Book Club Questions: The Champion's Lord
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Ashton has a lot of things he feels guilty for, including his mother’s death and how the noble houses managed to overthrow the Grandemere Council. Do you think his guilt is justified? Why or why not?
In an instant, Ashton is fascinated by Raphael Traibon. Do you think this is raw physical attraction? Or perhaps he sees himself in the vagabond prince from the Old Continent? Do you think his reasons for his attraction to Raphael shift throughout the story?
Clan Thompson is joining the fray rather late. Do you think Clan Chief Germaine did this to protect himself? Protect his family? Or does he predict nothing good will come of these alliances or contracts of servitude?
Do you think Raphael shared a similar instant attraction to Ashton when they met? What makes you think he did or did not? What impression were you left with about Raphael’s form of desires in the first visit to the Scarlett House?
There are several saucy scenes between Ashton and Raphael throughout the novel. Do you think there’s significance in how rarely they went all the way with each other? Do you think their locations influenced how far they went? Or do you think their actions were a lustful way of punishing each other for feeling a certain way?
Philippe Farrow seems to hold a grudge against Ashton, but at the same time, there’s a silent hint of respect for him. Do you think there’s more to their relationship or history with one another that is off the table to talk about? We know Ashton slept with Philippe’s daughter, but how does this hint how close they were to each other in the past?
We only get fleeting moments with Ashton’s sister Lillian. What impression do you have of her through her actions and dialogue? What impression does Ashton give you from his internal thoughts and reactions?
Ashton finds himself in compromising situations often, from fighting wolves naked to finding his assumptions horribly inaccurate, especially when it comes to Raphael. What does this say about his character? Do you think it’s due to bad luck? Or do these things come about because of his ego? Or the implication he’s not thinking far enough ahead at any given time?
When Ashton finds himself being cared for by Raphael after nearly dying, what does this reveal about their relationship (despite neither of them addressing it fully before this point)? Were Raphael’s actions worth throwing away their chance to keep House Vendecci in check and creating a scenario that cost them control?
Mad Madeleine is the twin sister of Philippe Farrow, a Paladin of the Fates. How do the two differ from one another? Do you think she takes advantage or manipulates Philippe? Or does he tolerate it in his own way? How did it make you feel when she pitted him against Brett Warren, a childhood friend of his daughter?
Ashton reveals on more than one occasion that he is a devout believer in the Fates, the daemon deities that control everyone’s life threads. When the Devoted Sister comes to the rescue, he seems more distraught than excited. Do you think this is the right reaction for a believer seeing their god come to life? Or do you think he understands the deeper meaning of catching a god’s gaze?
At which point in the story do you feel Ashton and Raphael were being the most honest with their feelings for the other? At what point did each of them self-sabotage to not just aim to deny themselves of being worthy of love but attempt to force the other to abandon the other? Who do you think has the greatest amount of self-hatred?
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