The Poisoned King

Explore how Anya’s education and upbringing in contrasting environments influence her character, values, and capabilities. How does Rundell use these experiences to explore the relationship between knowledge and survival in The Poisoned King?

How does Rundell use the parallel narrative structure, which alternates between Christopher’s quest and Anya’s political thriller, to develop a broader commentary on different forms of heroism and agency?

Discuss how The Poisoned King engages with the bestiary tradition to blur or question the boundary between human and animal. How does this influence the novel’s portrayal of civilization, savagery, and moral behavior?

The Poisoned King explicitly references Hamlet through the line “A man may smile, and smile, and be a villain” (43). To what extent can other Shakespearean ideas, character types, or dramatic concerns be traced throughout the novel, and how do these influences shape its treatment of power, morality, and identity?

The novel concludes with the abolition of monarchy in favor of a mixed-species parliament. Compare this resolution to the traditional restoration of a rightful heir common in the fantasy genre. What political statement is Rundell making by choosing this radical restructuring of power?

How does Fidens Nighthand’s internal conflict regarding his identity as a Berserker and his love for Irian Guinne challenge traditional fantasy archetypes of the fearless warrior?

How does the novel use physical spaces, such as Argen Castle, the wild forest, and the Palace of Glimt, to symbolize conflicting political and moral ideologies?

Analyze the significance of the loquillan in The Poisoned King, considering its narrative, symbolic, and psychological dimensions and its impact on Anya’s journey.