Blood Over Bright Haven

Blood Over Bright Haven’s protagonist, Sciona, has dedicated her life to breaking new ground for women at an elite magic university. What personal sacrifices do you think she’s had to make for her ambition? What did you think of Sciona’s contention that her true ambition is helping all women, not just herself?

We gradually learn that Sciona’s family has dedicated their lives to giving Sciona a chance at a better one. How did you feel about Sciona’s attitude toward her family and her relationship with them?

Sciona finds herself working with Thomil, a janitor from a very different cultural and class background from hers. What does Sciona learn from her partnership with him? How does his relationship with her change the way she sees herself and the society she lives in?

The characters in Blood Over Bright Haven often find themselves challenged by new perspectives and ideas. What instances in your own life have led you to discover new perspectives? Have friends or family ever helped you to embrace a new way of thinking? Have you used your own experiences to help someone else understand an issue important to you?

The University of Magics and Industry is an elite university with a long history and deep traditions. Why do you think the school is so resistant to the changes Sciona proposes? What effect might listening to people like Sciona and Thomil have on the way it operates?

In the society depicted in this book, magic is a kind of science that powers an industrial city. What do you think the book might be saying about the price of technological progress? Do you see any parallels between Tiran and the real world?

Over the course of the book, we see Sciona begin to take a more active role in effecting change and accepting help from others. What real-world issues feel overwhelming to face alone? Who would you want on your side to make your voice heard?

Blood Over Bright Haven joins a long tradition of books about schools of magic. What expectations did you have going into the book based on the subject? How did the book challenge or subvert them?

What did you think about the relationship between Sciona and Carra? Between Thomil and Carra? Why do you think Carra and Thomil have such different reactions to Sciona and to their situation?

What did you think about the ending and how did it make you feel? In your opinion, did Sciona, Thomil, and Carra do the right thing?