Year One

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Compare Year One with Nora Roberts’s Inheritance, which also serves as the beginning of a trilogy. How are the two titles alike and different?

2. How does Year One compare with other dystopian novels such as Stephen King’s The Stand?

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

1. Lana often struggles with The Interplay Between Prophecy and Free Will. Have you ever felt that forces outside your control shaped your future? How did your own choices influence the outcome?

2. Found family becomes essential for survival in the novel. Can you think of a time when you relied on people outside your biological family for support or strength? How did those bonds shape your sense of belonging?

3. After the attack on New Hope, Lana must carry on despite her overwhelming grief. How do you personally cope with loss, disappointment, or instability?

4. Simon insists that humanity’s survival depends on rejecting prejudice and “do[ing] better this time” (400). How does this message connect to current challenges in the real world? What roles do tolerance and acceptance play in rebuilding or strengthening modern communities?

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

1. The Purity Warriors seek to eliminate those who are different, and their ominous efforts echo real-world histories of persecution. How does their ideology reflect broader societal patterns of prejudice and intolerance, both past and present?

2. The collapse of human infrastructure in Year One highlights the fragility of modern social systems. How does the book’s depiction of societal breakdown mirror historical events or contemporary fears about pandemics, climate crises, or political instability?

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

1. How do the Purity Warriors function as both characters and symbols? What do they contribute to the novel’s exploration of good and evil?

2. How does the juxtaposition of ordinary tasks with moments of violence and prophecy explore the importance of resilience in the face of instability?

3. Crows appear at key moments throughout the book, often signaling danger or prophecy. What does the timing of this imagery suggest about the nature of fate and forewarning?

4. Simon Swift emerges as a stabilizing figure for Lana after Max’s death. How does their relationship explore the theme of found family and human connection in times of crisis?

5. How does Lana’s character arc illustrate the complexities of destiny and choice?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Create a playlist of five to eight songs that reflect the emotional arc of one specific character’s journey. Which single song best represents your character? Why?

2. Imagine that one of the human characters suddenly develops a new magickal gift. What gift(s) or power(s) would best suit this person, and how would their newfound ability change the story?