Weavingshaw

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What was your initial reaction to the novel’s blend of Gothic horror, political intrigue, and supernatural fantasy? How effectively do you think the author wove these different genres together to tell Leena’s story?

2. Of all the secrets and revelations in Weavingshaw, which one had the biggest impact on you as a reader?

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

1. The story is driven by the lengths Leena will go to save her brother. Think about a time you felt a powerful sense of responsibility for someone else. How did that feeling influence your choices or actions in a difficult situation?

2. Leena uses a salt circle as a physical barrier to create a sense of safety from the ghosts that haunt her. What are some small rituals or boundaries you use in your own life to create a feeling of control when you feel overwhelmed?

3. Leena’s identity as an Algaraan refugee means she is consistently underestimated by the Morish aristocracy. Can you recall a time when you felt misunderstood or misjudged? How did you navigate that situation?

4. Mrs. Van and Lady Hargreaves both demonstrate fierce, almost maternal, devotion to St. Silas. Within your own life, who is part of your chosen family? Share a story that demonstrates your loyalty to one another.

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

1. How does the novel’s depiction of the Algaraan diaspora in Morland reflect real-world issues faced by refugee and immigrant communities? What parallels did you see between their systemic oppression and current events or historical situations?

2. The Wake is a secret society of aristocrats who exploit the vulnerable to maintain their wealth and power. In what ways does the novel serve as a critique of class-based power structures and corruption? Where do you see similar dynamics at play in society today?

3. How did knowing about Al-Wasity’s experience as an Iraqi refugee enrich your reading of the novel, particularly its portrayal of cultural alienation and the trauma of displacement?

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

1. How did the revelation of St. Silas’s true identity as Bramwell Avon change your perception of his character? Did knowing his traumatic past make his ruthless actions as the “Saint of Silence” more understandable, or even justifiable, to you?

2. In what ways does the Weavingshaw estate function as a character in its own right? How does the estate develop the novel’s exploration of trauma and corruption?

3. How does the occasional shift in narrative perspective, like the chapter from Lord Hargreaves’s point of view, impact the story’s tension? What did you gain from seeing the conspiracy through the eyes of an antagonist?

4. Leena’s ability to see ghosts evolves significantly, moving from a curse she must manage with a salt circle to a power she actively uses. What key moments mark this transformation in her relationship with her supernatural gift?

5. St. Silas’s dual identity as the ruthless “Saint of Silence” and the tormented Bramwell Avon is central to his character. How does his internal conflict compare to that of other famous literary characters with a hidden, darker self, such as in Robert Louis Stevenson’s The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. If you were designing a new cover for Weavingshaw, which object or symbol from the story would you choose to feature, and what would your choice convey about the book’s core themes?

2. Imagine you could write a new scene from Mrs. Van’s perspective. What moment in the novel would you choose to show through her eyes, and what insights might her viewpoint provide?