Xan breaks her promise and uses her powers to influence another’s will several times during the novel. How does she use her powers to influence others? Is she right to do so? Who else uses power to influence others? Does Xan differ from other characters who use their power this way? How?

Glerk is a “maker.” He loves language and poetry. Consider his poems about birth (36), spring (39), and patience (135-36), and the final poem he leaves for Luna (383). Pick one poem and analyze its meaning. How does the poem reflect Glerk’s personality? His beliefs?

Mother-daughter relationships are important in the novel, but what about fathers? When Antain becomes a father, does fatherhood change him? Do any other characters act as fathers? In what ways?