The Writing Retreat

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2023

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Summary

Background

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Tools

Discussion Questions

Essay Topics

Content Warning: These essay topics engage with violent, abusive, sexual, and occult subject matter.

Is Alex a reliable narrator? Why or why not?

Describe Wren and Alex’s friendship. How does it initiate? What brings about its end? Why do they decide to go their separate ways? What do they learn about themselves via the friendship?

Comment on the role of Blackbriar Estate in this narrative. How does it adhere to Gothic literary conventions? Does Blackbriar challenge or complicate those conventions? Explain your reasoning with examples from the text.