Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What was your overall impression of the novel’s dark fantasy atmosphere? Did you find Meyer’s integration of fairytale and Germanic folklore compelling?

2. Meyer is known for her fairytale retellings, such as The Lunar Chronicles, which reimagines the story of Cinderella. How did Gilded compare in tone and style to her other novels?

3. Which character, scene, or idea has stayed with you the most since you finished reading the book?

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

1. Serilda’s stories are her primary defense mechanism in a world that fears her. In what ways do you use creativity or storytelling in your own life to connect with others or navigate difficult situations?

2. Gild’s centuries of isolation underscore the strength of his connection with Serilda. When, in your life, have you felt the loneliest? How did that loneliness affect you?

3. Serilda is constantly misjudged because of her golden-wheeled eyes. Have you ever felt that an outward trait led people to misunderstand who you are?

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

1. The town of Adalheid holds the Feast of Death to placate the Erlking. What does this ritual suggest about how communities can become complicit in cycles of violence to ensure their own survival?

2. The Erlking maintains power by magically erasing the history of Adalheid’s royal family. How does this act of historical erasure reflect the ways power can be maintained by controlling a society’s collective memory?

3. The children of Märchenfeld are Serilda’s only real friends. What does their unquestioning acceptance of her suggest about the relationship between innocence and prejudice?

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

1. The novel presents monstrosity as an internal rather than external quality. How does Meyer use the contrast between the beautiful, cruel Erlking and the sympathetic, cursed Gild to challenge traditional fairy-tale depictions of good and evil?

2. How does the meaning of spinning straw into gold evolve across the novel? What rhetorical devices or literary techniques does Meyer use to demonstrate this evolution?

3. Were you surprised by the revelation that Serilda’s father had become a nachzehrer? What did this gruesome twist add to the story’s exploration of loss and the monstrous consequences of the Erlking’s cruelty?

4. Did you find the cliffhanger ending, with Serilda cursed and bound to the Erlking, to be an effective setup for the sequel? How did Gilded compare to other fantasy duologies you’ve read such as Laini Taylor’s Strange the Dreamer?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. The entire story is told from Serilda’s perspective. Rewrite a key scene from the point of view of another character. What new insights does it offer?

2. Imagine you are Serilda, now trapped in the castle. Spin a story to tell the ghosts of the murdered children to give them comfort and hope.

3. Gild is known as the Vergoldetgeist. If you were a resident of Adalheid, what legend might you tell about this mysterious benefactor who leaves gold behind?