Architecture plays a large role in the narrative. Consider Highclere Castle and the monumental follies that adorn its grounds, as well as Howard Carter’s residence in Egypt. How do these structures contribute to the novel’s themes?

Hatshepsut eventually eschews all female attire to be fully accepted as pharaoh, donning a gold beard and even binding her chest. Evaluate Eve’s clothing choices as well as those of other women such as Safiya Zaghloul or Mrs. Seton. How is clothing symbolic?

Evaluate the roles of Senenmut and Brograve Beauchamp. What do their characters suggest about women’s ambitions and leadership?

Both Porchey and Eve defy their parents’ expectations of them. Evaluate the similarities and differences between Porchey’s decision to marry into financial instability and Eve’s choices about pursuing archaeology.

In order to fully assume her power as pharaoh, Hatshepsut must dress like a man. What other paradoxes exist in the narrative? Consider both the ancient and modern timelines.

Examine the complex partnership between Lord Carnarvon and Howard Carter. What does their relationship—defined by class difference, financial dependence, and conflicting motivations—suggest about colonial-era archaeology?

Do the culminating sacrifices made by Eve and Hatshepsut reinforce gender expectations in a patriarchal society or do they redefine female power?

How does the political turmoil of the British Protectorate function as more than a historical backdrop in the novel?