Essun, Jija, and Schaffa are all parental figures for Nassun. Each of them has a very different relationship with her, and each of them is flawed in their own way. Which relationship is the most important to Nassun? Which is the most harmful? Why do you think Jemisin chose to make all the parental figures in the Broken Earth trilogy flawed?

Many of the chapter titles have dual meanings and can be interpreted in different ways. Choose two or three chapter titles and explore how these dual meanings reflect the themes and action of the corresponding chapters.

Schaffa spends most of his time in The Obelisk Gate trying to change who he is and make up for past mistakes. Does the novel suggest that it is possible for someone who has committed the atrocities he has to earn redemption? What evidence does the text provide to suggest that he is or isn’t on the right path?