The Traitor Queen

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Which element of the novel left the strongest impression on you: the romance, the political intrigue, or the action? Why?

2. Did this sequel live up to its predecessor? Did it leave you eager to read future installments in the series? Why or why not?

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

1. Lara spends much of the novel trying to earn forgiveness, even when she knows it might never come. Have you ever experienced (or witnessed) a situation where forgiveness felt impossible? How does this affect your view of Lara’s journey?

2. Aren continually sacrifices personal happiness for his duty as king. Do you think leaders in real life face similar choices, and would you make the same sacrifices if you were in his position?

3. The Ithicanians demand justice and struggle to let go of their anger toward Lara. Do you think their reaction is justified, or should they have been more open to forgiveness?

4. Lara often embraces ruthless pragmatism while Aren clings to moral principle. Which approach do you find more relatable or realistic when survival is at stake?

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

1. Silas rules through fear, deception, and control of resources. Do you see parallels between his tactics and those used by leaders in real-world history or politics?

2. The novel explores how nations are locked in cycles of war because of legacy and inherited grudges. What real-world conflicts does this remind you of?

3. The Traitor Queen critiques the costs of war and imperialism. What are these costs, and how do they reflect the costs of war and imperialism in the real world, either in history or in the present day?

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

1. How difficult do you think it would have been for Jensen to write this novel from only one point-of-view? How would it have impacted the story? Would you rather have gotten Aren or Lara’s POV?

2. Redemption is a central theme of the book. Do you think Jensen successfully portrayed Lara’s redemption arc, or does it remain incomplete?

3. How does the Red Desert setting function symbolically in the story? What does it reveal about Lara’s past and how it has affected her dynamic with Aren?

4. How does Jensen use Lara’s sisters to mirror or contrast Lara’s own journey toward redemption? Do they serve more as allies, foils, or reminders of what Lara could have become?

5. Aren experiences repeated feelings of weakness and failure after his captivity. How does Jensen use his vulnerability to challenge traditional portrayals of fantasy heroes and kings?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Choose 5-7 key scenes from the novel and, for each one, pick a song that would fit as its “soundtrack.”

2. Imagine you are stuck on a remote island with limited supplies to survive. If you had to choose one, which of the Veliant sisters would you choose to accompany you? Why?

3. Imagine that Ithicana had fallen permanently, and Aren never reclaimed it. How would Lara’s story of redemption look different if she couldn’t tie it to saving his kingdom? Discuss how her character arc might shift.