Book club resources
I’m so honored that you’ve chosen The Ringmaster's Revenge for your book club!
On this page, you’ll find a variety of resources including Menu Ideas, Discussion Questions, and Book Club Games to help make your book club come alive! Use the table of contents to jump to where you need to go or download the printable PDF (coming soon).
Menu Ideas
The Pre-Show: Appetizers & Snacks
Cirque du Noir Popcorn:
Freshly popped popcorn tossed with black truffle oil, parmesan, and cracked black pepper for an elevated, dark twist on a circus classic.
Ingredients:
-
1/2 cup popcorn kernels (or 2 bags plain, unbuttered microwave popcorn)
-
2 tbsp neutral oil (if popping on the stove)
-
2 tbsp melted butter
-
1 tbsp black truffle oil
-
1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
-
Freshly cracked black pepper and sea salt to taste
Instructions:
-
Pop the popcorn kernels using your preferred method and transfer to a large bowl.
-
In a small bowl, whisk together the melted butter and black truffle oil.
-
Drizzle the oil mixture evenly over the warm popcorn, tossing continuously to coat.
-
Sprinkle the Parmesan cheese, black pepper, and salt over the top, giving it one final, vigorous toss. Serve immediately.
Syndicate Skewers:
Ingredients:
-
1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes
-
1 container (8 oz) mini mozzarella balls (bocconcini), drained
-
1 bunch fresh basil
-
1/4 cup store-bought thick balsamic glaze
-
Cocktail picks (metallic or black for aesthetic)
Instructions:
-
On each cocktail pick, thread one tomato, one folded basil leaf, and one mozzarella ball.
-
Arrange the skewers on a serving platter.
-
Just before serving, generously drizzle the balsamic glaze over the skewers.
The Main Event: Savory Bites
High-Wire Flatbread:
Ingredients:
-
2 pre-made flatbreads or naan
-
1/2 cup fig jam
-
4 oz thinly sliced prosciutto
-
1/2 cup crumbled gorgonzola or blue cheese
-
1 cup fresh arugula
-
Balsamic glaze for drizzling
Instructions:
-
Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
-
Place the flatbreads on a baking sheet.
-
Spread a thin, even layer of fig jam over each flatbread.
-
Tear the prosciutto into smaller pieces and distribute them over the jam. Sprinkle the gorgonzola evenly on top.
-
Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are crispy and the cheese is melted.
-
Remove from the oven. Top with fresh arugula and a drizzle of balsamic glaze before slicing into easy-to-grab squares.
The Grand Finale: Desserts
Rosalie’s Red Velvet Daggers:
Ingredients for Cupcakes:
-
1 box Red Velvet cake mix (plus required eggs, oil, and water per box instructions)
-
1 tub store-bought cream cheese frosting (OR your favorite Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe)
Ingredients for "Sugar Glass" Daggers:
-
1 cup granulated sugar
-
1/3 cup light corn syrup
-
1/4 cup water
-
Optional: 5-6 drops red food coloring
Instructions:
-
Bake: Prepare and bake the red velvet cupcakes according to the package directions. Let them cool completely, then frost with the cream cheese frosting.
-
Prep for Glass: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
-
Boil Sugar: In a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine the sugar, corn syrup, and water. Stir gently to combine. Clip a candy thermometer to the side.
-
Heat: Boil over medium-high heat without stirring until the temperature reaches exactly 300°F (150°C) - the "hard crack" stage.
-
Color & Pour: Immediately remove from heat and pour the mixture onto your prepared baking sheet in a thin, even layer. Let it sit for 30 minutes to harden completely.
-
Shatter: Once hard, use the handle of a butter knife to gently tap and shatter the sugar sheet into jagged, dagger-like shards.
-
Assemble: Carefully insert a red sugar "dagger" into the top of each frosted cupcake right before guests arrive. (Note: Moisture from the fridge will melt the sugar glass, so keep them at room temperature once assembled!)
Cocktails & Mocktails
Rosalie's Deception
Blackberry Jalapeño Margarita
A drink that looks beautiful and inviting, but hides a sharp, deadly bite—just like Rosalie.
Cocktail:
-
Blackberries
-
Jalapeño slices
-
2oz Silver Tequila
-
1 oz Lime Juice
-
0.5 oz Agave Syrup
Muddle fresh blackberries and a few jalapeño slices. Shake with 2 oz silver tequila, 1 oz lime juice, and 0.5 oz agave syrup. Strain over ice into a glass with a black lava salt rim.
Mocktail:
-
1 oz Lime Juice
-
0.5 oz Agave Syrup
-
Blackberries
-
A slice of Jalapeño
-
Sparkling Water or Ginger Beer
Muddle blackberries and a slice of jalapeño. Shake with 1 oz lime juice and 0.5 oz agave syrup. Strain over ice and top with blackberry sparkling water or ginger beer. Garnish with a black lava salt rim.
The Devereaux Empire
Smoked Black Cherry Old Fashioned
Strong, uncompromising, and cloaked in shadows, reflecting Adriano's cold control over Cirque du Noir.
Cocktail:
-
2 oz bourbon or rye whiskey
-
0.5 oz dark cherry syrup (from Luxardo cherries)
-
2 dashes of Angostura bitters.
Stir over a large ice cube.
Serve in a glass smoked with cedar or hickory wood chips and garnish with a dark cherry.
Mocktail:
-
2 oz Lapsang Souchong tea
-
0.5 dark cherry syrup
-
Ginger ale or Soda water
-
Orange Peel or Cherry Garnish
Brew a strong cup of Lapsang Souchong tea (which has a naturally heavy, smoky flavor) and let it chill. Pour 2 oz of the smoky tea over a large ice cube, add 0.5 oz dark cherry syrup, and top with ginger ale or soda water. Garnish with an orange peel and a dark cherry.
Discussion Questions
-
What were your initial impressions of Rosalie Martinez, and how did her hidden agenda change your perspective on her role within Circo del Sol?
-
Adriano Devereaux is described as cold and possessive, building his empire on sacrifice. Did you find him to be a sympathetic character despite his ruthless reputation?
-
How do Rosalie and Adriano’s differing leadership styles reflect their internal traumas and the specific survival skills they had to develop?
-
Who do you think holds the true power in their dynamic: Rosalie with her calculated deception, or Adriano with his absolute control?
-
The book operates heavily on the idea that "loyalty is a lie." Which betrayal or hidden secret shocked you the most?
-
Rosalie hunts a monster hiding in plain sight. How does the author use the circus setting to metaphorically explore the idea of masks and hidden identities?
-
How does the constant threat of exposure raise the stakes for both the romance and the syndicate politics?
-
Compare and contrast the atmospheres of Circo del Sol and Cirque du Noir. How do the two syndicates mirror the personalities of their respective leaders?
-
Sara uses the spectacle of a traveling show to disguise a brutal syndicate. Did the juxtaposition of vibrant circus life and dark underworld crime work well for you?
-
Adriano’s iron-clad composure shatters when he meets Rosalie. Did you prefer the instant, electric attraction they experienced, or would you have preferred a slower burn?
-
In this world, love is considered a fatal weakness. How do Rosalie and Adriano navigate their growing obsession without compromising their respective goals?
-
Did the blending of the romance trope with high-stakes crime syndicate action feel balanced, or did one element overshadow the other?
-
How did the climax of the book resolve the tension between the romantic plotline and Rosalie's overarching quest for justice and revenge?
-
Who do you think is the villain behind the threatening notes to Anna, Phillip, Sammy, and Rosalie?
-
Which actors would you cast for the characters in this book?
Book club games
Bingo
Before you print all your bingo cards, please print a test page to check they come out the right size / color.
How to Play:
-
Use the top half of the Bingo Caller's Card to call the bingo and keep track of which words you have already called.
-
Cut up the bottom copy of the Bingo Caller's Card, fold the squared in half, and put them in a hat. To call bingo, pull a square out of the hat, unfold it and read it aloud.
-
When you have called a word/number, tick it off on the top half of the Caller's card. This copy is used to check if a player has a winning card during a game.