The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Which part of the novel engaged you the most: the political intrigue, the romance, or Pox storyline? Explain your preference.

2. Given the bitter history between Fyrens and Haelans, is the developing romance between Osric and Aurienne a credible development? Why or why not?

3. How does Knightley’s novel compare to other titles in the romantasy genre?

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

1. Consider the scene in which Aurienne refuses to learn the name of the young sick child in order to detach herself from the patient’s likely death. Have you ever felt compassion fatigue like Aurienne? If so, how did you deal with the situation?

2. Aurienne and Osric grapple with a number of moral quandaries throughout the novel. Have you ever had to navigate a situation that threatened to compromise your moral code? What was your response?

3. Has a show of vulnerability ever reshaped a relationship for you as it did for Osric?

4. How credible is the enemies-to-lovers plotline? Can genuine love ever arise from a foundation of deep antagonism?

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

1. How do the Pox outbreak and surrounding events resonate with the medical, political, and social dynamics of modern epidemics?

2. How does the enmity between Fyrens and Haelans mirror real-world divisions between ideological factions?

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

1. How does Knightley use witty banter to imbue the novel with an underlying tension? Does this technique ever detract from the deeper emotions of the characters?

2. What is the effect of creating an alternate version of England for the setting of the novel? Identify and discuss at least three ways in which the author relies upon real-world historical events or mythological references?

3. How do Osric and Aurienne act as foils to one another, and when does this relationship begin to shift?

4. Which dynamic is more central to the narrative: romance or political intrigue?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. If The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy were to be adapted for the big screen, which key scene(s) should be preserved at all costs?

2. Invent a new Order with its own symbol, motto, and magical power. How would your Order fit into the existing balance of powers in the Tīendoms? Would it create peace or conflict?