Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Half City blends urban fantasy, dark academia, and romance into a single story. How did this mix of genres affect your reading experience, and did you find one element more compelling than the others?

2. How did you feel about the balance between the high-stakes fantasy plot and Viv and Reid’s developing romance? If you’ve read other popular romantasy books, like those in Sarah J. Maas’s A Court of Thorns and Roses series, how does this book’s approach to the genre compare?

3. Which of the book’s major reveals surprised you the most? Was it Fiona’s true identity, Dean Driscoll’s betrayal, or the final cliffhanger with Deacon Graveheart, and what made that moment so effective for you?

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

1. Viv leads a “double life,” hiding her hunter identity from her family and friends, which leads to isolation and strain. Think about a time you’ve had to balance different parts of your life or identity. How did Viv’s struggle to manage her two worlds resonate with you? Can you relate to her sense of imbalance?

2. What did you think of the theme Found Family Over Blood Ties as it played out in the story? Do you have a “found family” in your own life, and what qualities make those bonds so powerful?

3. Reid loathes his demonic heritage and chooses a life of redemption to define himself against it. Can you connect his journey to any experiences where you’ve had to define yourself against expectations or origins you didn’t choose?

4. Viv’s photography is a way for her to connect with the human world she feels apart from. What role do creative outlets or hobbies play in your life when you need to feel grounded or remind yourself of what’s important?

5. The relationship between Viv and her mother, Beatrice, is full of pressure and misunderstanding. Have you ever felt pressure from family or society to follow a certain path, and how did you navigate those expectations?

6. Early on, Viv feels like an outcast both at home and at Harker Academy. When have you felt like you didn’t quite belong, and what helped you find your place or community?

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

1. What role does the Chasm play in shaping the society of Astera? How does this physical divide reflect real-world issues of socioeconomic inequality and urban segregation you see today?

2. Half City is a prime example of the romantasy genre, which has gained huge popularity through platforms like BookTok. What do you think makes this blend of romance and epic fantasy so appealing to modern audiences, and how does social media influence the books you choose to read?

3. Harker Academy presents itself as a place of order and training, yet it’s filled with institutional prejudice, as shown by the faculty’s distrust of Reid. Where have you seen examples of institutions failing to live up to their stated ideals in the real world?

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

1. The classic enemies-to-lovers trope is central to Viv and Reid’s relationship. How does their initial animosity help develop their characters and push them toward confronting their own “monstrous” natures?

2. How do Viv and Reid each embody the theme of Accepting a Monstrous Self? In what ways are their journeys of self-acceptance similar, and where do they diverge?

3. What is the significance of Fiona’s dual identity as Professor Lisette? How does her character’s hidden life mirror Viv’s own struggles and complicate the idea of who can be trusted?

4. Viv’s silver daggers are much more than just weapons. How does their meaning evolve throughout the story, from a simple inheritance to a symbol of her fractured identity and a key to the central mystery?

5. The authorial context connects Viv’s “double life” to the conflict in Kate Chopin’s classic novel, The Awakening, where a woman is torn between her social role and her personal freedom. In what ways can Viv’s journey be seen as a modern, fantastical take on this theme?

6. How does the setting of Harker Academy serve as more than just a backdrop? In what ways does it function as a crucible that is both a sanctuary for the students and a source of deep danger?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. The book ends on a major cliffhanger with Viv in the hands of Deacon Graveheart. What do you imagine happens in the first chapter of the next book?

2. If you could give one piece of advice to Viv at the beginning of the book, what would it be? How might the story have changed if she had followed it?

3. Imagine you are designing the syllabus for a new course at Harker Academy. What would your class be called, what key topics would you cover, and what would be the final exam?