Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. The dedication reads, “To a love that’s nurtured by pleasure and intensified by pain” (vii). Do you feel the story lived up to this premise, and what was your overall impression of the book’s intense psychological and physical dynamics?

2. How does God of Pain compare to other romance novels you’ve read, especially those in the popular “dark romance” subgenre? Do you think its explicit content was used effectively to explore the characters’ psychology?

3. What was the most memorable or surprising element of the story for you?

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

1. What did you think of Annika’s initial strategy to gain autonomy by using manipulation and the “fake boyfriend” scheme rather than direct confrontation? Have you ever taken an indirect method of getting what you want because you felt afraid or discouraged from being more confrontational? Would you do it again?

2. Annika’s friends have varied reactions to her relationship with Creighton, from Ava’s fierce loyalty to Cecily’s quiet concern. Have you ever had to navigate a friendship where you disagreed with a friend’s choice of partner, and how did that experience inform your reading of their dynamic?

3. The safe word “violet” is central to Annika and Creighton’s dynamic. What role do you think clear boundaries and explicit communication play in building trust in any type of relationship?

4. What are your thoughts on Annika’s powerful curiosity, which she calls a “toxic trait”? When does the desire to understand or “fix” someone’s pain cross a line into something unhealthy?

5. Several characters, including her parents and brother, try to control Annika by claiming it is for her own good. Have you ever had someone treat you this way, or have you treated someone else like this? Where do you see the line between protection and control?

6. Characters show care in unconventional ways, like Creighton adopting Tiger the cat for Annika or eating her terrible cooking. Which small acts of service or affection in the story resonated most with you?

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

1. The story is set within a world of elite university clubs intertwined with Mafia power structures. In what ways does this hyper-privileged and dangerous setting shape the characters’ morality and their understanding of loyalty and justice?

2. Why do you think dark romance narratives featuring antiheroes and morally ambiguous relationships have become so popular, especially in online communities like #BookTok?

3. Annika’s journey begins with her family treating her as a strategic asset for an arranged marriage. In what ways does the novel explore or challenge traditional gender roles within such a patriarchal power structure?

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

1. What does Creighton’s half-smiling, half-frowning mask symbolize about his internal conflict and the facade he presents to the world?

2. Rina Kent uses the recurring motif of the color purple to represent Annika. How did you see this symbolism evolve from representing her identity to representing her agency, specifically as her safe word, “violet”?

3. Creighton’s character fits the classic antihero archetype. How does the novel create both flawed and sympathetic actions or desires for his character, and what does his complicated morality contribute to the development of the story’s themes?

4. The brothers Jeremy Volkov and Eli King both act as protectors. In what ways do their different styles of control, one patriarchal and the other psychological, influence Annika and Creighton’s relationship?

5. Consent is shown as a continuous negotiation. How does the scene where Creighton activates Annika’s sex toy in public test the boundaries they’ve established and complicate their power dynamic?

6. In the climax, Annika holds a gun to her own head and declares, “I’d choose me” (485). How does this act represent her newfound sense of self-determination? Does her choice truly allow her agency in the broader conflict?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Imagine you are a designer tasked with creating Creighton’s spider tattoo. How would you visually represent his traumatic memory while also capturing the sense of power he tries to project through it?

2. If you were to design a personal sanctuary for Annika within the Elites’ compound, what would it look like?

3. The novel ends with the couple in a negotiated peace. If you were to write a short scene showing them navigating a mundane, everyday conflict five years in the future, how would their unique dynamic play out?