This month’s FYA Book Club selection is The Dark Days Club by Alison Goodman. Check out the discussion questions below! (Slight spoilers ahead.)
P.S. If you’ve already read the book, feel free to add any other discussion questions of your own in the comments!
Icebreaker
Helen obviously inherited some important traits from her mother. What is a particular trait that you inherited from a parent, and is it a quality you’re thankful for or not?
Questions
1. The author is a HUGE fan of the Regency period, which shows in her detailed writing. She even dresses up in period appropriate garb (see her author’s photo on the book jacket). Is there any time period that you’ve obsessed over to the point of immersing yourself in the life/trying something from the era?
2. The book has been described by many as Buffy meets the nineteenth century. Do you think the combination of the Regency setting and the fantastical, magical elements worked well together?
3. You learn about Lady Helen’s powers as a Reclaimer and the life-force-sucking Deceivers right along with her. Was there any point where it was too confusing, or did you think the world-building was easy to follow?
4. Lord Carlston returns to the ton three years after he was accused of murdering his wife. He maintains he did not kill her, but he refuses to tell Helen anything more. What do YOU think happened to his wife?
5. Which one of Lady Helen’s powers would you most want? Why?
6. The existence of Lady Helen’s powers as an Inheritor (AKA a Reclaimer who descends directly from another Reclaimer) is explained by Lord Carlston as a direct result of a Grand Deceiver coming into power (think someone like Napoleon). Who do you think the Grand Deceiver could be?
7. Lastly, and possibly most importantly—will you be reading the sequel? (Psst: The final book of the trilogy comes out in November!)
