Book Club Reading Guide for The Voice in All

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

Introduction to The Voice in All

In a world where fate is dictated by an unseen force, sixteen-year-old Ava is desperate to escape. Raised in the temple city of Dulai, she has spent her life under the rule of the Mohirai, the priestesses who channel the Voice in all—a power that binds every soul to its predetermined path. When a final heist goes wrong, she is forced into an uneasy alliance with Dom, a boy who has never dared to imagine a future of his own. Bound together by a mysterious substance known as pharmaka, Ava and Dom flee across a land where memory, identity, and destiny are not what they seem.

As their connection deepens and the Voice begins to whisper in Ava’s own mind, she must confront a terrifying truth: is she running toward freedom, or playing into a prophecy she cannot escape?

A blend of mythic fantasy, dystopian intrigue, and romantic adventure, The Voice in All is the first book in The Artifex and the Muse series, an epic tale of rebellion, love, and the battle for free will that spans lifetimes and worlds.

Discussion questions

1. The nature of the Voice in all

The Voice in all is a mysterious force that dictates the destinies of all who live in Dulai. Do you think the Voice is an actual divine entity, or is it a form of societal control used by the Mohirai?
What does the Voice represent in a broader sense? Could it be interpreted as fate, tradition, or an internal moral compass?
Ava resists the Voice, but she also experiences moments where it seems to speak directly to her. Do you think she is truly defying it, or is she fulfilling its will without realizing it?

2. Fate vs. free will

Throughout the book, Ava fights for her freedom, but many of her choices seem dictated by circumstances beyond her control. To what extent do you think she actually has agency?
Dom initially accepts the life chosen for him, but as the story progresses, he begins questioning his fate. How does Dom’s view of destiny change over the course of the book?
Do you believe fate and free will can coexist? Or is one always an illusion?

3. Memory, power, and pharmaka

The Mohirai use pharmaka to control knowledge and perception, binding and unbinding memories at will. How does this compare to real-world forms of power and manipulation?
Ava’s forced connection with Dom is a result of binding pharmaka. Does this take away their ability to develop an authentic relationship, or does their connection evolve into something real?
If pharmaka existed in our world, how do you think it would be used? Would you want the ability to erase or alter memories?

4. Love, trust, and control

Ava and Dom’s relationship is complicated by the pharmaka bond, their differing perspectives on freedom, and their forced reliance on each other. Do you think they truly fall in love, or is their bond an unnatural result of their circumstances?
Lilith claims she is protecting Ava by trying to keep her away from Dom. Is Lilith’s control over Ava different from the control of the Mohirai, or is she just another force shaping Ava’s destiny?
How do other relationships in the book—such as Ava and her mother, Dom and his trio brothers, or even the High Priestess Serapen and her initiates—explore the balance of power and trust?

5. The role of the Mohirai and the rebellion

The Mohirai claim to serve the Voice, but their practices include erasing memories, controlling destinies, and enforcing strict gender roles. Do you see them as religious figures, political rulers, or something else?
Lilith and the free men believe they are fighting for freedom, yet their rebellion often mirrors the harshness of the Mohirai. Do you think they are a true alternative, or are they simply another side of the same system?
If you lived in Ava and Dom’s world, would you choose to serve the Voice, join the rebellion, or try to escape?

6. Connections to the larger series

This book introduces major themes of fate, identity, and rebellion that carry through the rest of The Artifex and the Muse series. What do you predict will happen next for Ava and Dom?
How does The Voice in All set up the idea of multiversal crossings, even before Ava becomes aware of them?
The pomegranate imagery recurs throughout the book and the series. What do you think it symbolizes?

Themes to explore

The struggle for autonomy: What does it truly mean to be free?
The power of memory: How does controlling the past shape the future?
Love vs. fate: Can a relationship built on supernatural forces be genuine?
Faith and rebellion: What happens when belief systems are challenged?
Cycles of power: Is revolution the same as freedom, or just another form of control?

Suggested activities for book clubs

Fate or free will debate: Assign members different viewpoints (e.g., “Everything in the book is predetermined” vs. “Ava and Dom make their own choices”) and hold a structured debate.
Rewriting fate: Have members imagine an alternate version of the story where Ava accepts her Calling Day fate. How would the novel be different?
Create your own pharmaka: If you could invent a memory-altering pharmaka, what would it do? Would it restore lost memories, erase painful ones, or allow people to share experiences? Discuss ethical implications.
Character letters: Have members write a letter from one character’s perspective (e.g., Lilith to Ava, Dom to his past self, Serapen to the Voice). Share and discuss different interpretations of the characters.
Book pairing discussion: Compare The Voice in All to books with similar themes, such as The Giver (Lois Lowry), The Poppy War (R.F. Kuang), or The Handmaid’s Tale (Margaret Atwood).

Final thoughts

The Voice in All is a novel about questioning authority, resisting control, and discovering one’s true self. Ava and Dom’s journey is just beginning, and their struggle against fate raises powerful questions about identity, love, and the nature of freedom.

Final question for reflection

If you could hear the Voice in All, would you listen? Or would you fight to silence it?

Happy reading!