Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of religious discrimination, gender discrimination, and graphic violence.



Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What were your initial expectations when starting a historical horror novel about witchcraft? How did Brom’s approach to the genre compare to other witch-themed works you’ve read, such as Arthur Miller’s The Crucible or Brom’s own dark fantasy novel Krampus, the Yule Lord?

2. How did you respond to the novel’s escalating violence? At what point did you realize this wouldn’t be a typical historical drama?

3. Which aspects of the story’s atmosphere—the colonial setting, the supernatural elements, or the psychological horror—did you find most effective in creating tension?

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

1. Abitha struggles with being an outsider in Sutton’s rigid society. Have you ever felt like an outsider in a community? How did you handle it?

2. The novel explores how people respond when faced with impossible choices. How do you think you would have acted in Abitha’s position when offered Samson’s blood?