Reading Group Guide
Discussion Questions
Lives of a Salvager: Ancient Language of the Earth, Book Two
Questions for Discussion
1. In LIVES OF A SALVAGER, Laurel is raised by strong female mentors, especially the Crow. Do you have someone like this in your life? If so, what kind of influence has she had on you?
2. A key question that LIVES OF A SALVAGER poses to the reader is: “Is the Task ethical?” What do you think, and why?
3. How might our own world change if there were Salvagers, those with the power of eternal Hindsight, among us?
4. In Part III, Anima Avni tells Laurel, “I will die and no longer have to bear this burden while you --- you are the one to carry the Task for centuries upon centuries.” What are some of the burdens and benefits that come with the long lifespan of the Salvagers?
5. What parallels do you see between the events in the book and those in our own world throughout history?
6. While teaching at the Haven, Laurel poses the question to her students: “Bad and Disordered, are they the same?” How would you answer this question?
7. In LIVES OF A SALVAGER, Laurel discovers that the birth of the Anima follows the golden ratio, 1.618, just like the formation of the ammonite. If the natural world inherently follows these endlessly repeating patterns, does that imply that Aligaea’s history is also bound to repeat itself, or can those cycles be broken?
8. As Avni, the fifth Anima, lies dying, Laurel comforts her with the words: “Everything is temporary.” This is a phrase Laurel will repeat for millennia. Do you agree or disagree? What is the significance of this mantra in Laurel’s lives?
9. Mayra chooses to live her entire life in the land where she was born, caring for orphans rather than embarking on a quest to fulfill the Task. Was Mayra’s decision ethically sound? Why or why not?
10. As a being with a lifespan of thousands of years, Laurel lives many lifetimes and embodies many identities, living as Zalina, Laurel and Khen. How do these different lives factor into the challenges she faces throughout the book? Why did she choose to take on these different lives?
11. Is there a character with whom you most strongly identify? If so, why?
12. In the Ancient Language of the Earth universe, only women may become the Anima. What is the significance of this rule?
Enhance Your Book Club
1. Visit author Kelsey K. Sather’s website for more information about her and the Ancient Language of the Earth series, including detailed maps of Aligaea and a comprehensive glossary of terms from the Ancient Language of the Earth universe.
2. Plant Magic: Recreate delicious versions of Laurel’s tinctures and charms. At your next meeting, have a selection of dried loose-leaf teas and herbs available for your group to blend to their taste. Discuss the variety of natural healing properties and benefits each tea or herb holds.
3. If you could create your own world, what would it look like? Look at the maps and illustrations Kelsey K. Sather created for the Ancient Language of the Earth series on her website. Get inspired and make your own maps and drawings.
4. Debate Night: Hold your own Counsel of Keepers gathering. Assign each book club member a role and debate important questions from the book. For example, would you inform the next Anima of her role, or let her discover it on her own?
