Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. The novel begins in the familiar “cozy fantasy” world of Thune but quickly pivots into a higher-stakes road adventure. For those who’ve read other books in the series, how did this shift in tone affect your reading experience compared to Legends & Lattes (2022) or Bookshops & Bonedust (2023)?

2. What was your initial reaction to Fern’s impulsive decision to hide in Astryx’s cart and abandon her new life?

3. Which of the book’s many memorable characters resonated with you the most? Was it Fern on her journey of self-discovery, the legendary but weary Astryx, the chaotic Zyll, or someone else entirely?

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

1. Fern’s crisis is rooted in the feeling that her career as a bookseller no longer defines her. Looking at your own life, have you ever felt that your identity was deeply tied to a specific job or role? How does Fern’s journey to redefine herself connect with your own experiences of personal growth?

2. Why do you think the idea of solving one’s problems by moving to a new place, like Fern’s initial plan to relocate to Thune, is such a powerful and persistent fantasy?

3. In the novel, Zelia Greatstrider’s letter suggests “a life truly lived is a glorious tangle” (5), while Astryx’s philosophy is to follow a “straight road when night falls” (210). Which of these ideas about navigating life’s uncertainties do you find more appealing, and why?

4. The inability to have a difficult conversation with Viv is what ultimately pushes Fern to flee. Have you ever avoided a tough but necessary conversation, and what were the consequences?

5. What do you think of Quillin’s idea that work is just “the nails in [the] house” and not the house itself (139)?

6. Zyll’s advice to Fern is “Jump, or no jump” (100). Thinking about your own life, have you ever faced a moment that felt like a clear choice between staying put and taking a leap into the unknown?

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

1. Cozy fantasy—including the original Legends & Lattes—became popular in the pandemic era, rebuking conflict and isolation in favor of escapism from global turmoil and a romanticization of community. How does Brigands & Breadknives diverge from this goal? How does the novel respond to current-day cultural trends and concerns?

2. While Fern travels in the Epilogue with Quillin, who is presented as a romantic interest, much of the novel is not spent developing romantic relationships. How does this narrative choice diverge from popular trends in the fantasy genre, and what does this imply about Fern’s personal arc in the novel?

3. Tullah is driven by the destruction of her reputation, which she calls “a story that people believe” (286). What does the novel suggest about how people build their identities around public perception and the stories others tell about them?

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

1. Astryx begins as a legendary, almost mythical figure, but the story gradually reveals her weariness and vulnerability. What specific moments or interactions were most effective in humanizing her and challenging the archetype of the flawless hero?

2. What is the most significant way Zyll’s unpredictable actions as a “trickster” change the course of the story for Fern and Astryx?

3. Breadlee, the Elder Blade reforged into a common breadknife, serves as a symbol of reinvention. In what ways does his journey from “diminishment” to heroism illuminate Fern’s own character arc?

4. How does the recurring motif of Fern’s unsent letters to Viv chart her internal transformation throughout the novel?

5. Consider the different forms of storytelling present in the book: Fern’s recounting of past adventures, Staysha’s self-serving ballads, and Fern’s eventual decision to write a book. What do these examples suggest about the power and purpose of telling one’s own stories?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Imagine you are designing the cover for Fern’s published book, The Straight Road in the Dark. What image or symbol from her journey would you choose for the cover, and why?

2. At the end of the novel, Fern tearfully declines Astryx’s offer to become her squire. If you could write an Epilogue set 10 years later, where would you imagine Fern, Astryx, and Zyll to be?

3. If you could give one piece of advice to Fern as she sits sobbing in the alley behind her new bookshop, what would it be?