1. Ava’s longing for another life is clear from the moment she appears on the page: “She wanted to be surprised by life, to walk along dark streets and kiss someone as if her life depended upon it” (p. 11). How does Ava’s relationship with freedom and agency evolve over the course of the novel?

2. Lauren tells Lionel, “People like us shouldn’t ever fall in love” (p. 27). How does Lauren’s fear of emotional vulnerability change throughout the story? What allows her to be more vulnerable, and when do we see her the most afraid?

3. Lauren tells Ava that Ava had better learn “the game of appearing normal” (p. 33). What role does conformity play for the characters, magical and non-magical alike, throughout the novel? Which characters succeed at blending in, and which refuse to?

4. Rose, the first witch of Cambridge, writes, “What men don’t understand they will seek to destroy” (p. 164). Where do we see the consequences of this play out in the story?

5. Jamie repeatedly struggles with the darkness of his family history. How does his relationship with his legacy shape his journey?

6. The novel draws direct parallels between the Salem Witch Trials and McCarthy-era America. Where do you see these comparisons most clearly? Can similar parallels be drawn to the political climate of today?

7. Discuss the role of the body in this novel. Characters are judged, punished, desired or feared because of physical traits like sharp teeth, black blood, scars or extra fingers. How are these traits used to convey a sense of otherness and power?

8. Imagery from the natural world appears throughout the novel: crows, dogs, flowers, rivers, apples and many more. What role does nature play within the magical world of the story? Which recurring symbols stood out most to you, and why?

9. Discuss the relationship between power and knowledge in the novel. Who has access to education, history and magic --- and who is excluded from them?

10. By the end of the novel, which relationship dynamics felt the most meaningful to you: friendship, romance, family bonds, or the connections between generations of women? Why? How do these different relationships overlap or conflict with each other?