Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. How effective was the Rapunzel fairy tale framework for exploring the novel’s adult themes, like coercive control and trauma? Did this dark retelling resonate with you more than traditional versions of the story?

2. What was your initial reaction to the blend of romantasy and dark romance genres in the story?

3. The author, Sarah A. Parker, also wrote the bestselling novel When the Moon Hatched. If you’ve read her other work, how does this book compare in style and theme? If this was your first time reading her, are you now interested in exploring more of her writing?

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

1. Rhordyn maintains secrecy and control over Orlaith in an attempt to protect her from the knowledge of her own destructive power. Have you ever withheld information from someone close to you, believing that you were protecting them? In retrospect, do you think it was the right thing to do?

2. The Safety Line is a boundary Orlaith imposes on herself out of fear. Have you ever set up a similar comfort zone in your own life that felt difficult to step beyond?

3. Orlaith’s secret mural in “Whispers” becomes an unconscious outlet for her buried memories. Have you discovered a hobby or form of creative expression that helps process experiences or emotions that are difficult to put into words?

4. Which of Orlaith’s relationships—with the controlling Rhordyn, the loyal Kai, or the complicit Baze—did you most identify with, and why?

5. Cainon offers Orlaith an escape through a political marriage. Did you see his proposal as a genuine opportunity for her or as just another form of cage? What decision would you have made in Orlaith’s position?

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

1. How does setting the story in a fantasy world affect the way the novel portrays the real-world issue of coercive control? Does the fantastical setting make the themes more or less impactful for you?

2. The novel’s political climate is defined by mistrust and a looming external threat from the Vruks. In what ways does this dynamic mirror real-world geopolitical tensions?

3. Dark romance often portrays obsessive or coercive relationships as emotionally compelling. Some readers argue that the genre offers a safe space to explore taboo fantasies, while others see it as normalizing harmful behavior and unhealthy relationships. Where do you stand in this cultural debate, and how did this novel influence your perspective?

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

1. What is the significance of the glamour necklace? How does this object function as a symbol of Orlaith’s identity and her relationship with Rhordyn?

2. How does the meaning of Orlaith’s nightly blood offering evolve through the novel?

3. How do the castle’s various settings, from the isolated Stony Stem to the secret passageway Whispers, reflect Orlaith’s internal world?

4. Orlaith is an unreliable narrator due to her repressed memories. Did you find her partial understanding of events an effective storytelling choice?

5. Is Rhordyn a classic anti-hero, a villain, or a protector making impossible choices?

6. Why do you think Baze remained complicit in Rhordyn’s deception for so long? What does the revelation of his own glamour and Aeshlian heritage add to your understanding of his motivations and loyalty?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. What kind of artistic project would you design to represent Orlaith’s journey? Consider what materials you would use and which key moments or symbols you would feature to capture her transformation.

2. Imagine you are Orlaith one month after arriving in the South. What would a short letter to Kai, explaining your decision to leave and describing your new life with Cainon, reveal about her state of mind?

3. The mural in Whispers is Orlaith’s private eulogy for the dead. If you were commissioned to create a public memorial for the massacre victims, what form would it take, and what message would you want it to convey to the world?