Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. How did the Prologue shape your expectations for Elowen’s story? In what ways did the novel fulfill the promise of her becoming a “vengeful queen,” and where did her journey surprise you?

2. Fear the Flames is often compared to other popular romantasy books like Rebecca Yarros’s Fourth Wing or Sarah J. Maas’s A Court of Thorns and Roses. If you’ve read others in this genre, how did this book feel similar or different to you? What elements do you think it handled particularly well?

3. The story blends high-stakes political fantasy with a central romance. Did you find the balance between these two elements effective?

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

1. Elowen finds a chosen family in Finnian, Saskia, and Ryder. In your own life, who is part of your chosen family? What shared experiences brought you together?

2. After her escape from Imirath, Elowen vows to herself that she will “never be helpless again” (49). Have you ever made a promise to yourself that fundamentally changed your approach to life or a specific situation? What did that moment look like for you?

3. Finnian’s loyalty to Elowen is absolute even when he disagrees with her plans. What qualities do you believe are most essential in a friend? How does Finnian’s character embody these qualities?

4. For 15 years, Elowen builds the hidden kingdom of Aestilian into a thriving sanctuary. Think about a time when you helped build something from the ground up, whether a community, a project, or a creative endeavor. What challenges and rewards did you find in that process?

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

1. The theme of Female Power as a Threat to Patriarchal Control is central with figures like King Garrick and King Eagor trying to suppress Elowen. Where do you see similar dynamics of powerful women being perceived as threatening to established systems in our world today?

2. How do you think platforms like TikTok, which made Fear the Flames a viral sensation, are changing the publishing industry and the kinds of stories that become popular? Has social media ever influenced you to read a book?

3. The novel presents several different models of leadership from Garrick’s tyranny to Eagor’s weakness and Elowen’s emerging role as a queen. What does the story argue are the most important qualities for a just and effective ruler?

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

1. What purpose does the initial hostility between Elowen and Cayden serve in the narrative? Which specific events challenge and transform their enemies-to-lovers dynamic?

2. How do the five dragons function as a symbol for Elowen’s true self? In what ways do their physical imprisonment and eventual liberation mirror her internal struggle to reclaim her identity and power?

3. Morally gray antiheroes are a staple of the romantasy genre, and Cayden fits this archetype. How does his character compare to other famous antiheroes, such as Rhysand from Sarah J. Maas’s A Court of Thorns and Roses? What makes these complex, sometimes brutal characters compelling to readers?

4. Ailliard’s journey from savior to antagonist is a critical part of the story. What does his ultimate betrayal reveal about the dangers of paternalism and the idea of “protecting” someone by limiting their freedom?

5. How does the author use the distinct locations of Aestilian, the Vareveth court, and the Imirath dungeons to reflect Elowen’s emotional state and the political stakes at different points in her journey?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. At the end of the book, Elowen and Cayden are crowned the Conquerors of Vareveth. If you were commissioned to design the new Veles house banner, what imagery and colors would you use to represent their joint rule, their individual pasts, and the future they hope to build?

2. Imagine you are the fire priestess. What prophecy or private warning might you give to Elowen about the path that lies ahead for a dragon-riding queen and her king?

3. Elowen builds Aestilian on the principle of providing a safe home for those who have been cast out from other kingdoms. If you were to found your own hidden sanctuary, what would be its three most important guiding laws or values, and why would you choose them?