The Duchess of Kokora

Phera tends to be confrontational in her approach to conflict, while Rocelle prefers de-escalation and peacemaking. How do you approach conflict in romance and more broadly in life? Does your outlook more closely resemble Phera’s or Rocelle’s? When is one approach better than the other?

“What kind of love does not challenge? What weak manner of affection thinks so little of its object that it never implores it to grow?” Does love demand change and growth? Or is love what happens when we stop keeping score? Do we love “because” or do we love “despite”?

Dominic and Phera’s platonic love operates in some ways as a secondary romance plot. Do you believe that men and women can be just friends? Is there something unique about cross-gender friendships? What makes Phera and Dominic’s friendship work or not work?

Considering only personality, which character would you want to date most?

Caspar Gerhardt argues that industrialization would actually help their non magical classes develop power and influence against their magical overlords. Especially considering our current age of AI, in the long run, is he right? Do technology and its economic opportunities free us from the oppression of a monarchical ruling class? Or do they only create a new dehumanizing aristocracy?

Have you read other books with both magic and technology? Compare and contrast the world-building choices between them!

“Real change happens when you set achievable goals and see them through over a long period.” Hespin and Caspar represent moderate and radical factions of their political group. Is change the process of radical action or of steady reform? Does that differ between personal and political changes? Why or why not?

“Why offer up your heart for all to see when you know that your only reward will be to be skewered on the lance of some courtier’s wit? Perhaps that’s why we need masks in the end. To find some respite from that.” In our age of social media, sound bites, and showmanship, can people truly be honest about their beliefs and experiences? Is it really possible or meaningful to admit being wrong and change your mind? How does the novel and its voyeuristic game show like setting explore that question?

Sorana is willing to go to great lengths for power, from co-opting bigots, to orchestrating kidnappings, to arranging deaths. If the threat she is worried about is real, is she right to do this? What price is too high to pay for security? Did Phera make things worse by antagonizing Sorana, or was there never really a way to negotiate with an adversary like this?