To my personal cheerleaders: Ingrid, Cassia, Zara, Kelly P., Janelle, Brooke, Ann, Nick, Denise, and the many others who have cheered me on via social media. I can’t thank you enough for your encouragement and support.
Mandi, Abby, and Hope, thank you for the sunshine you bring to all my cloudy days.
To my beta readers, Gabrial, Laura, and Karine, your feedback and all-out fangirling have encouraged me to the moon.
Thanks to my FB buds, Flic and Anson, who helped when I was stuck. And to Mitz, thanks for those NYC descriptions you wrote. Also to Steve (a.k.a. the Lawn Gnome): Thanks for answering my NYC questions in the final stages of revisions.
To my BookTube friends: Thank you, (insert your name here). There are quite literally enough of you to fill a separate section of acknowledgments. You know who you are. *waves*
Trina Ruck, thank you for your enthusiasm for this project. Your creativity inspires me.
To my Street Team/Early Reviewers: ABasketCaseyReads, April Sarah, Bekah AwesomeBookNut, Between Chapters, books & tea & all things me, Bre Faucheux, Coffee&Chapters, Danni Darling, gingerreadslainey, Hope Ortego, ISmellBooks, thejordanjournals, Kayla Rayne, KalesKorner, The Little Librarian, Meagan Precourt, and taylortalksbooks, saidthestory . . . Thank you all for your willingness to read my book baby and tell the world what you think . . . whatever that may be.
Thanks to Jade @bedtimebkworm for telling me about the Combine feature in Word.
Emilie Hendryx (a.k.a. E.A. Creative Photography), thank you for the lovely headshots!
To my author friends, thank you for letting me pester you, among other things: Krista McGee, Lorie Langdon, Mary Weber, Kristy Cambron, Sarah E. Morin, Diana Sharples, Elizabeth VanTassel, Shannon Dittemore, Melissa Landers, Nadine Brandes, Katherine Reay, Elissa Sussman, Patricia Beal, Emileigh Latham, Rachelle Rea, Laura McNeill, Sara Crawford, Morgan Feldman, Bre Faucheux, and all the other authors I’m failing to mention.
To Rachel Hauck and Susie May at My Book Therapy, thanks for giving me that extra confidence and help to pitch this story at ACFW.
To you, dear reader: Thank you for giving El’s story a chance. Whoever you are, you’re beautiful (or handsome!). Inside and out.
And finally I have to mention the King of my heart again. He is, after all, the Beginning and the End. You are my happily ever after, my one true pairing. And like Prince Charming, I know you will always find me.
Discussion Questions
SPOILER ALERT! Do not read these questions until you have finished the book!
Eliyana faces the loss of her mother in the opening chapters. How does her grief affect her decisions and actions in the beginning? Have you experienced a loss similar to El’s? How did your grief affect your decisions and actions during that time?
Eliyana and Ky both have less-than-perfect physical appearances—El with her birthmark and Ky with his acne. How do they deal with what others think of them? Do you notice a contrast in how El behaves in regard to her appearance versus how Ky behaves in regard to his? Who is more insecure? Why do you think so? Is there any insecurity in your life that has shaped your behavior and attitude toward yourself and others?
Throughout the story we see how the Callings relate directly to the different strengths of each character. What Calling do you think the Verity would choose for you? Why?
Elizabeth felt that keeping the truth from El was the best way to protect her. Do you agree with her decision? If it were your child, what would you have done differently? Why?
Joshua struggles with choosing between his duty to the Second Reflection and his love for El. What would you do if you were in his situation? Do you think it is right to sacrifice the well-being of many to save one? Was it right for him to take the burden upon himself, or should he have given El the choice to share in his burden? Give reasons to support your answer.
Ky says, “. . . appearances can deceive. A jagged surface doesn’t always allude to what truly lies beneath.” In a culture of Photoshopping and filtering, we often portray a rose-colored version of ourselves. Do you consider this behavior deceitful? Should we be more honest on social media? Why or why not?
Ky and Joshua share the burden of the Void in the end. According to the story, the Void enters “the one the vessel cares for more than any other.” It’s clear El’s heart is divided in the end, but what about the guys? Who do you feel cares more for Eliyana and why?
In the final chapter, El thinks, “. . . my worth isn’t defined by others.” If this is true, what or who does define our worth? Do you gauge your worth by what others think or say about you? Discuss El’s inner journey. Her physical appearance hasn’t changed, but how has she transformed?
Does the opening poem (“Once upon a time is ne’er what it seems . . .”) hold any truth? Oftentimes we romanticize what love should look like. We think of fairy tales and Prince or Princess Charming and create expectations that can be impossible to meet. Is love an action or a feeling? What does it mean to “fall” in love? What does “true” love look like to you? Can you share an example?
El hasn’t known Ky very long. We discover “a Kiss of Infinity isn’t something you decide to bestow. It comes from the deepest part of your soul. Stems from desires and emotions you may not even be aware you possess.” Why do you think El was able to give Ky a Kiss of Infinity? What does this say about her as a person? What do you predict will come of El and Ky’s relationship in the next book? What about El and Joshua?
Ky sacrifices himself in the final showdown with Crowe. Do you think Ky knew he carried a piece of the Verity? Why or why not? He not only saved El from taking on the Void, but he also saved Ebony, a traitor. What does this say about him? After all that transpired in the story, are you Team Joshua or Team Ky? Give reasons to support your answer.
Ebony sought revenge on El because of their father Tiernan. Do you think Ebony’s actions were justified? Should she be punished for her behavior or should she be pardoned? Give reasons to support your answer.
About the Author
Once upon a time, Sara Ella dreamed she would marry a prince and live in a castle, and she did work for Disney! Now she spends her days throwing living room dance parties for her two princesses and conquering realms of her own imaginings. She believes “Happily Ever After Is Never Far Away.”
Visit Sara online at saraella.com
Facebook: writinghistruth
Twitter: @SaraEllaWrites
Instagram: saraellawrites
YouTube: Sara Ella
Copyright
© 2016 by Sara E. Larson
All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or other—except for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
Published in Nashville, Tennessee, by Thomas Nelson. Thomas Nelson is a registered trademark of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc.