A Forsaken Prophecy

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Did you feel the novel successfully built on the events of A Forbidden Alchemy while raising the stakes for the trilogy’s final installment?

2. The class struggle between the magical Artisans and the laboring Crafters is central to the story. How did this conflict resonate with you? When you think of other popular series with rigid social hierarchies, like Suzanne Collins’s The Hunger Games, how does this world’s structure compare or stand out?

3. The plot is driven by a series of betrayals and revelations, from Polly’s identity to John Colson’s treachery. Which twist had the biggest impact on you as a reader, and what made it so effective?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. The miners’ song, “Till the light comes” (5), helps them endure hardship. What personal mantras or other sources of strength do you turn to when facing challenges? 

2. One of the novel’s major themes is Love as a Radical Act. Describe a time when love had a powerful impact on your own life. This could be about romance, familial love, or love between friends.

3. Belavere’s strict social stratification shapes the characters’ worldviews. Share a memory of an experience that shaped your personal understanding of class. 

4. Patrick is often forced to make ruthless decisions for the good of the Miners Union, weighing the needs of the many against the lives of the few. Have you ever been in a position where you had to make a difficult choice for a group? How did you resolve the situation?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. The House of Lords maintains its dominance by controlling the historical narrative surrounding the Three Daughters. Where do you see real-world parallels to powerful groups using official histories or myths to legitimize their authority? Why is reclaiming a suppressed history such a revolutionary act?

2. The conflict over terranium is a clear allegory for hoarding essential resources. How does the novel’s depiction of the struggle between the resource-rich Artisans and the laboring Crafters reflect modern conflicts over energy or other necessities?

3. Propaganda, like the false newspaper reports about Patrick joining the House, is a key weapon in the novel’s war. In what ways do these tactics reflect the role of misinformation in shaping public opinion and social movements today?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. How does the author connect Nina’s earth-charming abilities to her emotional state? What does this intrinsic link between her internal turmoil and external power suggest about the nature of magic in this world?

2. John begins the novel as a revered revolutionary hero but is revealed to be deeply corrupt. How does his character arc explore the idea that a righteous cause can be undermined by personal ambition? When you compare his downfall to other stories about failed revolutions, like George Orwell’s Animal Farm, what common warnings emerge?

3. The widow’s lace flower evolves from a personal memento of Nina’s mother to the important clue for finding Idia’s Seam. How does the author use the flower to weave together Nina’s personal grief with the larger political quest?

4. Theo and John both act as foils to Patrick, showing different aspects of his character. In what specific ways do Theo’s privileged idealism and John’s corrupted pragmatism challenge or illuminate Patrick’s own values as a leader?

5. The Epilogue introduces Tripp, a new Alchemist who immediately offers his services to Lord Shop. What is the effect of ending the book on this note? How does it reframe the conflict and set the stakes for the final book in the trilogy?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Imagine you are creating a propaganda poster for either the House of Lords or the Miners Union. What key message would you want to convey, and what images or symbols would you use to persuade the public?

2. Which character do you think would be the most difficult to cast in a film adaptation of A Forsaken Prophecy? What specific qualities would an actor need to truly capture that character’s essence?

3. If you could write a new scene from the perspective of a minor character like Edith or Tripp, what story would you tell? What would their viewpoint reveal about the war’s impact on everyday people?