Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What were your initial feelings about Weatherstone College as a setting? Did it remind you of other magical schools you’ve read about, like Hogwarts in the Harry Potter series?

2. The Prologue throws us directly into a moment of high stakes and crisis. Do you feel this was an effective way to begin the story and establish the central conflict?

3. What single scene or revelation surprised you the most as you were reading? Why do you think that moment had such an impact on you?

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

1. The idea of family legacy is central to the story, with Paisley and Logan bound by their parents’ blood oath. Have you ever felt the weight of family history or expectations influencing your own relationships or choices?

2. Paisley often feels “unexceptional” because she hasn’t discovered her magical affinity. Have you ever felt pressure to define yourself by a specific skill or achievement?

3. The unwavering loyalty of Paisley’s siblings and her instant friendship with Belle provide a strong support system. How do these relationships shape her journey and her willingness to face danger?

4. What did you think of the intense physical and magical training Logan forces upon Paisley? Do you believe his controlling behavior is justified by the need for her to survive, or does it cross a line?

5. At Weatherstone, one’s magical affinity determines their social standing and future. In what ways have you seen a person’s talents or career path influence how they are perceived by others?

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

1. In dark academia, the academic setting often serves to highlight and critique elitist social systems that dictate value, prestige, and power. In what ways does the college’s focus on powerful covens and family legacy mirror and critique systems of social stratification in our own society?

2. Discuss the concept of a “blood oath.” What does this ancient, binding promise suggest about the ways communities can become trapped by historical grievances and unresolved trauma?

3. Elder Monroe points Paisley toward the “witch massacres of 1859.” What does this historical parallel suggest about societal fear and the persecution of those with unconventional or misunderstood power?

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

1. Logan embodies the “monster as savior” archetype. Which of his actions most challenged your perception of him as a simple villain, and which ones reinforced it?

2. The enemies-to-lovers trope is central to this novel, much like in classics such as Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. What makes the dynamic between Paisley and Logan unique, especially with the addition of their shared dreams and inherited feud?

3. Discuss the symbolism of the crystals. What significance do they hold as a source of ancestral, matrilineal power, especially when contrasted with the formal magic taught at Weatherstone?

4. The revelation that Paisley’s own magic calls the monsters is a major twist. How did this change your understanding of the central conflict and her connection to her own identity?

5. The graveyard is a recurring setting in the novel. What is its function in the story, transforming from a place of fear and violence to a site of revelation about Paisley’s own power?

6. Paisley’s mother, Beth, suppresses her own immense power because of past trauma. What does her character’s journey suggest about the personal cost of inherited conflict and the weight of secrets?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. The book ends with Paisley going home for a month of training with her mother, a newly revealed demon-witch. What do you imagine this training will look like?

2. If you were Headmaster Gregor, what steps would you have taken to handle the escalating monster attacks and the volatile feud between the Hallistar and Kingston families?

3. Choose a key scene, like the lake rescue or Logan healing Paisley in his room, and describe how it might have unfolded from Logan’s point of view. What insights would his perspective give us into his true motives?