1. In Chapter 16, Thakur is forced to bare his throat as a gesture of submission before the fire. He says, however, that he is really submitting to Shongshar: "This talk of serving the Red Tongue's power is nothing but a lie."

How does Shongshar use the Clan's reverence for the fire to build up his own power?

2. One reviewer criticized Clan Ground as being wordy, or full of unnecessary descriptions that simply slow down the story. Do you agree with this criticism? Find some examples of writing in the book that you like or dislike and explain why the author's use of language is good or bad.

3. Compare this book with Bell's earlier novel about the Clan, Ratha's Creature. Which do you think is the better book? Does the character of Ratha change more in the first book, or in this...