How does the novella’s mood, themes, and main characters compare and contrast to those of Broadbent’s other writings, such as The Serpent and the Wings of Night and Daughter of No Worlds? What other patterns can you identify across her works?

While Six Scorched Roses draws on the “Beauty and the Beast” fairy tale, it also significantly subverts it. Citing evidence, identify specific tropes, elements, and events that Broadbent borrows from the classic story and analyze how she reworks them to align with her themes and the “romantasy” genre.

Consider the role of Vale’s mansion. What does this setting reveal about Vale, and how does it contribute to the development of his and Lilith’s relationship? What is the significance of the characters’ eventual decision to leave the mansion behind?

Both Thomassen and Vitarus play antagonistic roles in the story. Discuss their personality traits, motivations, and impacts on the main character. What argument is the author making about religious zealotry through these characters?

Trace the evolution of Lilith’s relationship with her body throughout the story. How does her shifting attitude toward her body inform the novella’s exploration of mortality and agency?

How does Broadbent’s usage of romance and fantasy conventions in this novella compare and contrast to other dark “romantasy” authors’ decisions in works like A. B. Poranek’s Where the Dark Stands Still and Rebecca Yarros’s Fourth Wing.

Although the fantasy novella doesn’t expressly state that Lilith is autistic, Broadbent purposefully “codes” the character as autistic. How does this inform the protagonist’s relationships and narrative voice? In addition, how do the townspeople’s stigmatizing reactions toward her neurodivergent behavior add nuance to the theme of monstrosity and humanity?

Analyze the conflicting philosophies of knowledge presented by Lilith, Vale, and Farrow. How do these differing viewpoints drive the novella’s central plot?