Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What was it like for you to start The Reckoning in the immediate, high-stakes aftermath of the Nymph attack, and how did that opening set the tone for the rest of the story?

2. The bully-romance subgenre often explores complex power dynamics. How did you feel the relationships between the Vega twins and the Celestial Heirs compared to other stories with similar themes you’ve encountered?

3. Which part of the story captivated you more: the magical challenges of Zodiac Academy, like the Elemental Trials and Hell Week, or the escalating personal conflicts and romantic tensions between the characters?

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

1. Tory and Darcy have very different ways of dealing with the hostility at Zodiac Academy. When faced with a challenge, do you relate more to Tory’s aggressive defiance or Darcy’s more introspective approach? 

2. The family bond between the twins is their greatest strength, allowing them to succeed where they would fail alone. Is there a time in your own life when a bond with a sibling or a close friend was essential for getting through a tough situation?

3. Professor Orion makes morally ambiguous choices for what he sees as a greater good, particularly in his practice of dark magic with Darius and his forbidden relationship with Darcy. Have you ever been in a situation in which you had to weigh whether an outcome was worth compromising your personal ethics?

4. Many characters form alliances out of necessity rather than friendship. Think about a time when you had to collaborate with someone very different from you to reach a common goal. What did you learn from that experience?

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

1. Hell Week is presented as a school-sanctioned tradition that reinforces the power of the elite. Where do you see similar ritualized hierarchies or “rites of passage” in real-world institutions, and what purpose do you think they serve?

2. What are your thoughts on the bully-romance subgenre, which has become so popular on platforms like TikTok? What do you think is the appeal of the fantasy where a heroine “tames” a dangerous antihero or falls in love with her abuser?

3. The authors built a massive following through indie publishing and direct fan engagement. How do you think this model affects the relationship between authors and readers and the kinds of stories that become popular?

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

1. In this third installment of the series, Darius begins to transition from a primary antagonist into a character on a potential path to redemption. What specific moments most effectively challenged your perception of him as a villain?

2. What is the significance of the Lunar Eclipse as a plot device in the story? How does it help shape the novel’s structure?

3. The twins’ emergence as Phoenixes is a climactic plot twist. Looking back, what clues or moments of foreshadowing do the authors use to hint at this reveal?

4. What impact does the novel’s use of multiple narrators have on the reading experience? How would the novel be different if they had chosen to tell it from a single character’s point of view?

5. For those who have read other books by Peckham and Valenti, how does the dynamic in The Reckoning compare to the relationships and power structures in their other works such as Kings of Quarantine or Dark Fae?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. If you were tasked with creating one more Elemental Trial for the freshmen at Zodiac Academy, what would it be? What element would it focus on, and what personal qualities would it test?

2. The book ends with the twins vowing revenge. Write the opening of the next book. What move should Tory or Darcy make the Heirs pay for their betrayal?

3. Which subplot or secondary character relationship, such as Sofia and Tyler or Darcy’s strained friendship with Diego, would you be most interested in seeing expanded upon in a future story?