The Ex Hex

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Did you empathize with Vivi’s decision to hex her ex? Given her knowledge of her own powers, was this choice irresponsible or innocently cathartic?

2. In the novel, magic is an art as well as an inborn talent. Is there an art or craft form that is tied to your identity just as magic is tied to Gwyn’s?

3. Several characters play a role in the curse that devastates the town. Who do you think is most directly responsible for this catastrophe?

4. Vivi and Rhys both learn to draw strength from the support of their loved ones. What are your sources of strength in your own life? Do any of your most supportive relationships resemble those of the characters?

5. The plot evolves because of a seemingly innocent act that has unintended consequences. Discuss an experience in which a benign action like this led to consequences that you didn’t expect.

6. Gwyn illustrates tarot cards that feature her friends and family. If you were a tarot card, which one would you be, and why?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. What roles do social status and privilege play in the story?

2. The novel focuses on the suppression of female voices in history. Where has this issue been prominent in the real world?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. Vivi ultimately accepts her “witchy” side in a culmination of her personal growth. How does magic function as a metaphor in this context?

2. Compare and contrast Vivi and Rhys’s respective relationships with their parental figures. How is each character shaped by their relationship?

3. Sterling uses the word “witch”, a traditionally feminine word, as a gender-neutral term to refer to a practitioner of magic. How else does the novel subvert traditional gender roles?

4. The ethics of magic are a point of reflection and contention among some of the characters. What are the “rules” of magic in this world, and how are they bent or broken? Cite examples in the text.