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2024
Articles
1. Throughout the book Maia is described as the strong one of the family and she details the pressure she has felt because of this. How do you think being labelled as 'the strong one' impacts Maia's relationships with her family members and her personal well-being?
2. Themes of loyalty and servitude are discussed in the book through Edan and his sorcerer's oath. In what ways do loyalty and servitude contribute to his character development, and how do they affect his sense of identity and freedom?
3. To make Amana's dresses Maia has to collect the laughter of the sun, the tears of the moon and the blood of the stars. How do these tasks reflect Maia's journey, and what do they reveal about her character and the challenges she faces?
4. As part of the trial to become the imperial tailor, Maia encounters Norbu who is out to sabotage everyone, sometimes violently. What do you think the author is trying to convey through Norbu's character and his actions?
5. After the war and her brother's death, Maia stops praying to the gods and believes in magic even less than she did before. How do these losses and changes in belief affect Maia's character and her decisions throughout the story?
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The legend goes that the God of Thieves stole the children of Amana, the sun, moon and stars, to prove his skills. When he succeeded Amana became enraged and plunged the world into darkness. Returning her children did nothing to abate her anger. So, the God of Thieves asked Heaven's tailor to make her three dresses from the essence of her children which he had kept. Amana found the dresses satisfactory and forgave the God of Thieves and brought back light to the world, but only for half the day.
Edan is the Emporer's Lord Enchnater, a sorcerer, who changes into a hawk at night. Edan grew up in a monastery, which collapsed when overrun by soliders and he was forced to fight. His talent for magic was discovered and soon after he was taken under the wing of his first teacher. A unique trait of Edan's is that his eyes change colours with his mood.