The Emperor's Enemy

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. The novel is the first in a duology and ends on a major cliffhanger. How did you feel about the abrupt ending? Did knowing it was part of a duology change your experience of the final, unresolved scene?

2. What was your first impression of the dynamic between Zora and Aleksander? Did you find their violent and obsessive relationship compelling, unsettling, or a mix of both, and what made you feel that way?

3. The book opens with a “Convocation” of mysterious beings and competing newspaper articles. How did this framing shape your expectations for Zora’s story before you officially met her in Chapter 1?

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

1. Zora operates by a personal set of rules for survival that she has codified from her harsh upbringing. Do you have any personal rules or principles that guide you through challenging situations?

2. What did you think about Zora’s constant struggle between her personal desire for freedom, like snowboarding, and her heavy sense of duty to her family and the Commonwealth? Have you ever felt a similar pull between your own wants and your responsibilities?

3. Amid the hostility of the Scorpion Hole, Zora finds a found family in the twins, Ella and Axel. What role do you think friendships like these play when someone is in a difficult or isolating environment? Compare this to examples of found family that you may have in your own life.

4. The people of Babilon greet Zora as a messianic hero, placing the immense pressure of their hopes on her. Think about a time you faced high expectations from others. How did that pressure affect your actions or your sense of self?

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

1. What does the revelation about the Marshal’s hereditary leadership suggest about the nature of power in the “Democratic Commonwealth”? How does the novel explore the difference between a society’s stated ideals and its political reality?

2. The theme of Violence as the Currency of Power suggests that in this world, force is the most effective language. How does the story show this principle shaping both the tyrannical Empire and the supposedly more civilized Commonwealth? Where do you see similar dynamics play out in real-world conflicts?

3. Jasmine Mas’s background in classical studies and law is reflected in the world’s structure, from its name, Antichthon, to its rule-based accords. How did this framework of Greco-Roman history and legal principles affect your understanding of the war between Westmere and Azote?

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

1. Aleksander spends much of the novel disguised as Tarantula, while Zora secretly knows his true identity. How does this revelation change your understanding of their earlier interactions? Do you think the story would have been more or less effective if readers had known the truth from the beginning. Why?

2. The final chapters shift into Aleksander’s perspective, and the Epilogue reveals events from eight years earlier. Do these revelations make Aleksander more understandable, more disturbing, or a combination of both? 

3. Zora and Aleksander’s silent chess games, which always end in a stalemate, are a key motif. Consider what readers eventually learn about their competing plans, who do you think was actually the better strategist? Does the destruction of Plague settle that question, or does the ending complicate the idea of victory?

4. Barren’s intervention reveals that Zora has been subjected to supernatural trials since childhood. Do you think being chosen as a Keeper gives Zora a greater sense of purpose, or does it place another unwanted responsibility on her? How might her choices have differed without Barren’s influence? Speculate on how you think this might affect her in the novel’s sequel.

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. If you were casting a film adaptation of The Emperor’s Enemy, which actors would you choose to play Zora and Aleksander? What qualities would you look for to capture their complex dynamic?

2. Imagine you are the Marshal, planning the next phase of the war after the events of this book. What would be your top three priorities, and what new “Quest” might you devise for your remaining assets like Ella and Axel?

3. The novel ends on a massive cliffhanger. Write a one-paragraph preview for the sequel, The Hunter’s Enemy, that would appear on the back cover. What questions would you pose to hook the reader for the next installment?