SPOILER ALERT!
The following article may indicate or reveal significant events in the story. Read at your own risk!
- "If you can find the confidence to trust yourself, you can make it through any situation, no matter how bad things may seem."
- —Karen's advice to Emily Hayes in The Cloud Searchers
Karen Hayes (カレン・ヘイズ Karen Hayes) is a major character appearing in the Amulet graphic-novel series created by Kazu Kibuishi. She is the mother of Emily and Navin Hayes and the former wife of the late David Hayes.
She has played a notable part in the success of The Resistance, to whom Navin is in charge of, and travelled for days on end in search of the Guardian Council, aboard the Luna Moth. She has refused to leave her children's side as they navigate Alledia.
History[]
The Stonekeeper[]
After her husband died in a car crash one fatal night, Karen took up the task of raising her two children on her own. As raising two kids alone in the city proved itself to be a challenge, Karen decided to move into late her grandfather Silas's house, in Norlen.
The night she and her family moved in, she was abducted by an arachnopod ordered to bring her to the Elf King. While in the beast, she was stung and poisoned by the potent venom, resulting in her falling into a comatose state. She was soon rescued by Emily, who had learned to harness the Amulet for the first time.
The Stonekeeper's Curse[]
In The Stonekeeper's Curse, Emily retrieves the fruit of a Gadoba Tree and uses it to revive her. Once healed, she officially declares that she and Navin will stay with her in Alledia until she completes her mission of freeing it from the Elf King's cold grip.
The Cloud Searchers[]
After the events of Book 2, Karen finds herself traveling to the mythical lost city of Cielis in search of the legendary Guardian Council, accompanying Emily, Navin, the gruff airship owner Enzo, his assistant Rico, Leon, and the others. Prince Trellis, who has reluctantantly joined their forces in hopes of stopping the Elf King alongside Emily, sails along with them. She sees him as but an unruly and troubled teenager when he lashes out occasionally, stomping off from the scene.
After a brief pitstop at Selina's Station, they are back on route to Cielis. They make a stop at Beacon Temple, where Karen and Rico are caught off guard while cooking a meal aboard the ship by Gabilan, a skilled bounty-hunter hired by The Elf King. Before the Battle at Beacon Tower occurs, she is tied up and used by Gabilan as leverage until the Army of Gulfen arrives.
Immediately after being rescued by Emily and Trellis, and Gabilan is temporarily stalled, she and the rest of the crew are introduced to Max Griffin, and he transports them shortly after to Cielis.
Characteristics[]
Appearance[]
Karen is a slim older woman with a tall face, short, choppy blonde hair and fair skin. She has dark eyes and is relatively tall.
Personality[]
Karen is fiercely protective over her two children, sacrificing her safety for them. She also proved herself brave as she joined them in the ongoing battle against the Elf King, in order to fulfill their destiny. She feels obligated to keep her children safe above her own self, and is a determined and loyal ally to many around her. She is logical and kind-hearted, even to those she considers strangers.
Trivia[]
- She has grown accustomed to sleepless nights following the untimely death of David, as she tells Emily in The Cloud Searchers.