Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. How did Heavenly Bodies compare to your expectations for the romantasy genre? For those who’ve read other popular titles like Sarah J. Maas’s A Court of Thorns and Roses or Rebecca Yarros’s Fourth Wing, how does Imani Erriu’s world-building and romance feel similar or different?

2. What was your initial reaction to the enemies-to-lovers dynamic between Elara Bellereve and Prince Lorenzo “Enzo” D’Oro? Did you find their early hostility believable, and how did your feelings about their relationship change as the story progressed?

3. Consider the world of Celestia. What aspect of the magic system, with its zodiac-themed Stars and distinct kingdom powers, did you find most intriguing or unique?

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

1. Elara uses a mental “box” to suppress her overwhelming grief and fear. Have you ever felt the need to compartmentalize your emotions to get through a difficult time? What do you think are the benefits and drawbacks of this coping mechanism?

2. Enzo’s public persona as the cruel “Lion of Helios” conceals a compassionate artist. What does his character suggest about the difference between a person’s reputation and their true self? In what ways have you seen this kind of contrast play out in your own life or community?

3. What role do Elara’s unexpected allies like Merissa, Isra, and Leonardo “Leo” Acardi play in her survival and growth? How have surprising friendships or connections helped you navigate challenges in your own life?

4. Elara constantly struggles between her duty as queen and her personal desires for love and safety. Where did you see this internal conflict most clearly? How do you balance your own personal needs against your responsibilities to others?

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

1. The novel uses the concepts of “Light” and “Dark” not as moral absolutes but as political tools. In what ways do you see similar binaries used in our world today to justify conflict or create an “us versus them” mentality?

2. How does the system of capricious, self-serving Stars who demand fear function as a critique of unchecked authority? What parallels can you draw between the celestial politics of Celestia and real-world power structures, whether religious or governmental?

3. Prophecies from oracles dictate much of the characters’ lives. How does the novel explore the tension between fate and free will? In what ways do societal expectations or cultural narratives in our own world act like modern-day prophecies?

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

1. The conflict between Helios and Asteria subverts the classic light-versus-dark archetype found in works like J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. How does the novel challenge your expectations of “good” and “evil” by making the “light” kingdom oppressive and its prince a complex, morally ambiguous figure?

2. What is the significance of dreamwalking as a narrative device? How does it reveal character and advance the plot, particularly in uncovering Enzo’s and Leo’s pasts, in a way traditional storytelling might not?

3. Prophecy is a major driving force in the plot. How did the final revelation that the “King of Stars” was Enzo, not Ariete, change your understanding of the book’s events? What does this twist suggest about the nature of destiny and the danger of misinterpretation?

4. In what ways does King Idris D’Oro’s brand of tyranny, rooted in political manipulation and personal abuse, differ from the cosmic cruelty of the celestial antagonist, Ariete? What does this contrast suggest about the nature of evil?

5. The novel’s outlook on the light versus dark archetype evolves throughout the story. At what point did you start to see light and shadow less as opposing forces and more as complementary ones? How does their synthesis in the duskglass blade symbolize Elara and Enzo’s relationship?

6. The reveal of the Celestes comes very late in the book. How effective did you find this major expansion of the world’s mythology? Did it feel like a natural progression or an abrupt shift, and how did it impact your view of the story as a whole?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Design a new royal sigil for Elara that represents the union of Helios and Asteria. What images and symbols would you choose to depict the integration of light and shadow, and what would your design communicate about her new reign?

2. You have been tasked with drafting the entry for The Mythas of Celestia that details the story of Elara and Enzo. What would you title this new myth, and which key events would you highlight to immortalize their journey from enemies to soulmates and their fight against the Stars?

3. Put yourself in the role of Isra, the oracle. What is one piece of advice you would have given Elara and Enzo before they went to Aphrodea, knowing what you know about their soul-tie? How might it have changed the course of events?