One Last Rainy Day: The Legacy of a Prince

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What did you like most about the book? Did you find the characters easily to relate to or sympathize with? What did you like the least?

2. Have you read any other “dark romances”? How does this compare? Do you think that Dom and Cecelia were truly in love, or would you call it something else?

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

1. Have you ever felt an overwhelming desire to exact vengeance on someone? What did they do to you that catalyzed this urge? Did you get revenge? If so, how did it make you feel? Did it lead to any unintended consequences?

2. Dom’s family is a source of both a support and oppression. Tobias, for instance, hides important information from him and prevents him from acting on his instincts. Have you experienced similar ambivalence in your relationship with your own family?

3. Have you ever experienced the healing power of being emotionally vulnerable with someone who accepts you fully, just as you are? Who is that person? Do you feel you would like to be that person for someone else?

4. Dom keeps his knowledge of elite abuses to himself, fearful of burdening others with what he knows. Have you ever felt that you had to keep important information to yourself to protect someone else’s emotions? How did that make you feel?

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

1. The text presents the concept of the American Dream in a deeply pessimistic—or realistic—light, depending on your view. Is this a fair representation of the dream given our current reality? Why or why not?

2. The club takes on a role as a sort of vigilante enforcer of justice. What would be the benefits of an organization like this in the real world? What problems might they create?

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

1. Did you like the way the book ended with the cessation of numbered chapters and inclusion of chapters told by birds other than Dom? Why or why not?

2. What do you make of the final chapter? The fact that it’s titled “Dom” suggests that it told from his point of view, though personal pronouns are used very sparingly. Does it convey his past? The years following his death? The physical sensation of dying? Something else?

3. What is the role of dramatic irony in the text? Other than building tension, what purposes does it serve?

4. What do you make of Tobias King’s character? Is he human and flawed, but doing the best he can? Is he a hypocrite given his choice to be with Cecelia after exiling Dom and Sean for the same choice? What about the fact that he actively keeps Dom from pursuing the human traffickers, allowing the ring to destroy even more innocent lives? Is he a good guy or not?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. If this book were made into a limited series on a streaming platform like Netflix, who would you cast as Dom? How about Cecelia, Tobias, Sean, Tyler, Delphine, and Roman? Explain your choices.

2. Create a playlist that captures the text’s shifting mood or its characters. What song might you use to represent Dom’s state of mind prior to getting involved with Cecelia? What about after? What song might you use to best represent Cecelia? Or Sean?