RoT Cover Analysis

[ninedaysaqueen.livejournal.com]

At the risk of being controversial, this is probably my favorite cover yet--the striking color, the volcano, the elephant, the gold lettering. This cover promises that RoT will wrap up a lot of loose ends, but it also seems to contain some clues that deserve discussing.

All of the previous covers in this set have details referencing events in the individual stories. Granted, some are more vague than others (I’m looking at you, heron in the tree on the KoA cover.) and some are symbolic. Thus, the covers are subtle enough to not spoil anything, but still good at giving hints of what’s to come.

BEWARE OF SUMMARY SPOILERS!


Here’s a quick list of all the details. I’m starting at the top level and working my way down from left to right.

(1) Eugenides standing tall on the top platform. I’m certain it’s him, as you can see the hook on his right arm. He appears to be clenching his left fist in an agitated manner. The fact that he’s at the top and is the first figure you notice tells me he will be featured prominently in the final book. I think we can expect to see his PoV again, though there may be some switching around to give us a broader idea of things.

I also think it’s very interesting that he is dressed plainly--pants and a tunic. No coat or cape or crown… Is Gen getting back into the thieving game? That seems to be what the title is implying.

(2) A small figure, probably male, kneeling by a tree. Now, my first thought was that this could be Kamet, because not too many characters are that small. However, him being on a higher platform makes me think this figure is important to the narrative. I expect Kamet will be in the next book, but probably in a minor role.

I’m pretty sure this is Pigeon, the young Erondites who appeared at the end of TaT. He might be praying…? Or maybe even swearing an oath to the god of Thieves?

(3) Two well dressed ladies talking. The only other cover with two women together is QoA, which I take to be Irene and Helen. QoA is the only book in which they had significant scenes together. Here’s to hoping there will be two clever ladies plotting together in the final book, whether it's Irene and Helen or Heiro and Agape finally being BFFs!

(4) Two plainly dressed men talking. The one on the right may be flexing his arm to threaten the man on the left, but the one on the left doesn’t look especially threatened. I’m more inclined to think he’s actually cupping his ear to hear better. This could be Relius and Teleus, but I’m hoping it’s Sejanus and Dite. Baron Eurondite is mentioned in the summary, so it makes sense we’d see his two sons again.

(5) Soldiers on horseback and on foot who are fighting. There are dudes fighting with swords on most of the covers, so I don’t think this means much beyond saying that there will be war and conflict in the story. One interesting detail is the flags/standards the mounted warriors have. Which leads me to…

(6) THE ELEPHANT!!!! So, the elephants are probably going to be brought over as support military power from another country. I don’t think the person riding the elephant is significant, but he’s bearing a flag similar to the cavalry soldiers. I’m guessing there is going to be foreign military aid pouring into Attolia now that the Greater Continental Powers have joined the fight against the Mede. The flags may represent different countries bearing their own standard.

I really hope Gen gets to joyride on an elephant. He needs more good things in his life!

(7) The platform itself is not always significant. At least, I don't know what the gold steps are referring to on the CoK cover. The cliffs on the QoA cover and the forest/hills on the TT cover both refer to landscapes in the stories. The triskelion looking symbols intrigue me. It reminds me of the triple goddess symbols from Celtic cultures. Perhaps, it is a reference to Hephestia?

(8) The other elephant in the room. The erupting volcano front and center really startled me the first time I saw the cover. I was never certain if Volcano Day was going to happen in the current timeline or in the distant future. Either way, it would make sense for the gods to be planning the Eddisiain move to the south.

The volcano being the main focus on the cover worries me… How is it going to connect to everything else going on? The summary also mentions Baron Eurondite back for revenge, a prophecy foretelling Gen’s death, and there’s still the Mede to be dealt with! Is that a river of blood...?

I’m starting to think reading this book is going to be one long “this is fine” meme.

Okay, thoughts and opinions?

Comments

Pigeons and elephants! We're becoming quite the zoo around here!

[freenarnian.livejournal.com]

It IS a strikingly beautiful cover, and I daresay the bold red is going to become iconic. There you go. That's my big 2019 prediction. :)

Wonderful cover analysis, Lady Jane!

1) Everything about Gen's stance suggests, "If you want it done right, do it yourself" and I'm SO READY FOR THIS.

2) Kamet was also my first guess, which alarmed me, considering his posture. I'm soooooo into the Pigeon Theory though!

4) This could be Costis and Kamet. Costis is once again showing off his special thiefy earring while Kamet rolls his eyes dramatically. Or, it could be the reverse: Costis looking on while Kamet points to himself and says, "Look at this face. Does this face look like it's going along with another stupid plan?!" (The answer to that question is always yes.)

6) ELLYFFAHHNNTT! I remember seeing this cover for the first time and catching my breath, because it was so much to take in at once... beautiful and detailed and... and then I burst out laughing as my eye fell on the promised and much celebrated four-footed addition to our cast of characters. (I even wrote a fanfic for @an_english_girl in which Sophos theorizes what Gen will name the elephant. Be it known I don't typically write fanfic.) I put forward the crack notion that the figures on horses are actually Teleus and some other general arguing over who's going to lead the Attolian army into battle since everyone knows Gen hates horses, only their spat is about to be interrupted by the arrival of Gen on an elephant, having decided that's much more his style.

Attolia's enemies, arriving on the field of battle astride horses: "Oh."

Gen, addressing them from his elephant: "Huh. I thought you'd be taller."

[jhawkgirl86.livejournal.com]

I also think the figure kneeling under the tree is Pigeon. The proportions of the head and body are those of a child and not a small adult. To me it doesn’t really look like he’s praying. It looks like he’s scattering stones or acorns, but I think someone identified this tree as an olive tree so maybe they are olives? No idea what that would mean...

Pigeon is a really intriguing character. So what do we know about him? He’s the king’s youngest attendant, but we don’t really know how old that makes him. He has some sort of physical disability but is mentally sharp and clever. How is he connected to Baron Erondites? Illegitimate son? Child of the mysterious disinherited daughter? And it’s kind of intriguing that Relius is now his tutor. Or is he more of a mentor? Hmmm. So many questions!

[(Anonymous)]

I may be the voice of doom here but....

Am I the only one that is nervous that Gen is purposefully depicted standing at a great height? I mean...isn't there a rumor of the prophesied death of the King of Attolia - and remind me again how the thieves of Eddis die? That's right...falling...*breathes into a paper bag to calm nerves*

Also, I REALLY hope the volcano erupts during a battle, and a bunch of Medes die.

Too dark? Sorry.

Puppeteergirl