Defend The Dawn: Adult Book Club Questions
- patricecarey8
- Jan 10
- 3 min read
To save their kingdom, they must embark on a dangerous journey . . .
The kingdom of Kandala narrowly avoided catastrophe, but the embers of revolution still simmer. While King Harristan seeks a new way to lead, Tessa and Prince Corrick attempt to foster unity between rebels and royals. But the consuls who control the Moonflower will not back down, and Corrick realizes he must find a new source for the lifesaving Elixir.
When an emissary from the neighboring kingdom of Ostriary arrives with an intriguing offer, Tessa and Corrick set out on an uncertain journey as they attempt to mend their own fractured relationship.This could be their only chance to keep the peace and bring relief to the people of Kandala, but danger strikes during the journey to Ostriary, and no one is who they seemed to be . . .
Quick Review of Defend The Dawn
Middle books in a trilogy sometimes feel like filler content, but this YA fantasy romance upped all the stakes while giving me everything I loved about the first book: Tessa/Corrick romance, impossible problems, and MORE ETHICAL DILEMMAS. Highly recommend.
Alert! Intriguing Discussion Ahead
I encourage book clubs to move beyond questions like, “What did you like/dislike about the book?” and “Who was your favorite character and why?” My discussion questions typically focus on ethical and moral dilemmas, book scenarios applied to real life, and character motivations.
Book Club Questions
Corrick tells Tessa that Rian Blakemore is who Weston Lark would be if he were real. What does he mean? Do you agree?
Describe how Tessa saw Corrick vs. Rian at the start of the book. Was your opinion the same as hers? Did yours change by the end, as Tessa’s did?
Do you feel like Rian was justified in how he interacted with Kandala and treated Corrick, Tessa, Lochlan, and their guards, given his desire to help Ostiary?
What commonalities do you see between Rian and Tessa? What differences?
In this book, Harrison is injured in the Wilds and must reach out to Karri for help. Why do you think Karri helps him?
The ship’s locked room is a source of tension between Rian and Corrick. Do you think there’s a world in which the Kendalans would have agreed with Rian’s treatment of Bella if he had been honest with them from the start about her?
Tessa often feels frustrated about effecting change through bureaucracy, diplomacy, and coordination efforts. She longs for the days when she could see concrete results of trying to help. How does this sometimes make her shortsighted?
Doubts about Corrick are planted in Tessa’s mind by Rian, Lochlan, and Karri. In her position, do you think those doubts would have gotten to you, or would you have kept your confidence in Corrick?
For the majority of the book, it’s hard to determine whom Lochlan would back if violence erupted on the ship, but in the end, he’s loyal to Corrick. Why?
If you were Harrison, with insurrection and revolution around the corner but people also desperately needing medicine, would you have approved the voyage to Ostiary?
Bonus: Play a round of Blade and Brawl with your book club.
Below, you can download a PDF of the Defend The Dawn discussion questions to print out and bring to your book club. I hope you have an intriguing discussion!
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