ONCE BITTEN, TWICE SPY

Whether you’re diving into the world of Once Bitten, Twice Spy by Skylar Anthony for the first time or revisiting it with your book club, these questions are designed to spark lively discussion. Explore the characters’ choices, the story’s blend of science fiction and fantasy, and the deeper themes of power, trust, and healing that drive Taylor’s journey. There are no right or wrong answers—only perspectives worth sharing.

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Discussion Guide

1. The Opening Heist
   The story begins in the middle of a tense infiltration. How did this opening draw you in, and what did it reveal about Taylor right away? What were your initial thoughts about Taylor as a protagonist? Did your understanding of her shift as more of her history and motivations were revealed?
2. Haunted but Unbroken
   Taylor spends much of the story avoiding her past. What do you think finally pushes her to confront it? How does her journey toward acceptance shape who she becomes?
3. Eiran as Foil and Partner
   Eiran often stands as Taylor’s opposite—steadier where she’s reckless, idealistic where she’s jaded. How do their differences and shared goals bring them closer together?
4. Love in the Line of Fire
   How does the danger and secrecy of their mission influence the chemistry between Taylor and Eiran? Did their relationship feel like a risk worth taking?
5. The Nature of Power
   Humans are the only major race to not be able to wield magic. How did that affect your perception of Helix’s pursuit of magic? Did you find their motives understandable or misguided?
6. Frank’s Sacrifice
   Frank’s death is a turning point in the story. Did you see it as a noble act, a tragic loss, or both? How did it affect your sense of hope—or hopelessness—in that moment?
7. Adrian Blackstone: Monster or Victim?
   Adrian’s transformation into a cyborg blurs the line between human and machine, villain and victim. How did you perceive him—as a monster of his own making, or someone broken by others’ choices?
8. The Eldralume Relic and Elvish Ethics
   The Relic holds the original, untainted luminar essence—something the elves’ own technology depends on by destroying. How did that revelation change your view of the elves’ solarpunk ideals and the world’s balance of ethics and hypocrisy?
9. Solarpunk and Science Fantasy
   How did the Valen people’s eco-forward, solarpunk culture influence how you experienced the science-fantasy world? In what ways did their blend of aesthetic and philosophy contrast with the humans’ cyberpunk vibes and more brutal technology and aesthetic?
10. Breaking Down Walls
    Taylor keeps most people at arm’s length, but certain characters manage to break through. What allowed Kairo—and later Eiran and the Silberwald crew—to earn her trust?
11. Moral Shades of Gray
    Many characters justify questionable choices for survival or the “greater good.” Which decision or moment made you question what “right” and “wrong” mean in this world?
12. What Comes Next
    By the end of Once Bitten, Twice Spy, Taylor has faced loss, truth, and transformation. What are you most curious to see her confront in the next book?