Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Islington’s narrative structure involves multiple perspectives and nonlinear reveals of major plot points. Was this technique successful in creating a dynamic world, or were some elements difficult to follow?

2. Islington names Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn series as an influential work, and others have drawn comparisons to Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time. What do these works, have in common with The Licanius Trilogy, especially in their treatment of magic systems and time travel?

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

1. In the beginning, Davian grapples with the stress of his Trials and a mounting sense of failure. Have you ever felt that the odds were against you? How did you cope with the fear of failure?

2. Caeden believes that forgetting his past is necessary in his journey to become a better person. Does this resonate with your own experiences of how memory shapes identity?

3. Asha and Davian take different approaches to defending mistreated Shadows. How do their different modes of advocacy and activism resonate with your own strategies of challenging authority?

4. Davian is unsure if he did the right thing by revising the Tenets instead of abolishing them altogether. Have you experienced a situation where you had to make such a compromise? What factors influenced your decision?

5. Wirr doesn’t pursue his attraction for Dezia out of his duty to the throne. Can you relate with the struggle of choosing between your personal fulfillment and a selfless sense of duty? What guided your decision?

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

1. How does the novel’s social hierarchy reflect real-world inequalities and the “othering” of people who are different? How do these marginalized communities find solidarity and agency?

2. The Treaty and the Tenets represent a social contract between the Gifted and non-Gifted, but many of the Gifted regard the rules as punitive. How does the novel’s system of checks and balances reflect historical and contemporary models of governance?

3. The new regime destroyed historical records of the Gifted and confiscated their Vessels. How do these post-war activities reflect the adage that history is written by the victors?

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

1. How does the novel resolve the moral ambiguities of the characters’ use of magic? On what basis are decisions considered to be justified or wrong?

2. How do the women in the novel experience gender-based marginalization? How do they challenge these stereotypes?

3. Consider the school in Caladel, the Gifted stronghold Tol Athian, the Shadows’ Sanctuary, and the palace in Ilin Illan. How do these structures reiterate the novel’s social hierarchies? How do they challenge them?

4. How does the novel depict personal trauma versus historical trauma? How do these two types intersect?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Invent new Vessels with unique magical powers. Which character would be best suited for each of your Vessels, and why?

2. The novel features mythical creatures like sha’teths, dar’gaithins, Orkoth (the creature that kills Nihim), Ordan the Shalis mage, and Garadis the Lyth. Based on Islington’s descriptions, create illustrations of these creatures. How do your visual interpretations align with the novel’s themes?