SPOLIERS!!! READ AT OWN RISK!!!
On July 18th, 2023, Sarah J Maas released the cover for House of Flame and Shadow (to be released on January 14th, 2024). HOFAS is the third book in her Crescent City series and is a highly anticipated book after the ending of House of Sky and Breath. When I tell you I screamed, I mean it.
So, first thing first, I've been seeing online a lot that the dragon on the cover refers to Aelin's dragon dress. Which I can see why, because of the golden reptilian nature of both designs. However, if you look closely, on Aelin's dress, the dragon has got horns and legs and is a dragon.
Now if you look at the design on the cover, the creature as no horns or legs, making it resemble a snake. In fact, it probably is a snake. Sarah J Maas has been planning something like this forever, and if she meant it to be a dragon, it would be a dragon. (The art in the picture next to this is by mellendraws). I think this serpent does represent something, but more of the Viper Queen in the Crescent City who does play an important role in the books. She is the ruler of the Meat Market, basically an in-book black market, where vendors can sell anything they want. And in this Meat Market, there was a character who had three Seers (people who can read the future) floating in a tank that become very important.
People are also pointing out the star on her forehead as an allusion to Aelin's Wyrdmark on her brow. However, in ACOTAR, all temple priests have a (you guessed it) star on their forehead. So, if anything, it is a refence to the already confirmed cross-over event to the world ACOTAR.
But the character on the cover isn't a combination of all three female protagonists. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to have Aelin in this book as much as the next person, but I believe the person on the cover is none other than Crescent City's own oracle: the Sphinx. Note the black tears this person is crying. In the earlier books, it is revealed that when Bryce was thirteen and went to go get her future read, she blinded the oracle.
The Sphinx is also described with golden hair and brown eyes. Exactly as we see on the cover. Also check the nails. None of the female leads have those nails naturally. (Until Feyre gets her power after her trails, but since she can retract them at will very similar to Tamlin and didn't originally have them, I am not counting it). Of course, there is little known about this character, but the Oracle plays a recurring role in these series and has also established themselves as an important character.
I know everyone is dying to see more of the TOG characters (me included) but I don't think that is going to be happening in this specific book. I think this is a book that is going to be focused on the intermingling's of the CC and ACOTAR worlds. IF we do get one that includes the TOG characters, it would probably be towards the end of the book. TOG is the only completed series in this, and none of the TOG characters have any plans of searching or exploring the other realms, so they simply wouldn't stumble across the world of ACOTAR. What might happen, is that the Inner Circle and Bryce would team up and look for the other realms in need of help, and they would stumble across the world of TOG and try to enlist Aelin's help through meetings before heading back to Bryce's world to overthrow the Asteri.
Only time will tell what will happen, though, and I am certainly excited to see what will happen.
Author's note: There might be a lot of TOG, ACOTAR, and CC themed content for the next year, as I am re-reading the series and releasing my findings in a style similar to book reports. I will try to stagger the posts so you guys have other content but that's the majority. I am currently writing this on July 20th, 2023 but this won't be out until December, so that's why this may be late to the party. Thank you so much for supporting and Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!
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