A Shadow in the Ember

What is Sera’s main moral dilemma? How does it drive the narrative forward?

How does Ash’s character, and Sera’s perception of him, change over the course of the novel? Include evidence from the text.

Having been raised as a weapon, Sera acknowledges that her destiny is to die. By the end of the novel, this is revealed to be partially true. How does this attitude affect her actions?

Explore the impact of family on Ash and Sera. How do familial connections affect their self-perception?

Examine Ash’s inability to love. What fuels his reluctance? How does it affect his relationships? Include evidence from the text.

Sera and Ash both have little control over their lives, having been forced to kill. How does this shared issue make them similar and different? How does it bring them closer together?

In what ways do Sera and Ash make sacrifices for the greater good, and what are the consequences of these actions? Are these sacrifices acknowledged by other characters?

Secrets drive the narrative forward, with Ash being revealed as the Primal of Death and Sera being trained as the Maiden. How does the reveal of these secrets affect their romance?