Volume 2: The Secret History

Inspired by Donna Tartt’s debut novel The Secret History, PETAL’s second volume ventures into a world of shadows and secrets. A broad exploration of the lingering influence of bygone eras on our modern world, Volume 2 will traverse themes of tradition, lore, aestheticism, and memory. Rooted in classic literature, gothic motifs, and the grandeur of myth, it examines the ways history and storytelling continue to shape the present. From tales of mystery, ritual, and the allure of the elite to reflections on heritage, society, and identity, it embraces both the shadows and the light. Interwoven with threads of fantasy, academia, art history, and our enduring fascination with what came before, unfolds as a meditation on beauty, society, and the lasting presence of the past in the present.