Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. How did the novel’s immersive portrayal of ancient Pompeii affect your reading experience? Did it challenge any preconceived notions you had about the ancient world, perhaps from other popular works like Madeline Miller’s Circe?

2. The Wolf Den is the first book in a trilogy. How does this knowledge affect your perception of the book? Does the novel feel like a complete story on its own or more like the setup for Harper’s sequels, The House With the Golden Door and The Temple of Fortuna?

3. What was your reaction to the novel’s ending? Did you see Amara’s freedom as a triumph, a tragedy, or something more complicated given the immense cost?

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

1. The she-wolves’ solidarity is a constant source of support amid exploitation and violence. When have you turned to a community for support?

2. Amara makes a number of morally complex choices to survive, from betraying Menander to adopting Felix’s ruthless tactics. When faced with difficult circumstances, how do you balance your personal values with pragmatic needs?

3. Why do you think the characters’ original names, like Timarete and Kallias, are so important to them? Have you ever felt that a name or nickname captured a specific part of your identity?

4. Each woman in the Wolf Den has a different way of coping with her trauma, whether it’s Amara’s strategy, Victoria’s cynicism, or Beronice’s naivete. Are there any habitual attitudes that define your approach to conflict or adversity?

5. Dido finds it difficult to accept genuine kindness from Nicandrus because of her trauma. Without going into personal detail, why do you think it can sometimes be challenging to trust others after experiencing hardship?

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

1. The novel is deeply rooted in the Roman concept of infamia, a legal and social disgrace that stripped people of their rights. What modern social stigmas or labels do you think function in a similar way today, creating barriers for certain groups of people?

2. What does the novel reveal about the intersection of slavery, gender, and social class in the Roman Empire? How does Amara’s background as an educated, formerly free woman complicate her experience compared to Victoria’s?

3. Felix was born and raised in the Wolf Den, a victim of the same system he now perpetuates. In what ways does his character illustrate how cycles of abuse and exploitation are maintained within a society?

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

1. How does the setting of the Wolf Den symbolize both exploitation and protection?

2. The motif of money, debts, and transactions runs through the novel. In what ways does Harper use this financial lens to shape the characters’ relationships and moral compasses?

3. Amara’s musical talent evolves from a reminder of her lost past into a tool for her liberation. How does the symbol of the lyre track her character arc and her search for agency?

4. What do you believe is the narrative purpose of Dido’s tragic death? How does it reframe the meaning of Amara’s hard-won freedom in the novel’s final moments?

5. Felix is a brutal antagonist, yet the author gives him a traumatic backstory. Does this information make him a more sympathetic character, or does it simply serve to explain his cruelty?

6. What is the significance of Amara’s final actions in the novel? How does commissioning the fresco of Actaeon and sending Felix the statue of Diana signal her transformation?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. You’ve been asked to design a small, personal memorial for Cressa in the paupers’ field. What objects or symbols would you include to represent her life, her love for her son, and her role within the group of she-wolves?

2. Amara is free, but Drusilla is the one who truly understands how to navigate Pompeii as a freedwoman. What are three pieces of advice you think Drusilla would give Amara for her first year of freedom?

3. You are creating a “graffiti wall” like the one Amara and Menander use to communicate. What coded messages or symbols would the other women in the Wolf Den—like Victoria, Dido, or Cressa—leave for each other to offer encouragement or warning?