1. Which Jin-shei sister do you identify with most? Why?

2. Tai makes a promise to the Little Empress as she is dying, a promise which has far-reaching impact on the rest of Tai's life. Have you ever made such a promises that you have kept?

3. When Liudan asks Khaelin to do "the unthinkable" in the name of jin-shei, Khealin agrees. Do you agree with Khaelin's decision? Yuet makes a different choice, who do you feel made the correct choice? Why? Would you have followed Khaelin's path or Yuet's?

3. What is the greatest sacrifice you have ever made to help a friend? Did you compromised your own values?

4. Jin-ashu is the secret language of the jin-shei sisters. What are some other sorts of "secret languages" of women?

5. Jin-ashu is based on a real secret language -- nushu -- which was used in some ways to subvert the patriarchal power structure in China. What other ways do women reclaim power in patriarchical societies?

6. Liudan can be viewed as emotionally unstable, yet the sisters continue to support her and allow her to influence them all --- even above and beyond the bonds of jin-shei. Why?

7. The jin-shei sisters go to great lengths --- even the risk of death --- to protect one another. What sorts of things have your friends done for you? In what ways have you supported your friends? Is this a uniquely feminine trait? Are women "predisposed" to form these intense bonds and friendships or is that just a stereotype?

8. Alma Alexander's characters defy stereotypes --- for example, Xaforn is the most powerful warrior, a "killing machine" by her own definition, while Liudan creates her own rules and in fact, rewrites the rulebook for the empire. How are the rest of the sister unique? In what ways have your own friends defied stereotypes?

9. Do you agree that the bonds of friendship can be stronger than blood ties? What are some examples from your own life?