A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Did the novel end the way you hoped it would? Why or why not? What aspects of the story would you change if you could?

2. Which character(s) do you find most relatable? Why?

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

1. Have you ever harshly judged a past version of yourself, like Sera does? What caused you to make this judgment? Do you now feel differently about that version of yourself? Why or why not?

2. Do you have any friendships that provide the same kind of safety that Sera and Malik’s friendship gives them? What aspects of your identity do you share with this friend?

3. Have you ever experienced the love of “found family”? Who comprises this group for you? How did you find one another? What does this group provide for you that others do not?

4. Why is it so hard for people to give themselves the compassion and love that they so readily offer to others? Do you struggle with this issue? If so, what actions do you take to mitigate it?

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

1. The text often shows that existence and visibility can be tantamount to resistance. When the Guild refuses to allow people of color, people with disabilities, or those from other countries into their organization, the existence of these individuals in this space becomes a way to disrupt and resist the organization’s consolidation of power. What spaces like this exist in the real world?

2. Sera points out that Albert Grey didn’t attain his position of privilege without the complicity of the Guild and other witches. Why would the Guild support Albert’s reign of terror? How have Guild members benefited from Albert’s power, and how does this aspect of the story mirror power dynamics in the real world?

3. Verity Walter speaks truth to power. Which real-life women walk a similar path and might have inspired her character’s creation?

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

1. What aspects of the text would need to change if it were set in the United States? Would any changes be necessary at all?

2. How does the text embrace the ideals of inclusivity and equality? How does it create a “safe space” for readers who might identity with one or more of the minority populations represented among the inn’s residents?

3. The narrator is a third-person omniscient storyteller who reports the private thoughts and feelings of each character. What are the benefits and drawbacks of using this perspective for this particular novel? How might the story change if it were told from Sera’s first-person perspective?

4. What other symbols can you identify in the work, aside from those already mentioned in this guide? What figurative significance do they carry?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. If Mandanna were to write another novel featuring these characters, which people should she develop in greater depth? Should the story explain what happens to Sera and her friends after the novel’s conclusion, or would a prequel be more appropriate? Explain your answer.

2. Who would you cast in a film adaptation of this book, and why?