Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Red City blends urban fantasy with the gritty conventions of a crime thriller. How did this mix of genres shape your reading experience, and did the story ultimately feel more like one than the other to you?

2. For those who have read Marie Lu’s other works, like the Legend series, how did Red City feel as her adult debut? What thematic elements felt familiar, and what felt like a significant departure in tone or style?

3. What was the single most memorable or shocking moment in the novel for you? Was it a character’s betrayal, a violent confrontation, or a quiet, emotional revelation?

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

1. Sam starts to see her life as “less beautiful” once she learns about alchemy. Can you think of a time when the desire for something more, whether it was success or recognition, changed your own perspective on what you already had?

2. Sam and Ari’s friendship is built through letters where they share deep thoughts but hide crucial parts of their lives. Have you ever had a relationship where you felt you could be honest about some things but had to conceal others? What does this say about vulnerability and connection?

3. Connie’s mantra for Sam is to “work hard, reach for the stars,” but she can also react harshly when Sam’s work ethic seems to fall short. Have you ever faced this kind of pressure from a parent or mentor? In what ways can it be motivating, and when might it become harmful?

4. Ari’s need to provide for his family back home locks him into his role with Lumines. How does the pressure of familial duty shape the choices characters make throughout the book, and how does this resonate with expectations you’ve seen or experienced in your own life?

5. Alchemy in the book requires sacrificing a fragment of one’s soul for power. What do you think this represents in a non-magical sense? Have you ever had to sacrifice part of yourself in pursuit of your goals?

6. Diamond tells Sam that “the world is careless with nice people” and advises her to harden herself. Have you ever found it necessary to develop a harder shell to succeed, or do you have other ways of dealing with adversity?

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

1. The guide connects the alchemical drug “sand” to the real-world wellness and biohacking industries. In what ways does the novel’s depiction of commodified perfection critique our own society’s obsession with self-optimization and quick fixes?

2. Red City explores the intense pressures of the immigrant experience, with both Sam and Ari driven by a need to secure a better life. How does the novel comment on the “American dream,” particularly in how the syndicates exploit this powerful drive for ambition?

3. The syndicates function like the powerful families in classic crime sagas such as Mario Puzo’s The Godfather (1968). What does structuring this fantasy world around the rules of organized crime suggest about power, capitalism, and control in our own society?

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

1. The narrative alternates between Sam’s and Ari’s perspectives, creating significant dramatic irony. How did this parallel structure affect your understanding of their journeys and the tragedy of their situation as they became rivals?

2. What is the significance of the alchemical “attributions” like “Mozart” and “Shakespeare”? How does the act of taking on a historical name contribute to the theme of Weaponized Loyalty as a Tool of Power?

3. Will Taylor is both a survivor of trauma and a perpetrator of cruelty. Does learning about his childhood as a test subject for sand and the discovery of his father’s death change your perception of him as an antagonist?

4. Sam’s ability to go unnoticed evolves from a social liability into her greatest weapon. How does the novel trace this transformation of her invisibility, and what does it suggest about the nature of power and perception in the syndicate world?

5. How do the two syndicates, Grand Central and Lumines, differ in their core philosophies and methods? Consider their recruitment tactics, their training styles, and the symbolism of their respective crests.

6. The ending doesn’t offer a clean resolution, instead setting up a continuation of the syndicate power struggles. What did you think of this choice? How does it reinforce the novel’s core themes about systemic corruption and the illusion of reinvention?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. The novel ends with Ari heading to Londinium to find Sam, who is now enmeshed with the Belle Epoque syndicate and acting as a police informant. What do you imagine their reunion will look like? Will they be allies, enemies, or something more complicated?

2. Imagine yourself as Detective Edward Sinclair after the raid on the estate. How would you write a report explaining the impossible world of alchemy and the true power of the syndicates to your superiors?

3. If you could create a new alchemical syndicate to rival Grand Central and Lumines, what would its name, crest, and core philosophy be? Would it be driven by a different commodity than sand, and what kind of alchemists would it recruit?