Masquerade Reading Guide & Discussion Questions

Book Club Discussion Questions

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For supplemental discussion material see our Beyond the Book article, The Thunderous Òrìṣà Ṣàngó and our BookBrowse Review of Masquerade.

Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!

1. Òdòdó's status as a blacksmith causes her to be an outsider; it also results in her being frequently misunderstood and disbelieved. Has there been a time in your life where you have been misunderstood or disbelieved? Describe how those experiences affected you.
2. For Òdòdó, home means being with her mother and the women in her blacksmith guild; she finds comfort, security, and solace in their company. What does home mean for you? Has your meaning of home changed over the years? If so, how?
3. One of the central themes in Masquerade is adjusting to a change in status. We see Òdòdó's social and political status rise and fall throughout the book. How did you respond to Òdòdó evolving from a blacksmith to a warrior queen? Which of her roles stood out the most to you? Why?

Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of Forge Books. Any page references refer to a USA edition of the book, usually the trade paperback version, and may vary in other editions.