Martin sets the events of A Dance with Dragons in many cultures and locales. Describe one or more of these cultures, and then discuss how they shape the conflicts and characters in the novel.

What role does gender play in Daenerys’s struggles to maintain power in Meereen? How are her struggles different from those of male figures, and what steps does she take to counter sexism?

What role do revenge and betrayal play in A Dance with Dragons? What overall point does Martin make about the exercise of power driven by revenge?