The Fragile Threads of Power

Color symbolism plays an important role in differentiating each of the different Londons: Red, White, Black, and Grey. How does Schwab use colors to contrast each of the different cities? Where else in the novel besides the city names does she use color symbolism, and how does this help develop the novel’s characterization and themes?

Red and White London have many trappings of a traditional fantasy novel: scheming political factions, hereditary monarchy, and a complex magical system. However, Schwab’s novel also contains a more nuanced approach to gender roles and sexuality. In what ways does she build on traditional genre expectations, and in what ways does she depart from them?

In the previous series, Kell was the most powerful Antari in Red London. In this novel, he is unable to use his magic. How does this loss affect Kell and those around him? How does losing magic develop his character arc?

Both Tes and Kosika are young women who must fend for themselves at very young ages. How do their ages and gender affect how people treat them? In what ways are these traits obstacles, and in what ways are they assets?

Ships figure prominently in the novel as places of exploration and transformation. How does Schwab develop the setting of each different ship, and how do the ships contribute to the novel’s overall themes and meaning?

The Hand is the shadowy organization that acts as one of the main antagonists in the novel. Throughout the narrative, readers gain insight into different members of the Hand. What do different characters gain from their membership in this organization, and what motivates them to join? How does the Hand connect to the novel’s overarching themes?

Characters use many analogies throughout the novel to describe magic: It is a river, it is a fire, and it is made of connected threads. How do these different ideas of magic affect the characters’ experiences of and uses for magical power? How do these analogies develop the book’s setting and characters?

Several characters in the novel grapple with the effects of traumatic events. How does Schwab depict the lingering effects of trauma and the ways that people cope? Use at least two different characters to support your answer.