Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. The novel draws clear parallels to other popular dystopian young adult works, most notably Suzanne Collins’s The Hunger Games and James Dashner’s The Maze Runner. How did this connection shape your reading experience? Did you find it enhanced the story’s themes, or did it feel too familiar at times?

2. What was your initial reaction to Raven as a protagonist? Did you find her work as a bounty hunter, which directly feeds the system she despises, to be a compelling moral conflict or a frustrating character trait?

3. What single detail or aspect of the novel’s world-building (consider Dividium, Endlock, and Raven’s neighborhood, for example) was most effective in making this dystopian society feel real to you?

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

1. Raven’s identity is built around protecting her brother, Jed, often by making morally difficult choices on his behalf. Think about a time you felt a powerful sense of loyalty to someone you care about. How did that responsibility shape your choices, and how does it compare to the moral compromises Raven makes?

2. In Endlock, Raven must learn to trust people like Vale and Gus, despite their positions or pasts. What does the book suggest about how trust is earned and what makes it so essential for survival? Have you ever had to build trust with someone in a challenging or high-stakes environment?

3. Jed eventually confronts Raven, insisting on being an equal partner in their survival rather than just someone to be protected. Have you ever experienced a shift in a relationship power dynamic? How did it affect the relationship, and how did you react to the changes?

4. The novel emphasizes the idea of community as resistance. How does this resonate with your own life experience? Have you ever seen this idea at work in your own life?

5. Vale uses his privileged position as a guard and a councilor’s son to subvert the system from within. Can you think of a situation where you’ve seen someone use their “insider” status to help others or push for change? What are the unique risks and advantages of that approach?

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

1. The novel critiques “carceral capitalism” by showing a for-profit prison where suffering is sold as entertainment, complete with hunting packages and jewelry made from human teeth. Where do you see parallels between Endlock’s business model and aspects of our own society’s relationship with media, true crime, or the justice system? What does the book suggest about the line between being an observer and being complicit?

2. A key revelation of the novel is that the food shortage in the Lower Sector was artificially engineered by the elite to increase Endlock’s inmate population. What does this plot point suggest about the ways powerful institutions can manipulate social conditions for their own gain? In what ways does this resonate with real-world discussions about systemic inequality?

3. How does the book use propaganda, like the orientation video claiming social mobility is possible, to explore the power of narrative in controlling a population? Where do we see similar uses of official stories to shape public opinion today?

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

1. How does the idea of hunting, from Endlock to Raven’s own profession as a bounty hunter, contribute to the novel’s exploration of the dynamic of predator and prey in relationships, social structures, and personal choices?

2. Gus’s death is a pivotal moment in the story. What significance does his sacrifice hold for the other characters, particularly Raven and Momo? How does it transform the group’s escape and their motivations?

3. Consider the different forms of resistance presented in the novel, from the Collective’s organized rebellion to Raven’s individual survival tactics and Vale’s subversion from within. What are the strengths and weaknesses of each approach? What might the author be suggesting about what it takes to dismantle an oppressive system?

4. What is the symbolic significance of the Blood Tree on the hunting grounds? How does it contribute to the novel’s themes regarding survival and community?

5. The novel is the first in the Divided Fates series. How effectively does it function as a standalone story while also setting up future conflicts and mysteries for the rest of the series? What questions were you left with that you hope the next book will answer?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. If you were to add a chapter from another character’s perspective, who would you choose? What new insights or information might we gain from seeing events through the eyes of Jed, Kit, or even Warden Larch?

2. The story ends as the group steps into the Wastes, a vast and unknown territory. Write a prologue for the next book in the series that contextualizes their upcoming journey. What challenges do you imagine they will face first as they travel toward the North Settlement, both from the environment and from within their own group? What happens to Vale back at Endlock?

3. Imagine you are part of the Collective and have been tasked with creating a piece of propaganda to recruit new members. Drawing on the events of the book, what story or image would you use to inspire people to join the resistance against the Council and Endlock?