Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. The novel features an older, practical heroine who is far from a typical “damsel in distress.” How does Halla compare to T. Kingfisher’s other protagonists, like Anja from Hemlock & Silver or Sam from A House With Good Bones?

2. How did the novel’s blend of witty banter and genuine danger affect the rhythm and pacing of the narrative?

3. What did you think of the book’s dark opening, where Halla summons Sarkis by attempting to die by suicide?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. What did you make of Halla’s strategy of using the rambling persona of a “stupid woman” to survive? Have you ever felt the need to perform a certain way in order to navigate a difficult social situation?

2. Were you drawn more to Halla’s practical knowledge or to Sarkis’s combat experience? Why?

3. What challenges did you foresee for Halla and Sarkis’s relationship, given his immortality? Have you ever had to navigate a difficult factor that threatened to jeopardize a personal relationship?

4. Halla’s journey requires her to reclaim her own agency after being defined by the limiting roles of wife and widow. What does personal freedom mean to you, and how do you assert your independence in the world?

5. Sarkis’s view of Halla’s questioning evolves from irritation to admiration. Has your perception of a personality trait in someone ever changed significantly as you got to know them better?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. How does Halla’s struggle for her inheritance reflect historical or modern challenges that women face regarding financial autonomy?

2. The Temple of the White Rat and the Order of the Hanged Mother represent two very different approaches to power. What point does the novel make about the role of organized religion in society?

3. Zale champions the law, while Sarkis relies on force. Which form of power is a more effective aid in Halla’s quest? Explain your answer.

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. Asking questions is central to Halla’s character. How does this quirk function as a plot device, a tool for characterization, and a statement about power?

2. How did the reveal of the sword’s inscription reframe your understanding of Sarkis’s centuries of service? Was his betrayal justified?

3. How do Sarkis’s character traits simultaneously conform to and subvert traditional romance tropes?

4. What narrative purpose does the uncanny journey through the Vagrant Hills serve?

5. Zale and Brindle are key allies. What unique skills does each character bring to the group?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. The epilogue warns of a “second sword.” What do you imagine this sword’s story is? Who might be bound to it, and what new adventure could it bring to Halla and Sarkis?

2. If you were Zale and had the task of writing a report on this case for the Temple of the White Rat, what would be your most significant observation?

3. What do you think would have happened if Alver or Bartholomew had been the one to initially draw the sword and summon Sarkis? How would the story have changed?