House of Flame and Shadow

King Morven is not offered a chance at redemption by Bryce, but the Archangel Celestia is even after her betrayal. What does the decision bode for Bryce’s future as a ruler?

Consider the novel’s depiction of sexual consent. Tharion’s lies to the daughter of the River Queen, the Viper Queen’s drugging of her sexual partners, and Pollux’s treatment of Lidia are all instances of coerced sex. How does Maas portray these incidents of rape and how do they compare to instances of consensual sex?

Discuss the role of parents in the novel. How do their actions affect the generations that follow? Do children continue or break away from their families’ legacies?

How does Maas use the different mythologies she borrows from—for example, Christianity, Norse myths, and Celtic folklore. Does the novel subvert the borrowed elements? Why or why not?

Consider setting in the novel. How do descriptions of Prythian, Midgard, Hel, and Avallen contribute to reader understanding of the themes and motifs important to those places?

Examine the role of healing in the novel. How do instances of physical and emotional healing echo each other? How do they contrast?

Explore Maas’s worldbuilding strategies, from rhetorical devices to political complexity to geographical details.

How does this novel function as a stand-alone work? How does it function within the series? How does Maas leave room for the series to continue?