The Book That Broke the World

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What was your favorite storyline of the book? Which character did you most identify with, and why?

2. When did you figure out that Hellet and Celcha lived in a different timeline than Evar, Arpix, and Livira? What were your clues? How did this twist affect your reading experience?

3. How would you compare this book to the first book in the series, The Book That Wouldn’t Burn? What similarities do you find with other novels by Lawrence, for instance Prince of Thorns?

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

1. Have you had the experience of navigating prejudices between different groups of people? Explain how you negotiated these differences and compare your approach to that of the characters in the book.

2. Discuss how the book depicts the rise and fall of civilizations. Do you find this historically accurate? What historic civilizations came to mind as you read?

3. The novel depicts a few different romantic relationships, all distinct from each other, including between Evar and Livira and Arpix and Clovis. Which of these relationships did you find more realistic and reflective of your own experience, and why? 

4. The novel raises issues around power and violence, including a number of morally ambiguous decisions by the characters. How did these representations resonate with your own experiences around issues of power?

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

1. Discuss the book’s argument that knowledge can all too easily be used for harmful ends. Can you find real-life parallels to a situation the book depicts to support this idea?

2. Discuss the book’s exploration of racism and discrimination. What did you find authentic or compelling about these depictions? How does the book enter into current conversation on these topics?

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

1. How does the novel’s structure, with multiple points of view and dual timelines, contribute to the themes and meaning of the novel? How might it have been different if told only from one perspective? 

2. Discuss the aspects of this book that might lead literary critics to classify it as grimdark fantasy. What characteristics of theme, setting, tone, or plot does this novel share with other grimdark works like George R. R. Martin’s A Game of Thrones or Joe Abercrombie’s The Devils? How do you see grimdark differing from high fantasy works like The Lord of The Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien?

3. What do you think the Dust and the Arthran Plateau represent? What might Lawrence intend to illustrate with this desolate setting?

4. Discuss the novel’s exploration of the symbolism of Livira’s book. How does it intersect with the novel’s themes about violence, knowledge, and the power of narrative.

5. Examine the stances the different characters take toward the character of the library, the value of knowledge, and the relationship between knowledge and power. What deeper argument do you think Lawrence is making about freedom or choice? What argument might he be making about the use of knowledge in the peaceful resolution of conflict?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Choose the portal you would take in the final scenes. Of the three possibilities, which most appeals to you? Write yourself into this scene, presenting justification for your choice.

2. Write a story that could be included in Livira’s book. (It need not be a romantic or fantasy story; it also need not feature Livira or Evar, unless you want it to.)

3. Write your own synopsis for what you hope will happen in the third book of The Library Trilogy. Give away spoilers as to how you believe the war will play out.

4. Draw, sketch, print, or build a 3-D model of your own chamber in the library. Describe to others what kinds of books are included and why you designed your chamber in this way.