Hex

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. The novel blends a 17th-century curse with 21st-century technology, creating a unique type of horror. How effective did you find this combination of ancient superstition and modern surveillance? Did it make the story more or less frightening for you?

2. For those who have read other works by Thomas Olde Heuvelt, like Echo or Oracle, how did your experience with HEX compare? What signature elements of his storytelling did you recognize, and in what ways did this novel feel different?

3. Did you find Steve’s final act of sewing his own eyes shut to be a fitting conclusion for his character and for the novel as a whole? What emotions did that final scene leave you with?

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

1. The residents of Black Spring have adapted to living with the constant, managed presence of Katherine van Wyler. Think about a time you’ve had to adjust to a difficult or stressful situation that became a part of daily life. How did your own process of adaptation compare to the ways the townspeople coped?

2. Tyler’s desire to tell his girlfriend, Laurie, the town’s secret is a major catalyst for the plot. Have you ever felt caught between the need to protect a secret and the desire to be open with someone you care about? How do you balance loyalty with personal honesty?

3. Steve Grant, a man of science, has his rational worldview shattered by the events in Black Spring. Can you recall a time when an experience made you question a deeply held belief or perspective? How did you navigate the tension between what you believed and what you were experiencing?

4. Griselda Holst creates a personal religion around Katherine, finding comfort and a sense of power in something the rest of the town fears. What do you think drives people to form personal connections with or find meaning in ideas or figures that society might consider dangerous or strange?

5. The town’s decision to sacrifice certain freedoms for a sense of security is central to the story. What are your thoughts on where the line should be drawn between safety and liberty?

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

1. The HEX organization uses constant surveillance to maintain control, creating a high-tech panopticon. What commentary do you believe the novel is making about contemporary societies’ increasing use of surveillance technology in the name of security?

2. Black Spring’s public trial and flogging represent a regression to mob violence. How does this public shaming mirror behaviors we see today, particularly in online spaces and on social media?

3. The novel explores how a community can normalize and ritualize an act of extreme violence to maintain social order. How does Black Spring’s relationship with its curse and its eventual scapegoating of Jaydon Holst compare to the traditions depicted in a story like Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery”?

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

1. What is the significance of Katherine’s eyes and mouth being sewn shut? How does this central symbol of silenced truth connect to the recurring motif of sight, from HEX’s cameras and Tyler’s “Open Your Eyes” project to Matt’s eventual self-blinding?

2. The theme of The Slippery Nature of Victimhood and Villainy is key to the novel. At what point, if any, did your perception of Katherine as a villain or victim shift? Whom, ultimately, did you see as the true monster in Black Spring?

3. How does the author use modern technology, like iPhones and GoPro cameras, to highlight the futility of trying to rationalize or control an ancient, primal horror? What does this contrast suggest about the limits of a modern worldview?

4. Consider the town’s transformation from a seemingly modern community to one that embraces mob justice and superstition. Which events or characters do you see as the most critical catalysts for this moral and social collapse?

5. What effect did the shifting perspectives between characters like Steve, Tyler, and Robert Grim have on your reading experience? How did seeing the crisis through their different eyes shape your understanding of the town’s collective trauma?

6. The woods surrounding Black Spring are a central presence in the story. In what ways does this setting function as more than just a location, representing the untamable past and the community’s subconscious fears?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Imagine you are a resident who, unlike Steve, decides to make a compelling case to the Town Council for a completely new, nonviolent strategy to manage the curse. What would your proposal be, and how would you try to convince a community so deeply rooted in fear to try it?

2. The residents of Black Spring leave many strange offerings for Katherine, from pâté to a peacock. If you were to design another offering, what object would you choose to represent a resident’s secret hope, fear, or guilt? What story would that object tell?