The Blacktongue Thief

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. How did Kinch’s witty, roguish tone affect your reading experience? Was his unreliability confusing or amusing?

2. What did you think of the novel’s blend of grimdark fantasy and witty humor? If you’ve read Christopher Buehlman’s acclaimed horror novel Between Two Fires, how did his style in this fantasy setting compare to his writing in other genres?

3. What aspect of the world-building did you find to be most compelling or original, and why?

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

1. Kinch’s life is defined by his crushing debt to the Takers Guild, which dictates his choices and limits his freedom. How does his struggle against a seemingly inescapable system resonate with you, especially in a world where many people face their own forms of financial or social obligation?

2. The theme of Finding Loyalty in Unlikely Alliances is central to the story. Think about the bond that forms between Kinch, Galva, Norrigal, and even Malk. Have you ever formed a strong connection or friendship with someone you initially saw as a rival or simply as a very different person?

3. Many characters must strategically hide parts of their identity to survive. When have you felt the need to conceal parts of yourself in order to navigate a specific situation or environment?

4. Which character’s approach to moral compromise did you relate to most, and why? Do you see more of yourself in Kinch’s pragmatism, Galva’s structured code of honor, or Malk’s initial rigidity?

5. Throughout their journey, the Galtish characters use their native language and shared cultural references to form meaningful bonds. What roles do shared stories, jokes, or a unique way of speaking play in the communities or friendships you’re a part of?

6. Kinch’s patron god, Fothannon, is a trickster figure who values being amused over being praised. Does this philosophy appeal to you? Why or why not?

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

1. How does the Takers Guild’s system of debt peonage reflect real-world economic systems, past or present? What does the novel suggest about the willingness of powerful institutions to use debt as a form of control?

2. The world of Manreach is profoundly shaped by the trauma of the Goblin Wars, which led to a demographic crisis and the rise of predatory guilds. What parallels do you see in how real-world societies have been altered by major conflicts?

3. The city of Grevitsa shows a tense but functional coexistence between humans and goblins, complete with its own brutal, ritualized rules, such as “the pull.” What does this aspect of the story imply about real-world attempts by different factions to coexist amidst underlying hostility?

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

1. What do the different magical tattoos reveal about the ways in which power, identity, and obligation are expressed in this world? Consider Kinch’s debtor’s mark, Galva’s sleeper tattoo, and Sesta’s arsenal of glyphs.

2. The novel uses horses to represent both a lost, golden age and a tangible symbol of hope and rebirth? How and why does this shift take place?

3. How does the nonlinear temporal relationship between Norrigal and Deadlegs challenge typical fantasy narratives about mentorship and causality?

4. How does this novel embrace the conventions of the grimdark genre, and where does it subvert them? If you’re familiar with other grimdark authors like Joe Abercrombie, how does Buehlman’s approach to morally ambiguous characters and a bleak world compare?

5. The Takers Guild is implied to be responsible for the plague that wiped out the horses. How did this information reframe your understanding of the Guild’s power and the novel’s central conflict?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Galva’s war corvid is hidden as a “sleeper” tattoo. If you were to design a similar magical tattoo for yourself, what animal or object would it be, and what personal strength or hidden quality would it represent?

2. Imagine you are a Cipher and have just opened The Book of the Full Shadow. What dark secret about the world would you most want to learn from its pages, and what would you do with that dangerous knowledge?

3. Picture yourself joining Kinch’s party on their journey into Oustrim. What unique skill or “birth-gift” would you contribute to the group’s survival, and how might you get along with the other members?