Mind Games

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Compare Mind Games with Inheritance by Nora Roberts. How do the books compare in addressing family legacies and the supernatural?

2. How does Mind Games compare with other romance/thriller novels that have supernatural elements?

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

1. Mind Games explores various tensions within Redbud Hollow—for instance, neighbors eagerly help one another but also ignore serious problems like Jed’s abuse of Nadine. Have you ever been part of a close-knit community (like a neighborhood, school, or family) that offered support and belonging but overlooked difficult or uncomfortable problems? How did that experience shape your understanding of what it means to care for others?

2. Thea decides to imprison Ray Riggs within his mind to protect herself and others. Have you ever had to make a similarly challenging decision to protect yourself? What choices did you have?

3. Mind Games portrays Riggs as irredeemable, lacking remorse, and incapable of change. Do you believe that some people are truly beyond redemption? Can you think of historical or contemporary figures who might support or challenge that belief?

4. Thea and Ty both bear emotional scars from past betrayals and must learn to trust again. Can you relate to their difficulty in rebuilding trust after being hurt? What helped, or would help, you move forward from that kind of pain?

5. Thea hesitates to share her true self with people outside her small, trusted circle. Have you ever struggled to be fully open about who you are, fearing judgment or rejection? How did that impact your relationships, and how does it shape your view of Thea’s choices?

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

1. How does Mind Games portray the values and customs of rural Appalachian culture? In what ways does the community’s emphasis on self-reliance, bartering, and neighborly care both support and limit its members?

2. Several characters in the novel, especially Lucy and Thea, carry the emotional and physical labor of caregiving and survival. How does Mind Games reflect broader gender expectations regarding emotional strength, healing, and responsibility?

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

1. Mind Games begins with a wide narrative lens, shifting points of view among several characters, before narrowing to primarily Thea’s, Ty’s, and Riggs’s perspectives. How does this shift in narrative structure affect the novel’s tone and pacing? What purpose does this structural choice serve?

2. How do Thea and Ty function as foils for one another? Consider their backgrounds, relationships with family, and approaches to trust. How does their contrast affect the novel’s trajectory?

3. Music plays a recurring role in Mind Games, from communal gatherings to expressions of intimacy and grief. How does music operate as a symbol of connection, healing, and shared history?

4. Thea’s final mental battle with Riggs unfolds within a game-like psychic construct. How does this sequence reflect her growth as a character and creator? What does it reveal about agency and imagination?

5. The Wisdom of Forgiveness Versus the Temptation of Revenge is a theme that plays out in multiple character arcs. Which characters embody each side of this conflict, and how does the narrative portray their choices? What message does the novel ultimately convey about the costs of both paths?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Create a playlist of five to eight songs that reflect the emotional arc of Thea’s journey, from grief and isolation to love and empowerment. Share which song you think best captures her psychic battle with Riggs, and explain why.

2. Imagine a sequel to Mind Games set 10 years later. What might Thea’s life look like? Is she still designing games? How has her gift evolved? Is she mentoring someone else with the gift? How might Riggs’s legacy linger or resurface? How have the lives of other characters, like Rem and Maddy, evolved?

3. Imagine a video-game level inspired by Thea’s dream-based Perilous Island. What obstacles, enemies, and objectives would players face? How does your design reflect Thea’s internal struggle and her growth throughout the novel?