The Witch Collector

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Raina begins the novel seeking escape from her past, only to embrace her role in shaping Tiressia’s future. How effective is the novel in portraying that transformation, and where do you see its emotional turning point?

2. How did your understanding of vengeance shift as Raina’s motivations evolved throughout the novel? In what ways did the story challenge or reinforce traditional revenge arcs found in epic fantasy, like Evan Winters’s The Rage of Dragons (2019) or Alexandre Dumas’s The Count of Monte Cristo (1844)?

3. Compare The Witch Collector and Rebecca Yarros’s Fourth Wing (2023): How do the authors portray disability through their protagonists, and what roles do these portrayals play in character and theme development?

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

1. Raina communicates through sign language in a world where spoken incantations hold power. Have you ever felt that your voice was overlooked or misunderstood? How did you find other ways to be heard or express yourself?

2. The novel explores the tension between vengeance and forgiveness as Raina’s view of her enemies evolves. Have you ever experienced a perspective shift after learning more about someone you initially misjudged?

3. Raina dreams of a life free from war, only to realize that freedom may require fighting for change. Have you ever hoped to avoid conflict but realized that taking action was necessary? How did that affect your understanding of responsibility?

4. Alexus carries centuries of guilt and grief while trying to atone for his past. Have you ever struggled with forgiving yourself or moving forward from past decisions? What helped or hindered your healing?

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

1. Throughout the novel, magical ability links to language, particularly the ancient tongue of Elikesh. How does the book’s emphasis on language and communication relate to current discussions about accessibility, language preservation, and cultural identity?

2. The prince’s use of surveillance, forced conscription, and soul-harvesting magick evokes systems of exploitation and control. What parallels can you draw between his rule and real-world regimes or institutional abuses of power?

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

1. Raina primarily narrates the Witch Collector, but chapters occasionally shift to Alexus and, briefly, Helena. How did these changing perspectives affect your understanding of the story and its characters? What did this structure reveal about trust, memory, or narrative authority?

2. The God Knife is more than a weapon; it’s a relic of divine history, a curse, and a tool of both destruction and destiny. How does its symbolism evolve throughout the novel, and what does it ultimately represent for Raina, Alexus, and Colden?

3. Analyze the setting of Frostwater Wood, both as a physical landscape and a magical boundary. How does it function as a liminal space where transformation, revelation, and danger converge?

4. The novel interweaves prophecy, memory, and myth into its structure. How do these elements enhance or complicate the story’s exploration of fate versus free will? In what ways do they shape readers’ expectations?

5. Analyze the role of elemental magick as a symbolic force throughout the novel. How does it reflect both the internal struggles of characters and the larger political conflicts in Tiressia?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Create a playlist for a character of your choice. Which song best represents the character overall? Pick three events from the character’s arc and a corresponding song.

2. If you were a Witch Walker, which power(s) would you want, and why? Which power(s) would you avoid, and why?