Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Twisted Pawn exemplifies the dark mafia romance genre, with morally ambiguous characters and graphic violence. How did you react to the book’s darker elements? Did your feelings about these conventions change as the story unfolded?

2. Was Achilles and Tierney’s journey from brutal enemies to devoted partners believable to you? What specific moment or turning point made you feel their connection was either earned or unconvincing?

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

1. Tierney keeps secrets from Achilles for years, and the emergence of honesty is a major factor in the growth of their relationship. Do you believe that honesty is the best policy? Have you ever kept a secret and felt justified in doing so?

2. Tierney and Achilles fall in love as teenagers. Do you think that first love is uniquely powerful? How have romantic relationships looked different for you at different life stages?

3. Although he is initially positioned as his father’s likely successor, Achilles gradually relinquishes his ambitions and focuses on building a life with Tierney instead. Has your relationship to a goal or professional ambition ever changed? What prompted the change, and was it hard to let go of the goal?

4. Achilles and Tierney’s move to Naples affirms their commitment to one another, and decision to pursue a fresh start. Have you ever used a geographic change to give yourself a clean slate? Was it effective?

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

1. What does the rising popularity of the dark romance genre, particularly on platforms like BookTok, suggest about what readers might be seeking in fiction today? Why do you think this genre connects so strongly with audiences?

2. Working with a therapist plays an important role in Tierney and Achilles working through past trauma so that they can build a healthy relationship. Why do you think that therapy and mental health support have become more visible and acceptable? Is representation in fiction a way to normalize these practices?

3. Tierney’s inability to have biological children leads her to fear rejection and believe that she is unworthy of love. Do you think that infertility remains stigmatized in contemporary society?

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

1. The novel features alternating chapters, revealing the perspectives of both Achilles and Tierney. Why is this narrative structure important for developing the two main characters and situating the central conflict?

2. Shen uses flashbacks to reveal key moments from the past. Did this narrative structure make you more sympathetic to their actions in the present?

3. How is the presence of Tiernan and Lila as a blissfully happy couple important to the development of the narrative? Do they function as a template for what a successful marriage could look like?

4. Discuss the use of varied settings in the novel (New York, Naples, the cabin, and various European locales). How do these settings evoke different moods for different sections of the novel?

5. How does the novel’s conclusion balance the traditional happy ending associated with the romance genre alongside setting the stage for subsequent novels in the series?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Imagine a prequel depicting the relationship between Vello and Rita (Tristan’s mother) around the time Tristan was conceived. Do you believe that they possibly loved one another? Why might Tristan have been Vello’s favorite son?

2. If you were to create a soundtrack for this book, what songs would you choose for key moments? Consider the initial church attack, Achilles and Tierney’s tense reunion in Naples, and their final proposal scene. What mood or emotion would you want the music to convey for each?

3. Achilles proposes with an antique ring that once belonged to a historical queen. Research a famous piece of jewelry associated with a powerful historical woman and discuss what her legacy evokes for you.