From Blood and Ash

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. Are their actions contradictory to the values previously stated? Why or why not?

As the Maiden, Penellaphe was expected to usher in a new generation of Ascended so that the Kingdom Solis may heal from The War of Two Kings. How does her marriage to the Dark One still allow her to lead a generation and heal far more than Kingdom Solis? Consider Penellaphe’s heritage and that she is half Atlantian. How does this connect to the novel’s emphasis on dichotomies?

Penellaphe’s body, as an accumulation of scars, is a source of guilt and shame. How does Prince Casteel help Penellaphe gain confidence? What does this newfound confidence indicate about her relationship to her parent’s death and the Duke’s abuse?

When Penellaphe realizes Prince Casteel’s true identity, she attempts to kill him. She then attempts to run away thinking, “I had to do it. Everything about him, about us with a lie. Everything” (461). How has Penellaphe’s belief system been deconstructed? Is liberation from ignorance as necessary as a liberation from oppression? Is there a difference?

Penellaphe lives a life void of all desire. Why is purity valued in the Maiden? How does it relate to themes of control?

Where do we see instances of a class hierarchy in the novel? Does Armentrout express a desire for a classless society? How is marriage portrayed as a way to bridge the gap between classes?

The Duchess tells Penellaphe, “Some truths do nothing but destroy and decay what they do not obliterate. Truths do not always set one free. Only a fool who has spent their entire life being fed lies believes that” (330). Dissect the quote. Think about its application before and after Hawke tells Penellaphe the truth about The War of Two Kings. What is the Duchess attempting to teach Penellaphe?