The Maiden represents the entire ideology of the Ascended and Kingdom Solis. Penellaphe acts as a figurehead for the ruling class of her society. Discuss Penellaphe’s level of complacency in the crimes committed by the Ascended. Investigate ways that she benefited from her role as Maiden. In what ways did her status subject her to oppression as well?

Armentrout writes in first-person narrative. How does limiting the reader to Penellaphe’s perspective allow for a richer story to unfold? Armentrout makes many ethical arguments concerning what is good and evil as concepts subjected to appearance and opinion. Would such an analysis have still been possible if Armentrout had written from a different perspective? How might a change in perspective alter the overall themes of the novel?

Penellaphe and Hawke routinely voice their support for death with dignity. Hawke says of the cursed, “…being dragged in front of the public to be murdered is the last thing they or their families should have to go through” (214). Penellaphe agrees, feeling as though he were “speaking (her) own thoughts” (214). Yet, both characters publicly and brutally murder numerous people. Investigate specifically Penellaphe’s decapitation of Lord Mazeen and Hawke’s murder of the Duke.