Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. If you’ve read Sarah J. Maas’s A Court of Thorns and Roses (2015) or other romantasy novels, what did you expect from Kiss of the Basilisk? How did the novel conform to or depart from the genre?

2. What role did the novel’s explicit sexual content play in your reading experience? Do you prefer romances to be more or less “spicy”?

3. Was Leo or Caspen the right match for Tem? Who did you hope she would end up with?

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

1. Tem is often underestimated or dismissed because of her low social and economic position. Have you ever been in a situation where others underestimated you or did not take you seriously? How did you cope?

2. Initially, Tem feels insecure about her appearance and sometimes questions whether Caspen would be better off with a fellow basilisk. What events in your life have helped to bolster your confidence over time? Did these come from reassurance from others, from your own achievements, or both?

3. Tem keeps trying to negotiate a path that prevents war while honoring what she wants, like setting conditions for cresting to protect Leo’s family. Have you ever tried to strategically broker a compromise within your personal or professional life? How did the situation resolve?

4. Tem’s feelings for Leo evolve over time, and she does not initially like or trust him. Have you ever become attracted to someone only after getting to know them?

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

1. The training ritual, in which young women learn sexual skills to win the prince’s favor, seems to foreground male gratification. However, Tem’s pleasure is central to her interactions with Caspen and Leo. Did the novel put equal weight on sexual enjoyment for both male and female partners? How do you think romance novels (especially ones with graphic sexual content) differ from pornography, especially in how they depict women’s sexuality?

2. The wealth possessed by human royals turns out to be rooted in their exploitation of the basilisks (who were indigenous to the land before humans arrived). Why do you think that so many societies have relied on exploiting more vulnerable populations? Is violence driven by greed inevitable?

3. Tem dreams of a life where she could cultivate relationships with both Leo and Caspen. Do you think polyamory has become more socially accepted as a relationship structure? Do you believe it can lead to successful long-term relationships?

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

1. How is Tem’s mother positioned as an alternative to the complicated relationships between Caspen, Leo, and their fathers? Does Tem and her mother’s humble lifestyle set them up to be happier than the wealthier characters?

2. The novel’s events unfold during the autumn months, a time of seasonal change. How does this setting enhance the novel’s mood and tone?

3. Tem and Caspen’s telepathic communication reflects the strength of their bond but also allows for narrative complexity. Discuss how their ability to communicate without being in the same place affects the plot development. Could it be considered an analogue to modern technologies like texting?

4. Tem’s “hybreed” identity is hinted through small details like her freckles and the strange voice she hears when she visits the castle. How did the book use foreshadowing to prepare you for the reveal, and which earlier scenes read differently once you knew who her father was?

5. Tem’s drink of choice is whiskey. How does this small detail enhance her characterization and what does it reveal about her?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. What scene would you rewrite from Vera’s perspective to make her more than a static rival? How might that version complicate the experience of women participating in the elimination ritual?

2. Tem ends the book ruling with Caspen while Leo is sent toward Evelyn. What alternate ending can you imagine that still resolves the bloodletting and prevents war, and what would it cost Tem to choose that path?