Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What was your initial reaction to the novel’s premise and its content warning? Did the book’s dark romantasy elements supersede Zander’s dappling in the realm of “horrormance”? How did the plotline meet, subvert, or defy your expectations?

2. How did you feel about the dynamic between Elara and a powerful, monstrous figure like Vale? In what ways does Crown Me Dead either follow or reject the conventions of classic dark fairy tales such as Beauty and the Beast?

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

1. Elara’s decision to sacrifice her life is driven by a fierce, protective love for her brother, Daron. Think about a time when you felt a powerful sense of loyalty or responsibility for someone. How did that feeling influence your choices or actions?

2. Elara works as a gravedigger, dealing with decay and death on a daily basis. Have your own professional or personal experiences shaped the way you approached a challenging or uncomfortable situation?

3. Throughout the story, Elara is caught between Vale and Kael’s conflicting stories and deceptions. Think about a time when you had to navigate a situation with incomplete or contradictory information. How did you decide who or what to believe?

4. Kael is trapped in a conflict between his duty to save his kingdom and his personal refusal to commit murder. Have you ever felt caught between a larger responsibility and your own moral convictions? What was your solution?

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

1. The book’s “Reign of Rot” mirrors the societal collapse seen during historical pandemics like the Black Death. How does the story’s depiction of a society in crisis resonate with historical or modern-day events?

2. The monarchy of Marrowbrae maintains its power by hiding the truth about the crown’s curse from the public. Identify a specific scene where that concealment actively shapes a character’s choices. Where do you see similar dynamics at play in the world today?

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

1. Vale and Kael represent different forms of love, power, and monstrosity. How did Elara’s perception of each character shift, and what triggered these changes in dynamic?

2. The symbolism of rot and pestilence is pervasive in the novel. How does the rot function as a metaphor for the moral decay of the kingdom itself?

3. How does Elara’s mortuary work give her an advantage in the palace and alter her approach to Kael’s misbehavior?

4. How does the cursed crown in this book compare to other powerful, corrupting objects in fantasy literature, such as the One Ring in J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings? What does each object reveal about the nature of power and the cost of wielding it?

5. Analyze at least three character’s use of deception. What did their particular strategies reveal about their motivations and about the theme of Preserving Power through Deception?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. The novel ends just as Elara becomes queen. Imagine that you are writing the first scene of a sequel. What would be the first major decision that Elara makes, and how would she begin to govern her newly inherited kingdom?

2. If you were adapting Crown Me Dead for the screen, which scene would be the most challenging to film. How would you capture the book’s tone visually?

3. Suppose you were tasked with creating a symbolic crest for Queen Elara’s new reign. What images or symbols would you include to represent her origins, her sacrifice, and the unique nature of her rule?