Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. The novella reinterprets the classic “Beauty and the Beast” fairy tale with a scientifically minded heroine. How does this story compare to other modern fantasy retellings you might have read, like Sarah J. Maas’s A Court of Thorns and Roses series?

2. How did you feel about the blend of high fantasy and scientific inquiry in the story, such as Lilith using a magical “seeing lens” to study vampire blood? Did this fusion of concepts enhance the world for you?

3. Did Six Scorched Roses feel like a complete, satisfying story on its own, or more like an introduction to the larger Crowns of Nyaxia series? Has reading it made you interested in exploring the main series?

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

1. Lilith shows her love for Mina through relentless work rather than affection. How do you feel about this approach? In your own life, have you found that actions can be a more powerful way of showing love than words? Give an example.

2. Vale considers accumulated knowledge to be “cheap” and argues that true value lies in curiosity. Where do you stand on this idea? In your own life, do you find more fulfillment in what you know or in the desire to discover something new?

3. Mina seeks emotional connection when faced with difficulty while Lilith pursues a logical solution. Which character’s approach to problem-solving do you relate to more, and why?

4. Lilith’s father makes a desperate bargain to save her life. Have you ever had to make a difficult decision for the sake of someone you care about? What was the result?

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

1. The novella mirrors historical events where communities have scapegoated outsiders during times of crisis. How does the story’s depiction of Thomassen hunting Vale serve as a commentary on the dangers of fear-mongering and religious zealotry?

2. What does the story seem to say about the relationship between science and faith? Does the narrative suggest that Lilith’s pragmatism and Thomassen’s zealotry can coexist, or that one must ultimately yield to the other?

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

1. Who did you see as the true “monster” in the story? How does the novella play with the concepts of monstrosity and humanity through characters like Vale, Thomassen, and Vitarus?

2. In what specific ways does Lilith’s sense of urgency about mortality act as a catalyst for Vale’s character growth? How does he transform over the course of their relationship?

3. How does hearing the story exclusively from Lilith’s perspective shape your interpretation of her budding romance with Vale and her strained relationship with Mina?

4. For those who have read other books in the Crowns of Nyaxia series, how does this novella enrich your understanding of the political conflicts in the House of Night and Vale’s character as he appears in The Ashes & the Star-Cursed King?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Imagine you are Mina, one year after the events of the book. What would you write in a letter to Lilith, who is now living in Obitraes with Vale?

2. The story revolves around making bargains with powerful, supernatural beings. If you could strike a deal with a figure like Vale or Vitarus to solve an impossible problem, what would you ask for, and what price would you be willing to pay?