Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. How did the context of the book’s viral success shape your reading experience? Did you feel the use of popular tropes like “enemies-to-lovers” and a deadly competition made the story more engaging or predictable?

2. What was your immediate reaction to the novel’s final twist, where the Atonement Trials are revealed to be a lie? How did this revelation change your understanding of Draven?

3. Which scene from the Atonement Trials was the most memorable for you, and why?

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

1. Selena’s journey is defined by the tension between her desire for acceptance and the need to be ruthless to survive. Think about a time you’ve felt pulled between being agreeable and asserting your own needs. How do you navigate that conflict?

2. Have you ever found yourself forming an unexpected alliance, like the one between Selena and Isera in the maze? What circumstances brought you together, and what did you learn from the experience of trusting someone you didn’t know well?

3. Fenriel values his bond with his hawk so much that he gives up his own chance at freedom to repay Selena for saving him. In your own life, what’s something that you value so deeply that you might make a significant sacrifice for it? 

4. Kevlin is consumed by his past failures. Can you think of a time when the fear of failing at something important influenced your own actions or mindset?

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

1. The novel uses the fantasy setting to explore the theme of Using the Past to Justify Present Injustice. How does the dragon shifters’ narrative about the “Age of Strife” reflect real-world instances where past events are used to rationalize present day injustices or inequalities?

2. The Iceheart dynasty maintains its power by turning the oppressed fae against one another in the Atonement Trials. Where do you see similar “divide and conquer” strategies used in modern society, whether in politics, the workplace, or social dynamics?

3. What does the book suggest about the nature of justice versus vengeance? Does the dragon shifters’ system of “atonement” ever seem justified, or is it purely a system of revenge designed to perpetuate a cycle of cruelty?

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

1. How does the author maintain the tension in Draven’s character, showing him as both a cruel antagonist and a secret protector? Which specific actions of his seemed most contradictory, and when did you first begin to suspect his motives weren’t what they seemed?

2. How does Selena weaponize vulnerability to gain power throughout the novel? What does her success suggest about the nature of power in this world?

3. How does the symbol of iron reinforce the story’s central ideas of subjugation and the illusion of freedom?

4. How does each of the Atonement Trials test the contestants in a different way and serve the dragon shifters’ goal of undermining fae solidarity? What did the design of each challenge reveal about the oppressors’ understanding of their subjects?

5. Deadly competitions are a popular trope in fiction, with famous examples like the tournament in The Hunger Games. How do the Atonement Trials in this novel compare? What makes the trials feel unique, and what elements felt familiar to you?

6. How do wings evolve from a symbol of freedom into a motif of Vulnerability as a Source of Power? How do they contribute to the dragon shifters’ characterization, especially in relation to Draven?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. If Selena had learned the truth about the “life slaves” before the final trial, what do you think she would have done with that information? 

2. Imagine you are tasked with creating a secret code for the fae resistance. Drawing inspiration from Selena’s world, what symbols, phrases, or signals would you use to communicate messages about dragon shifter patrols or secret meetings?

3. The novel ends with an enslaved Selena vowing to kill Draven. What are your predictions for the sequel? What kind of skills or alliances do you think she will need to develop to challenge a regime that has drained her of her magic?