1. How do you feel about Sancha's childhood experiences shaping her personality as an adult? What parts of her temperament do you think were inherited, and which shaped by experience?

2. What common traits does Sancha share with her brother Alfonso? What do you believe accounts for the difference in their personalities? Do you believe the fact that Sancha was older made a difference? Do you see Alfonso's goodness as a weakness? Which character do you admire more?

3. How do you feel about Jofre as a character when he first appears in the novel? Does your opinion of him change over the course of the novel? Do you feel he is a sympathetic character?

4. How does your opinion of Lucrezia change over the course of the novel? Are her actions justifiable?

5. Why do you believe Sancha was so drawn to Cesare Borgia?

6. Do you believe Cesare possessed any positive character traits? If so, which? Do you believe he was capable of genuine love for Sancha?

7. Sancha and Lucrezia's personalities differ enormously, yet they formed a strong bond. Outside of their shared affection for Alfonso, what was the basis for this bond?

8. Who was more in control of the House of Borgia's politics: Pope Alexander or Cesare? Do you believe that Alexander feared Cesare, or that the two schemed together, with Alexander often playing the innocent?

9. When faced with the choice between her husband and her son, could Lucrezia have acted differently? Discuss the consequences of her actions.

10. Do you think Cesare's slaughter of the condottiere of the noble houses of Italy was a wise or unwise political move?

11. Do you believe the Pope and Cesare could have succeeded in their quest to unite all of Italy under their rule? Why or why not? Do you feel Pope Alexander was a shrewd politican, or did he often alienate useful factions?

12. If Sancha had married Cesare, could she have influenced him for good? Could she have been a successful "power behind the throne?"