This post may contain affiliate links. Read more here.
Book club questions for Curious Tides by Pascale Lacelle explore the themes of magic and its consequences, friendship and betrayal, the pursuit of truth amidst deception, the burden of extraordinary abilities, the clash between privilege and justice, and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of dark and mysterious forces.
This is one of those books that will grab your attention right from the start.
The characters were wonderfully crafted, and the story was brilliantly written. The fresh approach to the magical system and the unexpected plot twists kept me hooked. I’m eagerly anticipating the next installment! For my full review, click here!
How did you like this novel? ✨
Curious Tides by Pascale Lacelle
In this blog post you will find the discussion questions for Curious Tides by Pascale Lacelle.
At the bottom of this post I have prepared a printable PDF with downloadable book club questions for this novel so you can use them with your book clubs, and I also have some additional suggestions for novels that share similar themes and narratives.
Book Club Questions | Additional Recommendations | Printable List
About the Story
Curious Tides is a dark academia fantasy novel set in a prestigious magical school, Aldryn College for Lunar Magics. The story revolves around Emory, a teenage mage with mediocre healing abilities.
After a tragic incident in the Dovermere sea caves claims the lives of her classmates, Emory becomes the sole survivor and gains strange and powerful abilities. She teams up with Baz, a knowledgeable student of darker magic, to uncover the truth behind the mysterious deaths and a secret society suspected to be involved.
As Emory delves deeper into her investigation, she discovers that her deceased classmates are mysteriously returning to life, only to meet horrifying magical ends shortly after.
Emory’s quest for answers attracts the attention of the secret society, leading her into a world of privilege and power. Throughout the story, she grapples with her newfound abilities, the enigmatic society, and the possibility that her search for truth might lead her back to the very fate she was trying to escape.
In essence, the novel combines elements of mystery, magic, and intrigue, as Emory navigates the complexities of a magical society, seeking to unravel a dark conspiracy while coming to terms with her own extraordinary powers.
About the Author
Pascale Lacelle, a French-Canadian writer from Ottawa, Ontario, fell in love with books at 13 and started writing her own stories.
Despite her background in French Literature, she found her true passion in the English language, a fact she kept from her French professors.
When she’s not lost in books, Pascale daydreams about food and travel, enjoys playtime with her dog Roscoe, and creates playlists for every mood.
You can find her on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter.
Book Club Questions for Curious Tides
Disclaimer: the following discussion questions contain spoilers, so proceed with caution if you haven’t finished the book yet.
- The magic system in the story is intricately tied to the phases of the moon at the time of a person’s birth. How does this unique magical concept enhance the story? How does it influence the characters’ abilities and relationships?
- Discuss the character growth of Emory throughout the story. How does her journey from a mediocre healer to a powerful mage impact her personality and decisions? Are there moments where you found her actions particularly relatable or surprising?
- Baz’s character is also central to the plot. How does his complex relationship with his late sister, Romie, shape his motivations and interactions with Emory? In what ways does his eclipse magic define his identity?
- The story takes place in Aldryn College for Lunar Magics, creating a dark academia atmosphere. How does this setting contribute to the overall tone of the book? Are there specific scenes or descriptions that stood out to you?
- The novel explores themes such as grief, survivor’s guilt, and the complexities of magical abilities. How are these themes portrayed in the story? Can you identify moments where these themes are particularly poignant?
- Symbolism plays a significant role in the book, especially with the inclusion of excerpts from “Song of the Drowned Gods.” How do these excerpts enhance the narrative, and what do you think they symbolize in the context of the story?
- The book is praised for its plot twists and mysteries. Were there specific moments that surprised you or that you predicted earlier in the story? How did the plot twists impact your reading experience?
- How does the book handle representation, including mental health topics such as anxiety and trauma? Do you think these topics were portrayed realistically and sensitively?
- Discuss the relationships in the story, including friendships, romantic connections, and familial bonds. Which relationships were your favorite, and why?
- The author has created a detailed magical world based on lunar magic. What aspects of this world-building fascinated you the most? Are there elements you wish were explored further?
- The story is narrated from multiple perspectives and includes excerpts from “Song of the Drowned Gods.” How did the narrative style and pacing affect your reading experience? Did you find it engaging and well-paced?
- The book has been compared to other works like “Ninth House” and “A Deadly Education.” In what ways do you think it stands out from or resembles these books? Would you recommend “Curious Tides” to fans of similar fantasy novels?
- For those who read the physical copy, how did the book’s design, including the moon phase transitions and excerpts formatting, enhance the reading experience? Did it add to the overall atmosphere of the story?
Additional Recommendations
Hope you enjoyed the book club discussion questions and reading guide for Curious Tides by Pascale Lacelle!
Here are some more of my book club recommendations related to this book:
The Hurricane Wars by Thea Guanzon
The fates of two bitter enemies with opposing magical abilities are swept together in The Hurricane Wars, the spellbinding debut in a fantasy romance trilogy set in a Southeast Asia–inspired world ravaged by storms, perfect for fans of Fourth Wing and A Court of Thorns and Roses
The heart is a battlefield.
All Talasyn has ever known is the Hurricane Wars. Growing up an orphan in a nation under siege by the ruthless Night Emperor, she found her family among the soldiers who fight for freedom. But she is hiding a deadly secret: light magic courses through her veins, a blazing power believed to have been wiped out years ago that can cut through the Night Empire’s shadows.
Prince Alaric, the emperor’s only son and heir, has been tasked with obliterating any threats to the Night Empire’s rule with the strength of his armies and mighty shadow magic. He discovers the greatest threat yet in Talasyn: a girl burning brightly on the battlefield with the magic that killed his grandfather, turned his father into a monster, and ignited the Hurricane Wars. He tries to kill her, but in a clash of light and dark, their powers merge and create a force the likes of which has never been seen.
This war can only end with them. But an even greater danger is coming, and the strange magic they can create together could be the only way to overcome it. Talasyn and Alaric must decide… are they fated to join hands, or destroy each other?
An exquisite fantasy brimming with unforgettable characters and sizzling enemies-to-lovers romance set in a richly drawn world, The Hurricane Wars marks the breathtaking debut of an extraordinary new writer.
Night of the Witch by Sara Raasch and Beth Revis
New York Times bestselling authors Sara Raasch and Beth Revis weave a tale of romance, vengeance, and magic in this start to the Witch and Hunter duology, an epic enemies to lovers fantasy romance.
Fritzi is a witch. The lone survivor of a brutal attack on her coven, she’s determined to find her only remaining family member and bring the hexenjägers―zealot witch hunters―to justice for the lives they ended. To do this, she will need to take down their leader, the merciless and enigmatic Kommandant Dieter Kirch.
Otto is a hexenjäger―but that’s just his cover. Years ago, the hexenjägers burned his innocent mother alive, and he has been plotting his revenge against the people who tore apart his family ever since. And now the time has come for them to pay for what they’ve done.
When Fritzi and Otto are unexpectedly thrown together, neither is sure they can trust the other. The reluctant truce fueled by their common enemy takes them from the city at the heart of the hexenjägers’ power to the wild and mysterious Black Forest. As old truths come to light and new dangers are revealed, Fritzi and Otto uncover a horrifying magical plot at the center of the hexenjäger attacks that leads back to Kommandant Kirch . . . but their own growing feelings for each other may be the most powerful magic of all.
One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig
For fans of Uprooted and For the Wolf comes a dark, lushly gothic fantasy about a maiden who must unleash the monster within to save her kingdom—but the monster in her head isn’t the only threat lurking.
Elspeth needs a monster. The monster might be her.
Elspeth Spindle needs more than luck to stay safe in the eerie, mist-locked kingdom she calls home—she needs a monster. She calls him the Nightmare, an ancient, mercurial spirit trapped in her head. He protects her. He keeps her secrets.
But nothing comes for free, especially magic.
When Elspeth meets a mysterious highwayman on the forest road, her life takes a drastic turn. Thrust into a world of shadow and deception, she joins a dangerous quest to cure the kingdom of the dark magic infecting it. Except the highwayman just so happens to be the King’s own nephew, Captain of the Destriers…and guilty of high treason.
He and Elspeth have until Solstice to gather twelve Providence Cards—the keys to the cure. But as the stakes heighten and their undeniable attraction intensifies, Elspeth is forced to face her darkest secret yet: the Nightmare is slowly, darkly, taking over her mind. And she might not be able to stop him.
Printable PDF
Feel free to distribute these discussion questions to your book club members before your meeting. Simply click the link below to download and print the PDF file.
Happy reading! ❤️