Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. How have you noticed R.F. Kuang’s writing style evolve over this series, from The Poppy War, which she wrote when she was nineteen, to The Burning God?

2. Are you satisfied by the end of the trilogy?

3. How does this novel and series compare with other Asian or Asian diaspora fantasy, such as Xiran Jay Zhao’s Iron Widow, Sue Lynn Tan’s Daughter of the Moon Goddess, or Axie Oh’s The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. How do your sympathies toward Rin evolve over the novel, as her actions become more brutal and extreme? To what degree do you sympathize with her over the novel’s arc? What about in her final moments?

2. The theme The Dehumanizing Effects of War is used to explore the idea that all actions have unforeseeable consequences. How do you personally weigh the ramifications of your actions? What goes into your decision to make certain actions, despite the consequences?