Crowntide

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. How does Crowntide compare to the previous books in The Lightlark Saga? Did its tone, pacing, and stakes meet your expectations for the fourth installment in the series?

2. What did you think of the love triangle and the way it evolved in this book? Were you surprised by Grim’s final betrayal and where the three main characters ended up at the end of the novel?

3. What scene or revelation was the most impactful for you, and why did it stand out to you?

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

1. The Pool of Possibilities shows Isla that her past “mistakes” often prevented worse outcomes. In your own life, do you find yourself pulled towards the past, or do you tend to look ahead to the future? When you experience regret, what helps you move forward?

2. At the start of the book, Grim professes that his love for Isla is infinite, but his final act in the book is to betray her to save himself. Do you think that unbreakable, selfless love can truly exist? Why or why not?

3. Oro constantly struggles to balance his duty to his kingdom with his personal love for Isla. Have you ever felt torn between a major responsibility and a personal desire, and how did you navigate that kind of tension?

4. When Isla is at her lowest, she clings to the phrase “Find your fire.” Do you have a personal mantra or saying that gives you strength? Consider sharing these words and how they inspired you during a difficult time.

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

1. How does Isla’s determined struggle against the prophecies that define her life engage with the classic philosophical debate between fate and free will?

2. The Lightlark Saga gained fame through TikTok’s #BookTok community. Did knowing this context influence your reading experience at all? In what ways might the story’s structure or tropes reflect its origins in a social media-driven market?

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

1. Aster uses alternating third-person perspective to depict Isla, Oro, and Grim’s perspectives. How did this narrative choice impact your connection to the characters and your understanding of the central conflicts, especially after Grim’s memories are erased?

2. Romantasy novels like Sarah J. Maas’s A Court of Thorns and Roses (2015) often feature love stories that influence politics. How does Crowntide use its central love triangle to drive the main plot and raise the novel’s stakes beyond personal heartbreak?

3. Let’s talk about the significance of the various magical settings. What do the underwater prison, the Forgotten Forest, and the ash desert of Skyshade each represent in the characters’ psychological journeys?

4. How does Cronan function as a foil for both Grim and Isla? What specific choices or traits highlight the different paths Isla and Grim could have taken with their immense power?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Imagine you are a historian in the world of Lightlark 500 years after these events. Write a short entry for a history book describing the legacy of the Crowntide war and the complicated relationship between Isla, Oro, and Grim. How are they remembered?

2. Create a playlist that captures Isla’s emotional journey over the course of the novel.