Fallen

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of death.

Luce, the 17-year-old protagonist of Fallen, has unexpectedly found herself at the Sword & Cross reform school after a mysterious fire killed one of her peers. Luce has pale skin and dark hair that has been freshly cut short after the fire. Luce’s arrival at Sword & Cross marks the beginning of her journey to demystifying her past, her strange feelings, and the shadows she sees. On her first day at reform school, Luce encounters the handsome and charming Cam and the mysterious yet alluring Daniel. Luce likes that Cam gives her attention and makes her feel comfortable. However, things with Daniel are more intense, as Luce feels like “[s]he recognize[s] him from somewhere” (40). Luce’s near-supernatural attraction to Daniel keeps her entranced by him, even when he is standoffish with her.

With the help of her new friend Penn, Luce’s relationship with Daniel progresses despite his demeanor. With Penn’s guidance, Luce delves into Daniel’s file and eventually gets her hands on a book written by Daniel himself, which becomes an essential part of her acceptance of the truth about her and Daniel.