Spark of the Everflame

Compare and contrast Henri and Prince Luther. How do they each impact Diem’s Quest for Self-Discovery?

Analyze the role of Diem’s family members in her coming-of-age journey. How do Teller, Auralie, and Andrei influence Diem’s self-image and understanding of the world?

Compare and contrast the Guardians of the Everflame with the Descended. Where do these two groups fall amid the novel’s broader explorations of right and wrong?

How does Diem’s first-person narration affect Cole’s early descriptions of Emarion? Is Diem a reliable narrator? Why or why not?

How does Cole portray the social inequities that exist between mortals and the Descended? How do these details contribute to the Guardians’ intense hostility toward their perceived enemies?

How does Diem’s perception of Luther change over the course of the novel? What key events cause this shift, and how does the narration reflect her new viewpoint?

Analyze the scene in which Diem confronts the Descended who is trying to murder his lover and his child. What does this violent incident imply about the nature of Emarion as a whole? What do Diem’s actions both during and after this incident imply about her quest for self-discovery and her attempts to define The Tension Between Good and Evil?

Are the Guardians of the Everflame portrayed as villains or heroes? How does this rebel group create conflict and/or pursue peace? How do the Guardians’ actions either incite or resolve political tension?