Salem's Secret Society Legacy

In the aftermath of the Salem Witch Trials, a clandestine brotherhood called the Brethren is formed by the families who orchestrated the executions. Their purpose: to protect themselves from the supposed threat of witches and to consolidate power. Over generations, the Brethren's influence grows, their rituals and bloodlines binding them together in a web of secrecy, violence, and control. The story opens in modern-day Salem, where the children of these legacy families attend an elite university, their lives dictated by ancient oaths and the ever-present threat of retribution from both within and outside their ranks.

Rituals, Blood, and Betrayal

Skyla Parris, the only daughter of an Elder family, is forced into a brutal marriage ceremony with Asher Putnam, heir to the most ruthless Brethren line. The ritual is a public display of dominance, pain, and humiliation, designed to break her spirit and bind her to Asher. Asher, torn between his own feelings and the expectations of his father and the Brethren, inflicts cruelty on Skyla to protect them both from suspicion. The ceremony leaves Skyla physically and emotionally scarred, setting the tone for a relationship built on trauma, secrecy, and the constant threat of violence.

Shattered Hearts, Silent Suffering

Skyla's pain is met with the fierce protectiveness of her lovers—Liam, Ronan, and Vincent—each of whom is entangled in the Brethren's world in their own way. Asher's betrayal devastates Skyla, but her other partners rally around her, offering comfort and plotting retribution. The group's bonds deepen as they navigate the dangerous politics of the Brethren, their love for Skyla putting them all at risk. Asher, meanwhile, is tormented by guilt and longing, his actions alienating him from both Skyla and his friends.

The Brethren's Brutal Bond

The Brethren's grip tightens as Skyla and Asher are both subjected to public punishment for perceived disobedience. Asher is whipped by his father, and Skyla, in an act of defiance and love, throws herself over him, taking the blows meant for him. Their shared suffering forges a new, fragile understanding between them, but also marks them as targets within the Brethren. The group's unity is tested as they struggle to protect Skyla from both internal and external threats, all while navigating the expectations of their families and the society that controls them.

Fractured Loyalties, Forbidden Love

Skyla's relationships with her lovers become increasingly complex as jealousy, trauma, and the need for secrecy strain their bonds. Asher's attempts at redemption are met with suspicion, while Vincent's violent protectiveness and Ronan's steadfast devotion offer Skyla solace. Liam's easygoing nature masks his own pain and insecurities. The group's unconventional love is both a source of strength and a liability, as the Brethren's rules leave no room for deviation from tradition.

Stalked in the Shadows

Amidst the chaos of their personal lives, Skyla becomes the target of a relentless stalker. The stalker's messages grow increasingly bold and violent, culminating in a near-fatal attack on Liam when his car's brakes are sabotaged. The group realizes the threat is not just to Skyla, but to all of them. Their efforts to unmask the stalker are hampered by the Brethren's insularity and the ever-present danger of exposure. Paranoia and fear take hold as the stalker's obsession escalates.

The Harem's Dangerous Game

Skyla's lovers—each with their own traumas and secrets—find solace and escape in their physical connection to her and, increasingly, to each other. The boundaries between friendship, love, and lust blur as the group experiments with their desires, using intimacy as both a shield and a weapon against the darkness surrounding them. Their unconventional arrangement is a rebellion against the Brethren's rigid rules, but it also makes them more vulnerable to attack from within and without.

Trauma, Trust, and Temptation

Asher and Skyla's relationship evolves from one of pain and betrayal to tentative trust and mutual need. The group's shared trauma binds them together, but also threatens to tear them apart as old wounds and new dangers surface. Skyla's struggle to reclaim agency over her body and her life is mirrored by her lovers' battles with their own demons. The arrival of Skyla's aunt, Stephanie, brings new revelations about the past and the true nature of the Brethren's curse.

The Stalker's Deadly Warning

The stalker's campaign intensifies with the delivery of a rose and a chilling note to Skyla in class, followed by the disappearance of a classmate, Andrew, who becomes the prime suspect. The group's investigation leads them to question everyone around them, including their own families. As the stalker's identity remains elusive, the sense of impending doom grows. The Brethren's history of violence and secrecy casts a long shadow over the present, and Skyla realizes that the threat may be closer than anyone suspects.

Family Secrets Unearthed

Skyla's search for answers about her mother, Giselle, uncovers a web of obsession, betrayal, and murder that implicates the highest ranks of the Brethren. Old love triangles, forbidden affairs, and unresolved vendettas come to light, revealing that the curse of the Brethren is not just superstition, but the result of generations of violence and repression. The group's investigation points to Clark Lewis, a man with a history of obsession with Giselle, as a possible suspect, but the truth remains maddeningly out of reach.

The Hunt for the Hunter

The group's pursuit of the stalker becomes a race against time as they interrogate suspects, confront their own families, and risk everything to protect Skyla. Vincent's skills as an eliminator are put to the test as he employs brutal methods to extract information. The lines between justice and revenge blur as the group is forced to confront the darkness within themselves and the society that made them. The Brethren's legacy of violence threatens to consume them all.

Escape, Capture, and Consequence

Desperate to protect her lovers, Skyla attempts to flee Salem, only to be hunted down and forcibly returned by Vincent. Her escape triggers a cascade of consequences, including brutal interrogations, shifting alliances, and the realization that there is no true safety within or outside the Brethren's grasp. The group's unity is tested as trust is broken and rebuilt, and the cost of survival becomes ever higher.

The Final Revelation

In a shocking climax, Skyla is drugged and abducted from her own home. As she awakens in the back of a car, she comes face to face with her stalker—someone she never suspected, whose obsession with her mother has twisted into a deadly fixation on Skyla herself. The story ends on a cliffhanger, with Skyla's fate uncertain and the full extent of the Brethren's curse still to be uncovered.

Characters

Skyla Parris

Skyla is the daughter of an Elder family, marked from birth as a pawn in the Brethren's power games. Her beauty and lineage make her both a prize and a target. Forced into a violent marriage with Asher, she endures trauma and humiliation, but refuses to be broken. Her relationships with Liam, Ronan, Vincent, and eventually Wesley form the core of her support system, offering her love, protection, and a sense of agency. Skyla's journey is one of reclaiming power over her own body and destiny, even as she is hunted by forces both human and supernatural. Her psychological complexity is rooted in her struggle to balance vulnerability with strength, and her willingness to sacrifice herself for those she loves.

Asher Putnam

Asher is the heir to the most feared Brethren family, raised to be ruthless and unfeeling. His relationship with Skyla is fraught with violence, guilt, and longing. Forced to hurt her to protect them both, Asher is trapped by his father's expectations and his own fear of vulnerability. His journey is one of painful self-discovery, as he grapples with his capacity for love and the consequences of his actions. Asher's development is marked by his struggle to reconcile his inherited brutality with his desire for redemption and connection.

Liam Walcott

Liam is Skyla's sunshine, offering levity and warmth in a world of darkness. His easygoing nature masks deep insecurities and a desperate need for acceptance. Liam's willingness to share Skyla with his friends is both a testament to his open-heartedness and a reflection of his fear of being left behind. His near-fatal accident at the hands of the stalker forces him to confront his own mortality and the limits of his optimism. Liam's psychological arc is one of learning to value himself as much as he values others.

Ronan Putnam

Ronan, Asher's uncle, is a former Olympic swimmer and a man marked by tragedy. His past engagement to a woman who was murdered for trying to escape the Brethren has left him wary and fiercely protective of Skyla. Ronan's love is steady and unconditional, but his capacity for violence is always simmering beneath the surface. His role as a mentor and enforcer within the Brethren puts him at odds with his own conscience. Ronan's development centers on his struggle to balance duty with love, and his willingness to defy the Brethren for Skyla's sake.

Vincent Griggs

Vincent is the Brethren's most feared assassin, a man shaped by loss and violence. His love for Skyla is possessive and all-consuming, driving him to both protect and punish her. Vincent's psychological complexity lies in his struggle to reconcile his capacity for brutality with his need for connection. His willingness to use violence as a means of control is both a strength and a weakness, and his journey is one of learning to trust and be vulnerable.

Wesley

Wesley is Ronan's childhood friend and Skyla's driver, a Navy SEAL with a mysterious past. His growing feelings for Skyla put him at odds with the rest of the group, but his loyalty and competence make him an invaluable ally. Wesley's outsider status allows him to see the Brethren's world with clear eyes, and his willingness to risk everything for Skyla marks him as a true protector. His psychological arc is one of seeking acceptance and love in a world that values neither.

Stephanie (Aunt Steph)

Stephanie is Skyla's aunt and surrogate mother, a woman who escaped the Brethren's clutches but remains haunted by its legacy. Her knowledge of the past and her warnings about the dangers facing Skyla provide crucial context for the group's struggle. Stephanie's inability to fully protect Skyla is a source of deep guilt and sorrow, and her character embodies the generational trauma inflicted by the Brethren.

Clark Lewis

Clark is a member of the Brethren with a long-standing obsession with Skyla's mother, Giselle. His fixation on Skyla as a reincarnation of his lost love makes him a prime suspect in the stalking. Clark's character represents the dangers of unchecked desire and the ways in which the past can warp the present.

Andrew Hutchinson

Andrew is a classmate of Skyla's, initially suspected of being the stalker due to his awkward infatuation with her. His sudden disappearance and the revelation that he was forced to flee the country complicate the group's investigation. Andrew's character highlights the paranoia and mistrust that pervade the Brethren's world.

Christopher Putnam

Asher's father and the head of the Brethren, Christopher is a man who rules through fear and violence. His expectations shape Asher's actions and the group's fate. Christopher's own obsession with Giselle and his willingness to sacrifice anyone for power make him both a suspect and a symbol of the Brethren's corruption.

Plot Devices

Generational Trauma and Secret Societies

The narrative is structured around the legacy of the Salem Witch Trials and the secret society that arose from them. The Brethren's rituals, rules, and punishments are both a source of power and a curse, shaping the destinies of their descendants. The story uses flashbacks, family secrets, and the uncovering of hidden histories to drive the plot and deepen the psychological complexity of the characters.

Polyamory and Power Dynamics

Skyla's relationships with multiple lovers serve as both a source of strength and a point of vulnerability. The group's unconventional arrangement is a direct challenge to the Brethren's rules, and their intimacy is depicted as both healing and dangerous. The shifting power dynamics within the group mirror the larger struggles for control and autonomy in the Brethren's world.

Stalker Mystery and Red Herrings

The central mystery of the stalker's identity is maintained through the use of red herrings, false leads, and shifting suspicions. The narrative employs foreshadowing, unreliable narrators, and the gradual revelation of clues to keep both the characters and the reader guessing. The stalker's escalating violence and obsession create a sense of impending doom that drives the story forward.

Violence, Ritual, and Punishment

The Brethren's use of ritualized violence—both public and private—serves as a means of enforcing obedience and maintaining power. The characters' experiences of pain, both inflicted and endured, are central to their development and relationships. The story explores the psychological impact of trauma and the ways in which suffering can both bind and break people.

Cliffhangers and Nonlinear Storytelling

The narrative is punctuated by cliffhangers, abrupt revelations, and shifts in perspective. The use of multiple narrators allows for a deep exploration of each character's psyche, while the nonlinear structure heightens suspense and emotional intensity. The story's refusal to offer easy answers or resolutions mirrors the complexity of the world it depicts.

Analysis

Descent is a dark, erotic, and psychologically charged exploration of generational trauma, power, and the search for agency within a world built on violence and secrecy. By reimagining the legacy of the Salem Witch Trials as a curse that haunts the descendants of both the accusers and the accused, the novel interrogates the ways in which history shapes identity and destiny. The polyamorous relationships at the heart of the story serve as both a rebellion against patriarchal control and a source of vulnerability, highlighting the dangers and rewards of intimacy in a world that punishes deviation. The stalker mystery, with its red herrings and shifting suspicions, reflects the paranoia and mistrust that pervade the Brethren's society, while the use of ritualized violence and punishment underscores the psychological cost of survival. Ultimately, Descent is a story about the struggle to reclaim power and love in the face of overwhelming darkness, and the ways in which the past can both destroy and redeem.

Last updated: May 27, 2025