In Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti’s Dark Fae, the pursuit of vengeance is portrayed as a corrupting force that pulls individuals into the very systems of violence they seek to dismantle. The novel argues that a single-minded quest for retribution erodes one’s morality and humanity, forcing them to adopt the same cruel methods as their abusers. Through Elise’s transformation, Ryder’s history, and Gareth’s tragic backstory, the narrative illustrates a self-perpetuating cycle where the survivors of a dehumanizing world become its next perpetrators, suggesting that true justice cannot be found by simply repeating the patterns of abuse.

Elise’s mission to avenge her brother’s death leads to her moral decay. Grief-stricken and abandoned by a dismissive police force, she takes matters into her own hands. However, her methods quickly begin to mirror the cruelty she seeks to punish. She recognizes this shift within herself during her interrogation of Lorenzo. After cracking his bones, she reflects, “I shouldn’t have liked it. But I did. I was a cruel, twisted creature now. And it felt good” (14). This admission is a critical point in her transformation. She is no longer just a grieving sister but someone who derives satisfaction from inflicting pain. Her initial desire for answers becomes secondary to a thirst for violence, blurring the line between justice and sadism. Her internal corrosion highlights the novel’s argument that engaging with a violent system on its own terms inevitably reshapes one’s character in its image.

While Elise represents the beginning of this dangerous cycle, Ryder embodies its grim conclusion. His obsession with pain and lust, which he wears tattooed on his knuckles, is the direct result of past abuse. His traumatic childhood was marked by torture and confinement: “Me in that box. Screaming. By the sun, how I’d fucking screamed. […] Every time I stepped out of line, I went in that fucking box in the garage” (204). This experience has fundamentally altered him, making pain a necessity for both his magical replenishment and his emotional coping. He perpetuates this cycle by using his own powers, particularly his hypnotic abilities, to dominate and psychologically torment others, mirroring the control once exerted over him. Ryder’s character is a warning that the dehumanization suffered by a survivor can fester into a need to dehumanize others, thereby ensuring the continuation of the cycle.

Even characters with noble intentions like Gareth are not immune to this corrupting cycle. His backstory reveals a desperate attempt to protect his family from the exploitative hierarchy of their world. To prevent Elise from being forced into sex work to pay off their mother’s debt, Gareth accepts an exploitative deal and begins working for the violent gangs at Aurora Academy. His protectiveness toward Elise pulls him into a criminal underworld that ultimately leads to his death. His demise, in turn, triggers Elise’s own descent into violence, completing the circle. Gareth’s fate demonstrates that, within this brutal social structure, even acts of love and sacrifice can inadvertently fuel the cycle of dehumanization and abuse.