Jade Cabinet

In The Jade Cabinet, Etheria's life takes a dramatic turn when her father trades her for jade, leading to a journey of memory and desire.

In The Jade Cabinet, Etheria, a captivating young woman, finds her life irrevocably changed when she is traded for a piece of precious jade by her eccentric father. Her sister, Memory, narrates the tale, revealing a childhood filled with whimsical adventures inspired by Lewis Carroll and a peculiar orangutan named Dr. Johnson. However, their idyllic upbringing is overshadowed by the unsettling courtship of Radulph Tubbs, the Dragon of Industry favored by Queen Victoria. This stark contrast between the enchanting and the grotesque sets the stage for a richly layered narrative.

The story unfolds across diverse landscapes, from the academic halls of Oxford to the mysterious tombs of Egypt, where one million ibis mummies lie in wait to be repurposed as fertilizer. As the plot thickens, readers encounter Baconfield, an architect whose ambitions lead to a disastrous pyramid collapse, and a vengeful hunger artist who communicates in tongues, seeking retribution for his grievances. This intricate tapestry weaves together themes of memory, desire, language, and power, inviting readers to reflect on the complexities of human experience.

The Jade Cabinet serves as the fourth installment in a tetralogy that includes Earth (The Stain), Fire (Entering Fire), and Water (The Fountains of Neptune). Accompanying the novel is an afterword titled Waking to Eden, where the author, Ducornet, shares insights into her creative process and the connections between the four novels, enriching the reader's understanding of this captivating work.