Where the Dark Stands Still

How does the author use deer to represent Liska and the Leszy? Which character traits does this emphasize, and how does this symbol add to the story’s romance?

Select two supporting characters and compare their personalities and character arcs. How do they each play an important role in the novel by advancing the plot, developing a theme, or contributing to Liska or the Leszy’s character development?

In what ways are Liska and the Leszy shaped by The Quest for Belonging and Redemption? Compare and contrast their reasons for undertaking this quest and the actions they take to try to reach their goals. How do they help each other find belonging and redemption?

How does the theme of The Magic of Self-Acceptance inform the protagonist’s inner conflict and drive the plot? What key events and characters help Liska embrace herself and her power?

Why are folktales and myths important to Liska’s culture in general and to the protagonist in particular? How does the theme of The Enduring Relevance of Myths and Folktales impact the novel’s overall meaning?

How does Poranek use the color red’s traditional symbolism in Slavic folklore to add elements of irony, foreshadowing, and tragedy to the Leszy’s characterization?

How is the Driada both an enchanting, beautiful place and a wild, dangerous one? How does this setting affect the novel’s structure, mood, and the theme of magic? How is Liska shaped by the spirit-wood, and how does she shape it in return?

Butterflies serve as a motif of the theme of The Magic of Self-Acceptance. How do Liska’s attitude toward the butterflies and the narrator’s descriptions of them shift as Liska’s relationship with her magic evolves over the course of the story?