fans of Cassandra Clare may also appreciate Dolamore’s style. Dolamore’s descriptions of magic were vastly different from Rowling’s, and yet I found it to be an interesting commentary. The serious tone in the Dark Metropolis series encouraged philosophical thought about these subjects without dictating answers for the readers. It created a world where magic and religion could co-exist.
They would lock their doors and windows, hoping to avoid her malevolent gaze. But no matter how hard they tried to hide, the witch would always find her victims. As the years went by, the witch grew stronger and bolder in her actions. She would terrorize entire villages, leaving destruction in her wake. The people cried out for help, but no one could stand against her dark powers. However, there was one brave soul who dared to challenge the witch. A young warrior named Lucas had heard of the witch's evil deeds and was determined to put an end to her reign of terror. With a sword in hand and courage in his heart, Lucas set off on a journey to confront the malignant witch. It was a long and treacherous journey, but Lucas pressed on. He faced numerous obstacles and encountered dangerous creatures along the way. But he never wavered in his resolve to defeat the witch and save the people from her clutches. Finally, Lucas reached the witch's lair. The air was thick with darkness, and the stench of evil filled the room. The witch, sensing his presence, turned to face him with a wicked grin. She threw her magic at him, but Lucas deflected it with his sword. A fierce battle ensued, with Lucas using all his strength and skill to defeat the witch. With one final strike, he plunged his sword into her heart, and the malignant witch of the west was no more. The people rejoiced at the news of the witch's demise. They were finally free from her tyranny and could live in peace once again. Lucas was hailed as a hero and was praised for his bravery. But the tale of the malignant witch of the west serves as a reminder that evil can lurk in the most unlikely places. It is up to us to stand against it and defend what is right, just as Lucas did..
Reviews for "The Dark Fairy Tale: The Fearsome Witch of the West in Once Upon a Time"
1. Emily - ★☆☆☆☆
I had high hopes for "Malignant Witch of the West Once Upon a Time," but unfortunately, it fell flat for me. The storyline was confusing and convoluted, making it difficult to follow and enjoy. The characters lacked depth and development, and I couldn't connect with any of them. The pacing was also off, with slow moments that seemed to drag on, followed by rushed and chaotic scenes. Overall, I found the movie to be a disappointing and forgettable experience.
2. Kevin - ★★☆☆☆
"Malignant Witch of the West Once Upon a Time" had potential, but it failed to deliver. The special effects were impressive, but that was the only redeeming factor of the film. The plot was predictable, and the twists felt forced and unnecessary. The dialogue was poorly written, often filled with cliches and cheesy one-liners. The acting was subpar, leaving the characters feeling flat and unengaging. I was left wanting more substance and originality from this film.
3. Samantha - ★☆☆☆☆
I regret wasting my time watching "Malignant Witch of the West Once Upon a Time." The concept sounded intriguing, but the execution was terrible. The movie lacked coherence, jumping from one scene to another without any clear connection. The acting was laughable, and the performances felt exaggerated and over-the-top. The attempts at humor fell flat, and I found myself cringing throughout the entire film. Save your money and skip this one, it's a disappointment.