# Sylvia — The Book of Wonder character guide

> Sylvia in The Book of Wonder by Lord Dunsany.

**Role:** major

**First appearance:** 0016-the-wonderful-window

## Snapshot

A woman bound to a decaying tower and a deed that has summoned something out of the forest, waiting with the Sphinx for what comes.

## Who they are

Sylvia is caught in a house at the forest's edge, where a deed has been done and the arch-inquisitor of the forest is expected to answer it. She and her companions fuss uselessly at a rotting door while the Sphinx sits calm, having already seen her doom, and the narrator oils the lock to win their confidence. Her fate turns on whether the thing laughing in the dark can be kept out, and her stillness under prophecy gives the tale its chill.

## Relationships

### [Ackronnion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_wonder_se/characters/ackronnion)

_romantic_

Ackronnion and Sylvia share a tender romantic bond, with Ackronnion often protecting or pining for her.

## In the story

### [The Loot of Bombasharna](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_wonder_se/chapters/the-loot-of-bombasharna)

The Queen of the South; captured by Shard during the sack of Bombasharna, taken to the floating island, remains morose and nostalgic for her home.

### [The Quest of the Queen's Tears](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_wonder_se/chapters/the-quest-of-the-queen-s-tears)

Queen of the Woods who sets the quest of her tears, remaining unmoved by all suitors.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_wonder_se/characters/sylvia
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_wonder_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_book_of_wonder_se/characters