Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. The novel switches between Odessa’s present-day journey and Caspia’s quest decades earlier. How did this dual timeline structure affect your reading experience and your connection to the characters? Did you find one storyline more compelling than the other?

2. Rites of the Starling fits squarely in the popular romantasy genre. How would you compare it to other major titles in the genre you might have read, like books by Sarah J. Maas or Rebecca Yarros? What elements felt familiar, and what did Devney Perry do that felt fresh or unique?

3. What was the most shocking or impactful revelation for you while reading? Was it learning the truth about the Six, Caspia’s ultimate fate, or another twist in the story, and how did the revelation change your perspective on the world of Calandra?

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

1. The theme of inherited dynasty is presented as both a source of power and a restrictive cage. Sparrow is traded like a commodity, while Caspia feels a biological pull toward a destiny she doesn’t fully understand. Have you ever felt the weight of expectations from family or community, and how did you navigate those pressures?

2. Odessa and Ransom repeatedly choose each other over their duties to their kingdoms. Can you think of a time when your loyalty was split between a personal relationship and a different kind of obligation, like to a job, a team, or a cause? How did you manage that tension?

3. Caspia defies her aunt, Queen Oleana, to follow her own prophetic visions. When do you think it’s important to trust your own intuition, even when it goes against the advice of people you respect or those in authority?

4. How does the recurring motif of bloodlines, representing everything from political ties and magical curses to Ransom’s Lyssa infection, make you think about the legacies we inherit? What parts of our identities are chosen versus passed down to us?

5. Odessa begins her journey feeling like a forgotten princess and a political pawn but grows into a determined leader. Think about a time you had to step into a new role that felt overwhelming at first. What helps someone find their own agency and strength in a challenging situation?

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

1. The novel reveals that Calandra’s entire history, particularly the worship of the Six, is a manipulated narrative designed to hide a dark origin. How does this exploration of unreliable history reflect the way historical stories are told and retold in our own world?

2. The world of the novel is fractured by conflicting belief systems, from the polytheistic worship of the Eight and the monotheistic Voster to the magical supremacy of the Kennin. How does the novel use these ideological clashes to explore the relationship among faith, power, and political conflict?

3. What does the stark difference between the revered “swift” of Nelfinex and the monstrous “crux” of Calandra suggest about how cultural context shapes our definition of what is monstrous versus what is sacred?

4. The Mavins are bound by financial debt, which Thora describes as being “shackled.” How does their form of servitude compare to the dynastic obligations faced by the royal characters? Does it offer a different perspective on what it means to be free?

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

1. What specific purpose does Caspia’s historical timeline serve in advancing the plot and themes of the novel? How do her discoveries about the orbits and the Voster directly raise the stakes for Odessa’s journey in the present?

2. The symbol of the monster is central to the story. How do the transformations of Xandra and Caspia, along with Ransom’s struggle with the Lyssa infection, explore the idea that monstrosity is a corrupting force rather than an inherent state?

3. How does Devney Perry, an author known for contemporary romance, use the conventions of that genre to shape this epic romantasy? Where did you see the influence of the contemporary romance genre in the character dynamics, pacing, or focus of the story?

4. Mae functions as a foil for her half-sister, Odessa. In what ways do Mae’s jealousy and her belief that she “was supposed to be the Sparrow” highlight Odessa’s own evolving understanding of duty and power?

5. The story is told from multiple perspectives. Which character’s point of view did you find most effective or insightful, and why? What did the shifts among Odessa, Ransom, and Caspia reveal that a single perspective could not?

6. Secrets function as a powerful currency throughout the novel. Consider the secrets kept by King Cross, Ransom, and Margot. How do their decisions to conceal or reveal information drive the central conflicts and relationships?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Caspia leaves behind two journals: one detailing her history and another filled with her visions. If you could add a third journal to be discovered, what would it contain? Would it be from another character’s perspective, like Andreas or Hain, or would it be a practical guide to surviving Calandra?

2. The novel ends with Odessa feeling the first thrum of the ritus and hiding it from Ransom. Imagine you are writing the opening chapter of the next book. What happens in the moments immediately following that scene on the cliffside?

3. Imagine you are a “paperman” like Chapman Leek in Quentis, but you are determined to report the truth. Write the headline and the first paragraph of an article exposing the truth about the crux, the Starling, and the deception of the Six.