Kismet's Gate

Some gates are meant to be opened. Others were sealed for a reason.

Kismet’s Gate is a sweeping fantasy of buried truths, impossible choices, and a medallion that reveals its secrets only through joy. Perfect for fans of Fourth Wing, Quicksilver, and The Priory of the Orange Tree, it blends emotional depth with vivid, emotionally honest characters and dialogue, and a world that feels utterly real.

Whispers of Kismarr, the lost city of the Kismets, are stirring once more. Some call it paradise. Others believe it never existed. But the key to finding the path lies in Anara’s blood. No one alive has ever seen Kismarr, but the Kismets remain. Rare and fiercely loyal, they bond for life and pull the strings of fate. They heal, they protect, and in some cases, they kill.

Hunted and hiding behind a false name, Anara wanted only to survive. But in the forge of grief and anger, she became a weapon. When fate tangles her with Jarek, a scarred blacksmith, and Lysara, a centuries-old monk whose gaze cuts deeper than the blades Anara wields so easily, the lines between loyalty, desire, and destiny begin to blur. Jarek stirs a wanting in her. Lysara pulls at something deeper, older, and impossible to name.

Anara may have to choose between them, or risk losing them both.

The medallion calls. The gate awaits. Will she walk through?

These disucssion questions were provided by the publisher, DartFrog Books.

Book club questions for Kismet's Gate by S.X. Cummings

Use these discussion questions to guide your next book club meeting.

Anara is a survivor of immense trauma. How does her past shape her decisions and the way she interacts with others throughout the story?

Jarek bears both literal and emotional scars. In what ways does his “Kismet Scar” define him, and how does his relationship with Anara help or hinder his healing?

Whisp may appear playful and lighthearted, but his role is far deeper. What does Whisp represent in the story, emotionally, spiritually, and symbolically? How does your understanding of him change as the truth of his nature is revealed?

Lysara begins the story as a wandering monk, but we soon learn she is much more. How did your perception of her change as her history, status, and connection to Anara’s mother were revealed? How did her playful teasing and barely veiled attraction to Jarek affect your understanding of her character and motivations?

The concept of joy as a map key is central to the plot, but it isn’t simple happiness. For Anara, true joy comes when she lets go of fear, shame, and control, often through intimacy. Why do you think the author chose joy, particularly the kind sparked by emotional and physical surrender, as the catalyst to reveal Kismarr? What does this say about who is allowed access to power, and who is denied?

Anara’s path through the harsh world of Myrkholt shaped her into someone fierce, guarded, and deeply capable. How does her experience compare to Jarek’s quieter upbringing in Brynmoor? In what ways do their differences challenge and complement each other as they grow closer?

Follow-up: How does Anara use the power and skills she gained in Myrkholt once she arrives in Solvik, particularly in training the monks? What does this contrast between her survival-driven strength and the temple’s rigid discipline say about the nature of growth, tradition, and adaptability?

Sacrifice and legacy thread through the lives of many characters, including Anara, Lysara, Ilya, and Whisp. Each bears the weight of choices made for others, often at great personal cost. How do their sacrifices shape the path forward? What kind of legacy do you think each character is trying to leave behind, and do they succeed?

For the monks of Solvik, Kismarr is more than a lost city, it is an ideal. How has the belief in Kismarr shaped their spiritual teachings and purpose? What does it mean to the Order when Anara reveals that Kismarr is real and reachable?

The bond between Anara and Whisp feels deeper than that of a typical familiar. When the truth of Whisp’s nature is revealed, Anara has no time to process what it truly means. How did that moment strike you as a reader? What do you think she’ll feel when she finally confronts it, and what does it say about love, memory, and the unseen ties that bind us?

Romance and desire simmer beneath the surface throughout the story. How do the dynamics between Anara, Jarek, and Lysara evolve? What do these relationships reveal about vulnerability, loyalty, and longing, and how do they shape the emotional stakes of the journey?

Follow-up: Which connection—Anara and Jarek, Jarek and Lysara, or Anara and Lysara—felt the most authentic or surprising to you, and why?

Kismet's Gate Book Club Questions PDF

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