1. If you could have one of Myrthe’s raw wishes, what would you ask for and what might the consequences be?
2. Which Talent would you want if you visited the Well?
3. Myrthe spends a lot of time thinking about what is worth living for and what might be worth dying for. What is something that gives you reason to live?
4. Grief is a theme in the story. Compare and contrast the way Myrthe deals with her grief versus the way Coralythe deals with hers. Who do you relate to more?
5. If you could stop time like Bastiaan, what moment would you stop and why?
6. Bastiaan repeatedly broke his promises to Runt. Do you think he was justified, or should he have kept those promises?
7. Which character do you relate to most? Why?
8. Often we see in the story that even the best intentions can have dire consequences. Think of a time you meant something for good but it didn’t turn out the way you planned. How did you handle the situation?
9. By the end of the story, characters have a choice to give a Talent or a Bane power over their lives. How do you think this relates to choices you can make in your own life?

Acknowledgments

To every reader who just turned the last page and either hates me, loves me, or vascillates between the two . . . thank you for giving this book a chance. I’ve had the idea for over seven years and wondered if it would ever end up in a reader’s hands. And here we are.

The final story turned out so different than the original concept. It surprised me and thrilled me and captured my heart for adventure, motherhood, mistakes, healing, and heart-journeys. The year I drafted the majority of this book, I spent over eight months unable to walk normally. Whether on crutches or in bed or in pain . . . I’d never felt so helpless, and yet I had to push through anyway: live life and raise children and write books. I learned how strong I could be . . . particularly when I accepted my weakness and let Jesus step in. I learned respect for so many others who deal with constant chronic pain. It was something I wanted to write into Myrthe’s story, because it had become part of my story. If that’s ever been part of your story . . . this one’s for you.

Now to the rest of the acknowledgments where I’m bound to forget very important people:

Jesus. I wasn’t sure why You gave me this story. I went into it wondering what You’d teach me. Now that it’s done, I look back and see the greatest year of growth I’ve ever lived through. Thank You for inviting me to write with You, for inviting me to surrender my ink. It’s more and more mind-blowing and rewarding with every book. You are so faithful.