Brutal Prince

Examine Callum’s jealousy not simply as a character trait but as a crucial narrative device. How does the novel utilize his violent, possessive reactions, particularly toward Oliver, to expose his emotional vulnerability and catalyze the transition from a strategic arrangement to a genuine personal bond?

How does the dual first-person perspective allow Lark to explore Vulnerability as the Foundation of Trust? Cite specific examples from the text to support your argument.

How does the contemporary mafia setting of Brutal Prince contribute to the novel’s thematic interest in Navigating Identity Within the Confines of Family Legacy? How does it alter the stakes and power dynamics of the arranged marriage trope when compared to its use in a historical context like Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet?

Explore how the novel uses the sociocultural geography of Chicago to ground its central conflict. How do the contrasting settings of the Griffins’ Gold Coast estate and the Gallos’ Old Town home function as symbols of the families’ conflicting values regarding tradition, legacy, and power?

How does Lark subvert or reinforce traditional gender roles within the mafia romance subgenre?

Examine the two major fires in the novel, the library fire and the beach house inferno, as narrative bookends that map the central relationship’s trajectory. How does Lark use the symbolism and imagery of fire to develop the novel's central themes?

What roles do the novel’s secondary characters, Sebastian and Jack, serve in the narrative? Compare and contrast the two men and explore the ways Lark uses them to help characterize her central protagonists and move the plot forward.

What literary techniques or devices does Lark use to balance acts of physical aggression and dominance with moments of escalating intimacy and emotional connection within the narrative? Cite specific examples from the text to support your argument.