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When Shadows Grow Tall
In the Grasp, a realm on the threshold of enlightenment, the dactyli guard the fading embers of their ancient brotherhood, dedicated to the pursuit of absolute truth. Lovelace and Gunnar, two of the order's last rangers, find themselves on the precipice of a changing world. When the order faces a fatal threat from within, Lovelace and Gunnar embark on a dangerous ranging, whereon they discover that more than the welfare of the order is at stake: a rogue dactyli named Alev amasses an army of those he calls the Burned Ones, mercenaries wielding elemental forces. Lovelace and Gunnar are forced to grapple with the unimaginable implications. Meanwhile, the Grasp languishes under the oppressive rule of Osbert, who exploits the recent advent of the printing press to smoor the fires of budding enlightenment. A young woman named Kylene undertakes a journey to find her missing father, a prominent printer wanted for sedition. Her path leads her to the kapnobatai, a mysterious group of outcasts with whom Kylene takes up refuge and the mantle of her father's fight for freedom. In the mountains of Droch Fhortan, Lovelace and Gunnar encounter a feral young woman, Cora. Her mere existence uproots an age-old belief and puts to ground a new truth: magic can be awakened, magic can be taught. As their paths intertwine, a shared purpose emerges - to expose Osbert's tyranny, thwart Alev's dangerous plot, and rekindle the flame of enlightenment. So begins the battle for the minds of the Graspish people, and a quest for the heart of magic itself.
This discussion guide was shared and sponsored in partnership with DartFrog Books.
Book club questions for When Shadows Grow Tall by Maressa Voss
Use these discussion questions to guide your next book club meeting.
The Dactyli dedicate themselves to curating objective truth from the myriad truths they encounter. How does the novel challenge or affirm the idea of objective truth? As the ancient order of the Dactyli deteriorates, what does their decline suggest about the nature of truth itself?
Kylene's father faces persecution for printing illegal materials, showcasing the power and danger of information dissemination. How does the novel’s portrayal of the printing press as both a tool of liberation and control resonate with today's digital landscape, where information spreads rapidly through social media? What parallels can be drawn, and how do they shape your understanding of the risks and responsibilities in controlling information?
In both timelines, Gunnar, Lovelace, and Kylene gradually find themselves on the path to revolution, despite not setting out to change the world. What key moments in their journeys compel them to defy the existing order? How does the novel explore the tension between choice and necessity in their decisions?
The decline of belief in the Great Mother parallels a shift towards more anthropocentric ideologies. How does this transition reflect broader themes of environmental exploitation, and what connections can you draw to today’s climate crisis?
The Dactyli claim to "know all there is to know of earth and its turnings." How does this mindset mirror modern attitudes toward nature? What are the dangers of assuming we fully understand or control the natural world, especially in the context of environmental degradation?
When Shadows Grow Tall Book Club Questions PDF
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