Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Do you feel Glint stood on its own as the second book in the series, or is reading Gild essential to the experience? How did the story’s momentum from the first book affect your engagement with Auren’s character arc in the second?

2. The book is a reimagining of the King Midas myth, a popular trend in modern fantasy. How did you feel this retelling compared to other myth-inspired stories you may have read, such as Madeline Miller’s Circe or Jennifer Saint’s Ariadne? What new perspectives on the myth did Raven Kennedy bring to the forefront by focusing on Auren, the “golden object,” instead of the king?

3. How did you feel about the book’s blend of dark fantasy and romance? Did you find the high-stakes world-building and the developing “enemies-to-lovers” relationship between Auren and Commander Rip balanced each other effectively, or did one element overshadow the other for you?

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

1. Auren’s journey is largely about finding her voice after a decade of being silenced and objectified. Think about a time in your own life when you had to learn to advocate for yourself or speak up about something important to you. What aspects of Auren’s internal struggle to move from passivity to agency felt most relatable?

2. Lu offers Auren some powerful advice: “Own your shit and choose yourself” (311). This becomes a turning point for Auren’s mindset. Can you think of a piece of advice you’ve received that shifted your perspective in a significant way? What makes advice like this so impactful?

3. Did you find yourself judging Auren for her loyalty to Midas, or did you empathize with her reasons for staying? Have you ever struggled to cut a negative relationship out of your life, and did Kennedy’s presentation of this conflict feel realistic to you?

4. It takes significant effort from Rip and other characters to help Auren accept her fae identity and magical powers. Have you ever had a quality you felt embarrassed or ashamed of, and how did you learn to accept it? Was it on your own or through relationships, like Auren?

5. The novel explores different forms of strength, from Auren’s hidden Fae power and Lu’s warrior skills to Queen Malina’s political cunning and Rissa’s pragmatic survival instincts. Which character’s version of strength did you identify most with, and why?

6. Auren’s budding camaraderie with Hojat and Keg, as well as the Wrath, complicates her worldview and makes her feel like a traitor. Have you ever had an experience where getting to know someone challenged a long-held belief or prejudice you held? How did that change your perspective?

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

1. How does the novel use the fantasy setting to comment on real-world dynamics of power, control, and abuse? In what ways does Midas’s manipulation of Auren, framing his possessiveness as protection, mirror patterns seen in society?

2. Queen Malina and the saddles, in particular, are treated as objects with a specific use for the king, whether it be birthing an heir or offering sexual satisfaction. How does their collective story, alongside Auren’s, critique social structures that reduce women to their utility or appearance?

3. The novel’s viral success was driven by TikTok’s “BookTok” community. What does the popularity of Glint and the “romantasy” genre suggest about current trends in reading and what audiences are looking for in fiction today?

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

1. The narrative alternates between Auren’s journey and Queen Malina’s political scheming in Highbell. What is the effect of this parallel structure? How do their stories serve as foils for each other in exploring themes of female power and imprisonment?

2. What is the significance of Auren’s golden ribbons as a symbol? How do they evolve as the story progresses?

3. The romance plot follows the popular “enemies-to-lovers” trope. In what ways does the dynamic between Auren and Rip fulfill the expectations of this trope, and where does it perhaps subvert them, especially considering the final reveal?

4. King Midas is the novel’s primary villain. In your opinion, what makes him such an effective antagonist for Auren’s journey? Is he a complex character?

5. The big reveal that Commander Rip is actually King Slade Ravinger re-contextualizes all of his previous actions. Looking back, were there any clues or moments of foreshadowing that hinted at his true identity? How did this twist change your understanding of his motivations?

6. Kennedy’s background is in writing romantic comedy. How might her experience in that genre influence the pacing, dialogue, or development of the romantic relationship within this dark fantasy setting?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Picture yourself designing a personal coat of arms for Auren at the end of the novel. What symbols would you include to represent her journey, her reclaimed identity, and her future, moving beyond the gilded cage and the sigils of Midas or Ravinger?

2. The Wrath serves as Commander Rip’s loyal inner circle. Based on the values they demonstrate—like loyalty, discipline, and mutual trust—what would you write as their official charter or mission statement?

3. You’re a new recruit in the Fourth Kingdom’s army, assigned to observe Auren. Which of the supporting characters—like the straightforward Captain Lu, the gruff Osrik, or the friendly cook Keg—would you align yourself with to get a better understanding of the situation? What is one piece of advice you would try to give Auren?