Lee is a deeply unreliable narrator and grapples throughout the novel with, apparently, serious mental illness. Yet, the lines between her supernatural experiences of magic, her possession by the ghost, and her own suicidal depression are intentionally blurred. What is your perspective on the “truth” of Lee’s experiences as depicted in Consensual Hex? How does Lee’s trauma figure into her lived experience of witchcraft, the ghost, and mental illness? Is Lee not “mentally ill” after all, and simply responding reasonably to her circumstances?
How does Lee’s trauma inform her struggle to confront and define her own queer identity? How does the relationship between Lee and Luna inform your understanding of how sexuality can develop authentically in the context of sexual trauma?
Lee is not a “relatable” protagonist. Though she constantly combats intense self-hatred and the legacy of her trauma, she is also intensely ego-driven, taking charge of the coven and putting herself at the forefront of Professor Weiss’s attention. She also gleefully organizes a murder and violently attacks Gabi. How did you react to Lee’s character? Did you identify with Lee’s rage, resist her, dislike her, cheer her on?
What happens to Lee and Luna after the conclusion of the novel? Does their relationship have any true potential—which, of course, brings us back to question 7 (is Lee’s perception even accurate)?
Following your experience of Consensual Hex, what is your perspective on actionable solutions to the campus sexual assault epidemic, the issues raised by the courageous voices of the #MeToo movement, and rape culture in general? Are the characters in Consensual Hex empowered by their mission of vengeance—or is a deeply rooted social poison like rape culture “bigger than” individual efforts to seek justice?
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