Book Club Reading Guide for The Many Worlds

A reader’s companion to The Artifex and the Muse fantasy series by Audrey Auden

Introduction to The Many Worlds

The battle between fate and free will reaches its climax in The Many Worlds, the third book in The Artifex and the Muse series. Ava and Dom have fought across lifetimes and realities to break free from the forces that seek to control them. Now, as Ava’s ability to cross between branches of existence grows stronger, she is confronted with the dizzying possibility that every choice she makes echoes across infinite versions of herself.

On another branch, Emmie Bridges—brilliant, broken, and running out of time—searches for a way to preserve the knowledge of the many worlds before her memories slip away forever. As she and Dom fight to bridge the gaps between their realities, they uncover deeper truths about the nature of the Voice in all, the rebellion against the Mohirai, and the patterns that have shaped them for centuries.

But in a story that spans worlds, memories, and lifetimes, one question remains: Can Ava and Dom ever truly be free?

This guide provides discussion questions, themes, and activities to help your book club explore the profound mysteries of The Many Worlds and its place in the larger Artifex and the Muse saga.

Discussion questions

1. The nature of the many worlds

Throughout the series, Ava has struggled with questions of free will and destiny. Now, as she begins to see different versions of herself in other branches, how does this change her understanding of choice?
Do you think the existence of multiple branches makes Ava and Dom’s choices more or less meaningful? Why?
Emmie believes that bridging these worlds will lead to freedom. Do you think the alternet and multiversal crossings offer true liberation, or are they another form of control?

2. The role of memory and identity

Emmie’s work in the alternet revolves around preserving and interpreting memories across branches. How does this reflect the broader themes of the series?
Dom is haunted by memories of Ava across lifetimes. Do you think this makes his love for her more real, or does it complicate his ability to form a true sense of self?
If you could access the memories of alternate versions of yourself, how do you think it would change your perception of your own life?

3. The evolution of Ava and Dom’s relationship

Dom’s devotion to Ava has been a central part of the series. In The Many Worlds, we see other versions of Dom, each with their own feelings for Ava. How does this affect the idea of soulmates?
Ava has often been torn between the desire for independence and the deep connection she shares with Dom. Does she ever truly get to make her own choices in this book?
What do you think the book suggests about love that spans lifetimes? Is it a form of fate, or can love transcend even destiny?

4. The rebellion and cycles of power

Lilith and Tio’s rebellion has been positioned as an alternative to the control of the Mohirai, but in The Many Worlds, their motivations become even murkier. Do you think the rebellion represents true freedom, or is it simply another force of control?
Dom is caught between different factions throughout the book. Does he ever find a way to forge his own path, or is he always at the mercy of others’ agendas?
Given the many versions of Ava and Dom we see, do you think any of them truly escape the power structures they were born into?

5. The multiverse as a reflection of human experience

The Many Worlds presents the idea that every choice creates a branching reality. How does this reflect the way we think about regret, possibility, and personal growth in our own lives?
Emmie’s work to preserve memories and bridge worlds suggests that history is cyclical, with patterns repeating across different branches. Do you believe history—both personal and collective—is destined to repeat itself?
If you could step into a different version of your life, would you? What moment would you choose as the point where your life could have taken another path?

Themes to explore

The illusion of control: Are we the architects of our own fate, or are our choices merely echoes of patterns that have already been set?
Love beyond time and space: Can love transcend lifetimes, or is it simply another part of the cycle?
The ethics of memory and knowledge: If you could control what people remember, would it be a gift—or a form of oppression?
Rebellion vs. compliance: What does it mean to truly break free from a system of control?
Parallel lives and the many versions of self": If there are multiple versions of each of us, what defines the “real” self?

Suggested Activities for Book Clubs

Alternate reality exercise: Each member picks a key decision in their life and imagines an alternate version of themselves who made a different choice. Share and discuss how this changes their perception of fate and free will.
Memory mapping: Inspired by Emmie’s work in the alternet, have members list five defining memories of their lives. If they could preserve or alter one, which would they choose?
Multiverse debate: Assign half the group to argue that the existence of multiple realities strengthens the meaning of our choices, while the other half argues that it renders individual choices meaningless.
Rewrite a scene from another branch: Take a pivotal scene from the book and rewrite it as if it had played out differently in another reality. How does this change the story?
Book pairing discussion: Compare The Many Worlds to books with similar themes, such as The Space Between Worlds (Micaiah Johnson), Cloud Atlas (David Mitchell), or The Ten Thousand Doors of January (Alix E. Harrow).

Wrapping up

The Many Worlds is a book about choice, consequence, and the infinite possibilities of existence. As Ava and Dom navigate their intertwined destinies across lifetimes, they force us to ask: Are we shaped by our past, or do we have the power to shape our future?

Final question for reflection: If you could stand at the crossroads of all possible versions of your life, which path would you choose—and why?

Happy reading!