If your book club is reading The Half King, here are a few prompts to get the discussion going. Please note: **some of these prompts contain spoilers**, so proceed with caution if you haven’t read the book yet.
The Half King discussion guide (spoilers ahead)
1. Discuss the moments in The Half King when Cerise achieves empowerment. What lessons from her journey can be applied to modern discussions about female empowerment and bodily autonomy?
2. How do fear and shame manifest in Cerise’s life? What leads her to confront and overcome these feelings, and why is Father Padron unable to do the same?
3. In what ways does The Half King portray the effects of indoctrination on both Cerise and Father Padron? How do their temple upbringings differ, and in what ways do these differences influence their views of morality?
4. How do love and relationships play a role in the choices made by Cerise and Father Padron? Do you think redemption is possible for Father Padron?
5. How do the themes presented in The Half King resonate with your own experiences?