Blood of Hercules (Villains of Lore, #1)

How does the novel challenge the concepts of morality and villainy through its portrayal of characters like Augustus and Kharon, as well as the descriptions of Sparta’ social structure?

How does Mas complicate the roles of her characters in a world that forces a subset of Spartans to engage in endless publicized fights against the Titans? Which characters dance back and forth across the line that separates heroes from villains?

How does the novel modify the classicist definition of honor, particularly when it comes to social conceptions of masculinity?

How does the setting of the Spartan Academy highlight The Illusion of Agency that Alexis and her peers often experience despite their determination and strength of will? Pay particular attention to the Academy’s rules and expectations and decide how they either constrain or enable personal agency.

The novel often suggests that myths are constructed or manipulated by society. Identify and analyze at least three instances in which the media uses Mythology as Political Propaganda. How are revised narratives used to maintain certain power structures or impact public perception?

How do Alexis’s past experiences with trauma affect her ability to make autonomous choices?

How does the narrative portray patriarchal power structures, and what broader critiques does Mas deliver through her descriptions of Alexis’s journey?

Mentorship becomes a prominent factor in Alexis’s experience, but the advice of Alexis’s mentors is often tainted by their hidden agendas or personal challenges. Compare and contrast the mentorship of Patro and Achilles with that of Augustus and Kharon.