Stars and Swashbucklers

The islands of the Broken World are all unique. If you lived in the Broken World, what island would you want to live on? Why?

In Anya’s world, the night sky has taken the place of the sea. What creatures do you think you would find swimming through stars instead of water?

Our world sometimes feels broken right now. How does Anya’s world reflect that? Is Fitzgerald’s vision of the future hopeful or discouraging?

The Breaking is referred to as the moment when the earth shattered. What do you think would be lost if our world shattered tomorrow? What would you change if building humanity anew?

Although we know Anya’s world has shattered, we don’t know why. On page 149 we learn that “Most everything was lost after The Breaking; no technology, and no knowledge of how it happened.” What do you think could cause our world to break apart?

Piracy has been made legal by the monarchy. Why would a government decriminalize a profession like piracy?

In Anya’s world, knowledge of the Beneath, and magic in general, is banned. Why would the monarchy impose such a ban?

Anya lives in a time of both magic and science. How do you think the world would look today if technology evolved alongside the creatures of myth and legend?

Faeries and mythical monsters are all referred to as Beings in Anya’s world. Does referring to them simply as Beings make them more or less fearsome? Is there power in a name?

In the liminal space with the wyrm, the Being gives us an omniscient perspective on each of the main characters, allowing us to see them in a new light. Did it change your opinion of any of the characters? How might this affect how Anya sees the characters moving forward?

Alek Cavil is seen by the world as the Golden Boy. But on page 353 the omniscient Wyrm warns that “Gold is precious, but soft.” What does this tell us about Alek?

In contrast, Dax is referred to as his brother’s shadow. How does this affect Dax’s character and his choices?

Anya sheds a lot of tears in this novel. Does crying make her a weaker protagonist, or does feeling her emotions make her stronger?

On page 196 Anya says, “There’s a monster in my mind.” What do you think the monster in Anya’s mind represents?

Many people with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) seek certainty—they need to know the answer, often to unanswerable questions. The persistent “Yes or no?” questions in Anya’s nightmares represent something called OCD checking: a compulsive anxiety response to the obsessive concern of not knowing. Do you recognize other aspects of OCD in Anya’s character?

Is Erwin a good brother? Why or why not?

The Marcox siblings each have unique personalities from one another. How does the same childhood trauma of being raised by an alcoholic father after their mother’s death manifest differently in the three siblings?

Throughout the book, Anya is haunted by the words of her dead father: “Average lives for average girls. You’re not a princess, or a pirate either.” Do you think children can overcome the expectations of their parents? Will Anya?

On page 336, Anya says, “She’s planning to kill the Cavils, but a part of me still wants her to be the woman I thought she was.” Why does Anya need to believe in Marla?

In the note from the historian, we learn that Stars & Swashbucklers is Anya’s captured memories. The historian also tells us that memories can be unreliable. How do you think the story would change if the historian had captured the memories of a different character?

The historian describes Anya as a Kingslayer and a Dream Eater, but the girl we meet is naive and full of self-doubt. What can turn an average girl into a monster?

The quest for a mysterious relic is a focal point of this book. Why does the hero's journey resonate with people?

The story ends as it began. Does the circular ending create a sense of futility, or closure?