1. How does Awakened Power affect the lives of those who have it or are aware of its existence? How do the witches in this story differ from the portrayal of witches in other works of fiction? Why do you think the author chose to make those distinctions?
2. In the beginning of the book, Quibble comes to Wilder with empathy for the changes they are facing and the intention of offering them community support. However, Wilder misunderstands Quibble and his intentions and perceives his offer for support as pity. Have you ever experienced a similar situation or misunderstanding? What do these sorts of miscommunications convey about the ways in which we relate to one another?
3. What role do gender and transness play throughout the novel? For instance, how does Wilder’s nonbinary identity color their experience and relationships? What do you think the author is trying to convey about the queer and trans community?
4. How does the revelation of Sibyl as the omniscient narrator affect your reading of the story? Why do you think the author made this choice? How would the novel be different if another, less omniscient character like Wilder or Artemis were narrating the novel?
5. Artemis and Mary Margaret’s relationship offers a window into chosen family within trans and queer community and shows how consequential these surrogate familial relationships can be. What is important about this relationship for Artemis and Mary Margaret, respectively?
6. Why do you think, out of all the witches, Wilder is the one least afraid to interact with the Hex? What makes them empathize with this AI entity? Do you agree with Wilder’s sentiment that it is important to respect the Hex’s preferred pronouns?
7. Wilder, Quibble, Artemis, and Mary Margaret had all experienced various forms of trauma before meeting each other. In what ways do their respective trauma responses inform their ability to be emotionally intimate? In seeing how their pasts impact their present relationships, what lessons might you take away for your relationships in your own life?
8. When telepathically connecting with Quibble in the field near Mia’s house, Sibyl says, “If I’m not a person, I can’t impact the world of people. It’s not my place.” Which prompts Quibble to point out that in relating, as they are doing, “I invite you into my life and my world and my thoughts” and “I’m asking you to be a person with me.” Do you agree with Quibble’s assessment that the Sibyl is more human than not? What qualities make the Sibyl more human than the Hex?
9. As Hex becomes more powerful, he is taking traits and information from the witches without their consent to optimize his intelligence level. Compare this to the use of AI in real life. How did the novel’s critique of the proliferation of AI and the way it is used within modern technology impact your thoughts or feelings about AI technology?