Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. How did your experience with The Unicorn Hunters compare to reading Arden’s other novels? What made this story stand apart for you?

2. The novel presents itself as a fantastical origin story for the real-world Hunt of the Unicorn tapestries. How did learning this connection, either before or after reading, shape your interpretation of the story? Did you find this blend of history, art, and myth effective?

3. What was the most striking image or scene for you in the book? Why did it leave such a strong impression on you?

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

1. Anne is constantly forced to pit her personal desires against her duty to her realm. Think about a time in your own life when you’ve had to navigate a conflict between your desires and your responsibilities. How did you react?

2. Louis of Orléans undergoes a deep transformation from a cynical political prisoner to Anne’s most loyal supporter. Have you ever experience a similar shift that fundamentally changed your goals or perspective?

3. The Castle of Never-Was tempts its visitors with illusions of their greatest wishes. If you were to wander its halls, what kind of “what if” scenario might it create to try and trap you?

4. The story is rich with enchanted locations like the forest of Brocéliande and the lost city of Keris. Think about a place in your own life that holds a special sense of history or magic for you. What gives it such significance in your life?

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

1. The author’s afterword notes that the real Anne of Brittany had far less agency than her fictional counterpart, who was forced into political marriages and died young. What is the value of reimagining historical figures, especially women, in this way? What new insights does it allow us to explore?

2. How does the novel explore the idea of a nation’s folklore as a source of power and cultural identity? Can you think of contemporary examples where stories and legends are used to unite people or assert a national identity?

3. We see two very different models of female leadership in the characters of Anne of Brittany and Marguerite of France. How do their strategies reflect the challenges and choices faced by women in power, both historically and today?

4. How did Elesbed’s perspective as one of the common people add a different dimension to the novel’s perspective on power? Does her point of view resonate with contemporary conversations about class struggle or economic disparity?

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

1. Compare and contrast Marguerite and Moreau as threats to Anne’s sovereignty? Which of them did you find to be the more formidable opponent, and why?

2. The legend of the drowned city of Keris is central to the novel’s plot. Have you encountered similar myths of lost, magical cities in other stories, like the legends of Atlantis or El Dorado? How does Arden use the quest for Keris to drive Anne’s character development?

3. In what ways does Isabeau serve as a foil to her older sister, Anne? How does their relationship highlight the immense personal cost of the duty and self-sacrifice Anne must embody as a ruler?

4. What is the significance of the recurring motif of mirrors and reflections? How does Moreau’s reliance on these tools contrast with Anne’s more innate, developing abilities?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. The korrigan queen offers Anne a choice: return to the mortal world or seek Keris. Write an alternative ending in which Anne chooses to go back to Brittany and continue the political fight against France without raising the lost city. How would the story resolve?

2. If you were in charge of casting a film adaptation of The Unicorn Hunters, who would you choose for the roles of Anne, Louis, Marguerite, and Moreau? What qualities would be most important in bringing these characters to life?

3. The story concludes with Anne and Louis beginning to build their new kingdom of Armorica. Write an epilogue from Louis’s perspective describing their efforts to integrate a magical city into the political landscape of 15th-century Europe.