What is love bombing? Do you recognize Nico’s tactics for seduction?
Do you believe he can actually compel his victim with hypnotism or his special tea?
Do you think that being compelled by a sociopath or narcissist could never happen to you?
How might you recognize a sociopath?
6. Kristi explains the psychic connection called cording that draws life-force.
Had you heard of cording? How is Nico able to achieve this cording?
Why didn’t Kristi’s cord cutting work for Luna?
What are the butterflies in Luna’s solar plexus?
What was the impetus for Luna to begin her healing journey?
7. The archetype of the Wounded Healer is evident in Nico’s work as a yoga master and energy healer. The idea, according to Carl Jung, is a healer is most effective when he himself is wounded—his own hurt gives him the empathy to heal.
How has Nico’s emotional wound affected his ability to use his powers wisely?
Was Nico ever on the side of light?
At what point in the story were you first aware Nico has a severe personality disorder?
8. Sociopathy lies on a spectrum of behaviors, but all those with such disorders are empty shells who are unable to feel love—they have no empathy. They use manipulation and mirroring to control the perception and behavior of others toward them. Luna recognizes this without pinpointing the diagnosis, and believes she can fix Nico with unconditional love.
Why does Luna believe she can fix Nico? Does this make her a co-dependent?
How does Nico palliate his emotional pain and suffering?
When Tyler tells Luna, “It’s like blaming a snake for having fangs,” what do you think he means?
9. A malignant narcissist is the most extreme and dangerous narcissist, often existing simultaneously with antisocial personality disorder (sociopath). Presenting a lack of empathy and remorse, it is characterized by grandiosity, paranoia, aggression, and sadism.
Why do you think Nico’s behavior became increasingly more aggressive?
Do you think that Nico always had a drug problem?
Why does Nico abuse drugs?
10. Tyler’s love for Luna never wavers. As a spiritual teacher, he is not controlling.
How do you feel about Tyler’s spiritual nature and expression of love?
Do you think Tyler helped Luna sever the bond with Nico?
How does Luna’s understanding of herself and her desires change by the end of the novel?
What did Luna learn through her relationship with Nico?
Table of Contents
Title
Copyright
Contents
Foreword
Epigraph
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-one
Chapter Twenty-two
Chapter Twenty-three
Chapter Twenty-four
Chapter Twenty-five
Chapter Twenty-six
Chapter Twenty-seven
Chapter Twenty-eight
Chapter Twenty-nine
Chapter Thirty
Reading Group Guide
The Sleeping Serpent: Page 46