Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. How did the novel’s dark, Southern Gothic atmosphere affect your reading experience? Did it remind you of other works in the genre, such as those by William Faulkner—As I Lay Dying (1930), Light in August (1932)—or Flannery O’Connor—Wise Blood (1952), The Violent Bear It Away (1960)? What similarities or differences stood out to you?

2. What did you think of the “Wonderboy” persona created for Manny? How did your impression of him change as the story progressed, particularly with the inclusion of the interludes?

3. Manny’s death is both violent and, in some ways, a consequence of his own actions, set in motion by Diamond. How did you respond to this conclusion? Did it feel satisfying, unsettling, or something else? Why?

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

1. Priscilla’s identity is deeply tied to her public roles as the church’s First Lady, a wife, and a mother. Have you ever felt pressure to maintain an image that didn’t fully match how you felt inside? How did you handle that situation?

2. Have you ever been part of a group or community where questioning a respected or powerful figure felt difficult? What made it hard to speak up, and what were the consequences of staying silent or challenging them?

3. Diamond defends Manny long after red flags appear, choosing to believe in the “Wonderboy” she loves. Have you ever trusted someone despite warning signs? What influenced your decision to hold on or let go?

4. Kathareen tells Diamond that her only real power lies in not giving it away. Have you ever felt that you were giving too much of yourself, emotionally or otherwise, to someone else? What helped you recognize or change that dynamic?

5. The novel portrays faith as something that can both support and control a community. Have you ever experienced religion or belief systems as a source of comfort, pressure, or conflict in your own life? How did that shape your perspective?

6. The story includes objects that hold hidden meanings and secrets. Have you ever come across an object, message, or detail that changed your understanding of a person or situation? What impact did that discovery have on you?

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

1. The guide discusses the historical role of the Black church as a center for community power in the Mississippi Delta. How does the novel portray the influence of this kind of authority? What happens when that power is concentrated in one individual like Sabre Winfrey?

2. The Winfrey family is closely tied to religious and patriarchal authority. How does the novel present the effects of this kind of power structure on both women and men?

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

1. Addie Citchens places Dominion firmly in the Southern Gothic tradition. Which elements of the genre, such as secrecy, decay, or moral tension, stood out to you most? How do these elements shape your understanding of the Winfrey family?

2. The novel presents Priscilla and Diamond as contrasting characters. How do their experiences and choices differ across the story? What do these contrasts suggest about how the novel explores women’s agency?

3. The narrative includes interludes that reveal Manny’s past. How did this non-linear structure influence your reading experience? Did it change how you understood Manny as the story progressed?

4. The locked box of panties appears at key moments in the story. How does its meaning shift over time? What role does it play in shaping the novel’s exploration of secrecy and truth?

5. Diamond is given the final word in the Epilogue. How did you interpret this narrative choice? What does her final decision suggest about her character and the direction of the story’s ending?

6. The idea of “dominion” runs throughout the novel. How is this concept expressed through different characters, particularly Reverend Winfrey and Manny? In what ways do their approaches to control compare or differ?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. The novel hints at the contents of the Joker’s notebook, “Tales of a Joker.” Write a short entry from his perspective. What might he notice about Dominion, its people, and the hidden tensions beneath everyday life?

2. Priscilla’s move to a new house on Barnes Street is a major step in reclaiming her identity. Imagine an object she chooses to keep or place in her new home. What does it look like, and what meaning might it hold for her at this stage of her life?

3. The Epilogue closes with Diamond resolved to leave Dominion and find her own future. Imagine the beginning of her next chapter. Where might she go, and what is one moment or decision that defines this new phase of her life?