King of Sloth

Sloane’s primary fear is that her relationships will fail. How does this affect her attitude toward true commitment? How does the novel portray this tension between fear and love, and how does Sloane ultimately overcome her fears?

How do Xavier’s and Sloane’s self-sabotaging behaviors derail their professional and/or personal lives?

How do Sloane’s relationships with her family warp her sense of self-worth?

After the nightclub fire, how does Xavier’s initial decision to give up reflect his unresolved trauma?

Why does Sloane commit herself so fully to her career? List and explain three reasons why this might be the case.

Identify three romantic tropes used in King of Sloth, and explain the guidelines of each trope’s usage in the romance genre. Does Huang fully conform to these tropes or add twists that portray them in a new light? Support your interpretation with examples from the text.

The romantic interests of the fifth installment of the Kings of Sin series (Vuk and Ayana) are introduced in this novel. What questions do these characters’ brief appearances raise? How does Huang build intrigue for these characters and their love story without giving too much away?

Does the novel’s ironic self-comparison of its plot to that of romance movies enhance or detract from Sloane and Xavier’s love story? Support your position with examples from the text.