Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. The novel combines elements of fantasy, adventure, romance, and dystopian fiction. Which aspect interested you most, and why? Describe some of your favorite scenes.

2. Have you read any other novels about deadly trials, such as Suzanne Collins’s The Hunger Games or Victoria Aveyard’s Red Queen? If so, how does The Ascended compare to them? Why do you think the plot structure of a high-stakes competition is so popular with readers?

3. What did you think of the ending? Were you surprised by the revelation that Moros was possessing Olinthar? If not, what clues helped you predict this plot twist?

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

1. Thais and Xül face dilemmas that force them to choose between their romantic love and their familial loyalty. Have you ever been in a situation that made you choose between people you care about? How did you resolve this?

2. One of the novel’s central themes is Self-Determination Versus Destiny. Do you believe that people decide the course of their own lives, or is this determined by external forces? What personal experiences led you to this belief?

3. What did you think of the novel’s presentation of love? Did any of the different loving relationships between friends, family members, or romantic partners resonate with your own experiences?

4. Thais is driven by her desire for revenge. In your own life, do you tend to hold onto grudges, or do you find it easy to forgive? Consider sharing an example.

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

1. The Ascended and the Sundered Realms Universe as a whole gained popularity on “BookTok” and “Bookstagram.” How does Grenwich and Lennox’s work connect to conversations about the influence of social media on the contemporary publishing landscape?

2. How do the gods’ corruption and opulence offer social commentary on issues like income inequality?

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

1. In The Ascended, gold represents divinity. How does this symbol inform Thais’s character arc? What other colors have symbolic significance in the novel, and what do they reveal about the characters?

2. Discuss Morthus’s role in the themes of love, fate, and revenge. Is he ultimately a sympathetic figure? Why or why not?

3. Which romance and romantasy genre conventions shape Thais and Xül’s dynamic? How do the authors use these conventions to express The Sacrifices of Love and Loyalty?

4. How do the authors’ stylistic decisions, such as the use of multiple first-person narrators and literary devices like imagery, develop the novel’s characters, suspense, and mood?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. What predictions do you have for the second book in The Aesymarean Duet? Is there anything in particular you hope to see in the remainder of the Sundered Realms books?

2. Retell a scene from Xül’s point of view. How does changing the narrator’s perspective affect the scene’s significance and offer insights into the characters?