Who is Sydney? Why does she feel like she has her father's approval? What does Sydney recall about her childhood? What is Sydney's biggest demon that haunts her throughout the novel? Why is this important? How does it change her life?

Who is Jill? Why does Jill go undercover at Amberwood in the first place? Discuss the relationship between Sydney and Jill. How are they similar and how are they different? Does Jill ever accept Sydney's role as Jill's protector? How does Jill feel about Adrian? How does Adrian feel about Jill?

Why do the Alchemists remove Keith from Palm Springs? How does the dynamic of the group change when Keith is no longer in the picture? Why do you think Keith did what he did and betrayed his own race in the process? Was it for greed, revenge or something else?

How does...