Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Given that the conflict between the Unseelie and Seelie courts is not entirely resolved at the end of the novel, does this book deliver the requisite “happily ever after” conclusion? Why or why not?

2. Did you hope that Mildred and Atakan would commit to a romantic relationship? Why or why not?

3. Compare this book to other romantasy titles with faerie conflicts, such as Callie Hart’s Quicksilver or Sarah J. Maas’s A Court of Thorns and Roses. What similarities and differences arise in the romantic relationships that form between the lead characters in these titles?

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

1. The novel argues about the importance of taking vengeance and the limits of this path. Do you agree that vengeance is sometimes necessary, or should it always be avoided? What are the limits of that necessity?

2. Have you ever enjoyed a contentious flirtation that mirrors the paradoxical rapport between Atakan and Mildred? If so, how did that affect your understanding of the couple in the novel?

3. Could you forgive someone who treated you as cruelly as Atakan does Mildred? Why or why not?

4. Mildred and Atakan are both powerfully affected by their parentage. In your own experience, to what extent does your heritage affect your fate?

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

1. The wards in the novel block the fantastical animals of the faerie world from moving freely. How does this issue serve as an analogy to real-world controversies around environmentalism and conservation?

2. How do the conflicts surrounding Atakan and Mildred’s arranged marriage relate to arranged marriages in the real world? How accurately does the novel portray the issues involved?

3. Atakan argues that war never truly ends. How does this idea relate to the issues involved in long-term global conflicts?

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

1. Analyze the two symbols from the novel’s title: bones and clouds. How does each image align with the respective faerie courts? How does Mildred’s perspective of these two courts and their associated symbols change over time?

2. Does Atakan truly change, or is it only Mildred’s perception of him that changes? Use concrete examples to support your interpretation.

3. The novel utilizes certain fairy-tale tropes, such as that of the “evil stepmother.” How does this connection to fairy stories affect the text? What expectations does it encourage?

4. How does the novel use Mildred’s self-description as a “halfling” to examine issues of societal belonging? Does the text treat this term as derogatory? How does Mildred confront her half-human, half-fae status?

5. How does moving between physical locations affect Mildred’s perspective on the ongoing war between the faerie kingdoms?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Mildred describes several outfits that she wears in the different faerie courts. Either sketch one of the outfits from the book or envision a new outfit for Mildred that would suit a different event in the novel. How do the emotions of the scene influence your aesthetic choices?

2. Imagine what Vane might do after he leaves the battlefield at the end of the novel. What might he do next? How do his actions affect Mildred and Atakan’s happy ending?