Book Club Discussion Questions
Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!
- Names have a great deal of power in Siren Queen.
What does it suggest that we are never told Luli
or Emmaline's birth names?
- Luli experiences several kinds of love during the
course of Siren Queen. How are these loves alike,
and how are they different? How do you feel
about them, knowing that Luli's relationships
with Emmaline and Tara end and that she ends
up happy with Jane?
- At different times, Luli holds a number of
different views about Emmaline Sauvignon.
How justified do you find Emmaline's actions?
Is she a villain, a heroine, or something else?
- The world of Siren Queen features many different
forms of magic, from the railroad magic of Luli's
mother to the illusions of the studio. What does
it mean that Luli has no real magic of her own
until the very end, when she reveals a portion of
herself that has always been kept secret?
- In Siren Queen, there is no doubt that while
monsters love, they do not always do it like
humans do. What does love mean to a monster
like Greta? What about a monster like Oberlin
Wolfe? What is your experience with love that
doesn't look the way love is expected to look?
- The sexual menace of characters like Jacko
Dewalt and Oberlin Wolfe is a matter of course
to Luli and her peers, calling to mind the
modern #MeToo movement. How far have we
come since their time? Do you think we've made
significant progress?
- During some of the most intense moments
of her life, Luli feels as if she's standing
outside of herself, watching as an observer.
What does it mean that in Luli's triumphant
ending, she is completely and fully present
in herself?
- Sacrifice is a deeply personal thing in Siren
Queen, from Luli to Greta to Brandt to Tara.
What would you give up for immortality?
For fame? For safety?
- The relationship between Luli and her sister
changes several times over the course of
the book. How do these changes affect how
they see each other, and how might their
relationship change further in the future?
- The Friday night fires are a hinterland of
darkness, a liminal space out of time. How
would you keep yourself safe in such a place?
Would you go at all?
- Luli considers herself cold and monstrous,
something that becomes an advantage when
she portrays the Siren Queen. Do you think
she would still be seen as cold and monstrous
if she were a white actress in her time or in
ours?
- Luli states that Greta's great strength is that
she doesn't care. Has caring less ever served
you well?
- What do you think a modern Hollywood
might look like if it was run on Siren Queen
rules? Who do you think the great kings and
queens might be, and what sacrifices might
they have made to gain their power?
Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of Tor.com.
Any page references refer to a USA edition of the book, usually the trade paperback version, and may vary in other editions.
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