Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What was your initial impression of the book’s dark and often violent romance? The guide mentions its connection to other popular “romantasy” novels like Sarah J. Maas’s A Court of Thorns and Roses. How did The Wolf and the Crown of Blood meet or challenge your expectations for this genre?

2. The story moves between brutal action, political intrigue, and intense emotional scenes. How did you feel about the pacing? Was there a particular part of Bryony’s journey that you found most memorable or impactful?

3. Which character’s journey resonated with you the most, and why? Did you find yourself sympathizing more with Bryony’s fight for agency, Evander’s struggle with grief and duty, or even a secondary character like Theodora or Amara?

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

1. How does the novel explore the idea that our roles can define our identities? Bryony’s entire sense of self is shattered when her duty as an Anchor is revoked. Can you think of a time when a specific role or title shaped your own sense of purpose?

2. Theodora and Bryony have very different ways of coping with their shared trauma. Theodora is defiant and seeks sensation, while Bryony is initially quiet and lasting. What do their different approaches suggest about how people navigate ongoing, difficult obligations in their lives?

3. The overgrown roses in Evander’s garden are a symbol of his unaddressed grief. What does his and Bryony’s work in the garden suggest about the process of healing from past pain? Does tending to something external ever help you process internal feelings?

4. Bryony’s training with Amara is about transforming her rage into a focused skill. Think about a time you had to channel a strong emotion into a productive or creative outlet. How did that process of transformation feel for you?

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

1. How do the “Claim” and the “Oathbreaker’s Mark” function as a system of societal control? Where do you see examples in our world of symbols or labels being used by those in power to include or exclude certain groups of people?

2. The book explores how leaders like Alexios and Idris justify their cruelty as a necessary evil for maintaining order or for their own self-preservation. What does the story say about the ways personal trauma can influence leadership and lead to tyranny?

3. The fleshtrade in the novel involves consuming god parts to gain temporary power. What do you think this says about a society’s desperation or ambition? Can you see parallels to this in real-world situations where people seek shortcuts to power or status through unethical means?

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

1. Author Elizabeth May previously wrote the YA fantasy series The Falconer. In what ways does this novel feel like an “aging up” of young adult fantasy tropes? How does it take familiar concepts, like a princess discovering her power, and give them a much darker and more explicit adult treatment?

2. What is the significance of wings as a symbol throughout the novel? 

3. The theme of reclaiming agency through violence is central to Bryony’s transformation. Discuss how the novel differentiates between the non-consensual violence she endures and the violence she chooses to wield as a tool for revenge and self-definition. Do you feel this distinction was effectively portrayed?

4. Alexios acts as the story’s main antagonist, yet he is portrayed as a ruler crushed by his duties. In what ways does his character challenge the idea of a simple villain? How do his motivations add complexity to the theme of power’s corrupting influence?

5. This story draws from the “Beauty and the Beast” fairytale lineage. Where did you see the novel honoring the classic elements of this tradition? And in what ways did it subvert or modernize them, especially concerning consent and the power balance between Bryony and Evander?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Bryony undergoes a massive transformation, culminating in her becoming a demigoddess. If you were to design a personal sigil for her, like the eight-pointed star she carves on Evander, what would it look like and what would it symbolize about her journey?

2. Imagine you could write a prequel chapter from the perspective of Princess Amalthea Devaliant, Bryony’s ancestor. What would her thoughts and feelings be in the moments before she makes her world-altering sacrificial deal with Alexios?

3. The novel ends with Bryony learning to fly. What kind of queen do you imagine she will become? Picture a scene one year after the book’s end showing her and Evander ruling together. What challenges might they face?