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Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What was your initial reaction to the novel’s blend of dark romance, high-stakes suspense, and reverse harem dynamic?

2. Tate James is known for other interconnected series like Madison Kate. If you’ve read her other works, how does the Devil’s Backbone series compare in its tone and character dynamics?

3. How effective was Jocelyn as an antagonist? Did you find her motivations compelling enough to justify the extreme nature of her actions?

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

1. The novel presents a polyamorous relationship as a source of ultimate security. How did the dynamic between Ashley and her four partners challenge or expand your ideas about what makes a relationship strong?

2. Nate’s character arc is one of the most significant in the book. At what point, if any, did your perception of him shift, and how?

3. What did each of Ashley’s four partners—Royce, Carter, Heath, and Nate—provide to her emotionally? Why are these different forms of support individually important?

4. Trust is a fragile and essential element in the story. Were there moments where a character’s trust in another was tested that particularly stood out to you?

5. The characters form a powerful “found family.” What do you think this story says about the relationships we choose versus the ones we are born into?

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

1. What does the Devil’s Backbone Society, with its immense wealth and secret rules, suggest about systems of power and privilege that operate outside of public accountability?

2. During Ashley’s involuntary commitment, a patient is sedated over her claims that her puzzle pieces are being stolen. How does this short scene help demonstrate the impact of gaslighting and psychological abuse, which continues to be highlighted throughout the novel?

3. Dark romance has become a hugely popular subgenre, especially in online book communities. What do you think is the appeal of stories that feature morally ambiguous characters and explore love through high-stakes, dangerous situations?

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

1. How does the recurring symbol of the duck evolve throughout the narrative, shifting from an emblem of the society’s power to a term of endearment and, finally, a symbol of Jocelyn’s psychological collapse?

2. What is the significance of the masks worn during the laser tag game and the group sexual encounter that follows?

3. In the opening chapters, the narrative alternates between Ashley’s captivity and the men’s search. How did this structural choice build suspense and highlight the theme of The Corrosive Power of Secrets in Relationships?

4. How does the intent and impact of Jocelyn’s hypnosis and gaslighting compare to other well-known psychological thriller antagonists, like Amy Dunne in Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl?

5. In what ways do key settings, like the sterile Mallard hospital or Jocelyn’s demolished apartment, function as extensions of the characters’ psychological states?

6. Nate’s desire for pain during sex is directly linked to his guilt. How does the novel use this dynamic to explore his character’s need for penance and his unique path toward intimacy with Ashley?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. The epilogue mentions the group regularly sees a therapist. What do you imagine a group therapy session with Ashley and the four men would sound like as they process their shared trauma?

2. What do you think Abigail’s life was like at Mallard before Ashley arrived, and what motivated her to ultimately take on the role of Jocelyn’s guardian?

3. If you could add one chapter to the book from the perspective of Royce’s mother, Katie, after her release from prison, what would it focus on?