Discussion questions:

Characters and relationships

• How does your first impression of Celaena shift throughout the book?
• Do you think Celaena’s arrogance is earned or off-putting? How does it serve her as a character?
• Which relationship feels more compelling to you at this stage: Celaena and Dorian, or Celaena and Chaol? Why?
• Nehemia plays a significant role as both friend and ally. Do you trust her fully at this point in the series?
• The king is only lightly sketched in this book. What do you think Maas wants us to infer about him?

Themes and ideas

• What does freedom mean to Celaena? How does that compare to how other characters think about freedom?
• Honour and loyalty are strong themes. How do Chaol’s and Dorian’s values differ, and how do they influence Celaena?
• How does Maas balance the brutality of the competition with moments of humour, luxury, and romance?
• Do you see Celaena more as an anti-hero or a traditional heroine at this point in her arc?
• What role does secrecy play in the story—both in terms of Celaena’s identity and the castle’s hidden passages/magic?

Plot and world-building

• What did you think of the King’s Champion competition as a narrative device? Was it effective or predictable?
• How did the use of Wyrdmarks and hidden magic change your perception of the world Maas is building?
• The glass castle is both beautiful and fragile. Do you think it symbolises something deeper in the story?
• Did the pacing of the book work for you? Which parts felt strongest, and which dragged?
• Based on the ending, what questions are you left with moving into the next book?