Exodus

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. As the second installment in a trilogy, Exodus pivots from the romance described in Flock to a much darker, more intense story of revenge and psychological warfare. How did this shift in tone affect your reading experience?

2. How did you feel about the novel’s role as a “bridge narrative,” a story that deepens conflict without providing full resolution? Did the tragic, cliffhanger-style ending leave you eager for the final book, or did you find it frustrating?

3. Does this novel successfully balance the elements of romantic suspense, dark romance, and erotic thriller? Why or why not?

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

1. How did you react to the characters’ constant shifting allegiances? Have you ever been forced to choose between your loyalty to a person, a mission, or yourself?

2. Where do you stand on Tobias’s philosophy that safety is an illusion?

3. Cecelia eventually adopts the manipulative tactics of The Ravenhood to protect herself. Have you ever had to adopt a similar strategy of fighting fire with fire? What was the outcome?

4. How accurate is Tobias’s assertion that Cecelia is an “addict” of chaos and the feeling of being loved? How does this idea reshape your understanding of her relationships with Sean, Dominic, and Tobias himself?

5. What does the novel reveal about the nature of a “found family” like The Ravenhood?

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

1. How effectively does the novel tap into common frustrations with corporate crime and a broken justice system that often fails to hold the powerful accountable?

2. By the end of the story, the Ravenhood’s influence is revealed to have reached the highest levels of government. What commentary does this development offer on the nature of clandestine power and its role in shaping society?

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

1. Tobias frequently uses chess to demonstrate his control and strategic mindset. How does this motif evolve as Cecelia learns the rules of his world and begins making her own unpredictable moves?

2. How do Sean and Dominic serve as foils for one another?

3. How does the recurring use of the French language contribute to the power dynamics in the novel?

4. Kate Stewart is known for writing emotionally intense, high-stakes romances. How does the dynamic between Cecelia and The Ravenhood men compare to the premises and conflicts of Stewart’s other novels?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Tobias confesses that his dream is to have a house in Saint-Jean-de-Luz, France, a sanctuary away from his life of crime. What do you think this house would look like?

2. Cecelia founds a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to fighting the kind of corporate greed that her father embodied. If this were a real organization, what real-world mission or project might her foundation take on first?

3. Imagine that you have been recruited into The Ravenhood due to a particular skill that you possess. What is that skill, and what role would you play in the organization’s war against corruption?