Today, Jennifer L Armentrout revealed the cover for her much anticipated penultimate book in her Blood and Ash series The Primal of Blood and Bone on Today.com. The cover is designed by Hang Le - the same artist who created the other books in the series as well.
In the shadows and flames, Primals will fall…
And from the blood and ash, new gods will rise.
In the thrilling penultimate chapter of the viral BLOOD AND ASH series by #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout, Poppy and Casteel face their most perilous challenges yet as old enemies rise and ancient powers stir from their slumber.
Bound by love but driven by destiny, they must navigate a world on the brink of devastation—where every choice has deadly consequences. With their bond tested and their future hanging in the balance, the fate of the realm rests on the strength of their hearts and the power of the Deminyen.
She also revealed the covers for the Barnes & Noble and Indigo special editions. Honestly, I love that the Indigo version is white, which will make Kingdom of Flesh and Fire not stand out as much, but hate that they only offer it in paperback. I'm a hardcover gal all the way.
There are many hints to what to expect in Primal of Blood and Bone in the cover design - and a big reveal in the very first chapter, which she released to wet our appetites.
Haven't read it yet? Click here to download it via BookFunnel
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Did you read it yet? Yes? Cool.
Now here are some things Jennifer said over on her JLanders facebook page about the cover.
The symbol should be familiar to us, as we have seen variations of it before. On the cover of Born of Blood and Ash, all the way back to From Blood and Ash. The Dead Bones Clan's symbol is a variation of it as well. It's not the Atlantian crest, but the Crest of Life and Death.
“A symbol in old Atlantian—no, it was two symbols. The circle and the line through the center was life. The one from the top represented death.
Life and Death.
Blood and Bone.” The symbol is interesting, but not overly surprising, as we know Poppy was in the process of ascending to the Primal of Life and Death.
Inside the symbol - well it's obvious a city. Jennifer says that if it looks like and reminds you of a certain place - we would be correct. She also says if you look above that, there is a reference to another book, and that you would also be correct in thinking that. If you stay within the circle, the only thing above the city landscape is birds. If you go farther up though, you see feathers - specifically black feathers. There is also some white feathers throughout the standard cover version of the book. So, Jennifer fans, any guesses as to what other book she is referencing? Honestly, her Dark Elements/Harbinger series comes to mind (Layla in Dark Elements ends up with black, feathered wings, and the Harbinger series has black feathers on the covers of the first two books), but I honestly don't think that is it. I think it all falls back to her Fall of Ruin and Wrath book (duology, but the second book won't be released until after Primal of Blood and Bone). That cover also has black feathers on it, and the male lead in that book can transform into multiple ravens. Which would match BOTH the black feathers on the cover, and the birds flying above the city. Let's not forget that in Fall of Ruin and Wrath (which has already been confirmed to be connected to Blood and Ash/Flesh and Fire), it's mentioned that there are remnants of a great city that was destroyed by the ancients - Asteria. Is it the same city that Sera see's during her ascension? The same city Poppy sees during her ascension in the first chapter of Primal of Blood and Bone? That makes the most sense to me, but the question is, why is the city so important?
Also in reference to the feathers, Jennifer asks us a few questions. Have we ever wondered why the statues that guarded Dalos had wings? Why some of the Primals have wings when they go Primal. Apparently, if we go back to Born of Blood and Ash, we very briefly see the source of those wings - and the color is important. As for primal wings, its mentioned in BoBaA that Ash's wings are made from dark eather. In another part. they are described as the color of shadows. Does anyone remember the statues in Dalos, and where it was mentioned? When I flipped through, I couldn't find it (of course), and it's driving me crazy. All I remember is that Sera turned those statues to ash when she was using her power to break Ash free from Kolis.
It may be unrelated, but the feathers on the top of the cover can be related to two things - the ni'meres from Fall of Ruin and Wrath (giant creatures with black, eagle shaped bodies, and mortal faces, that bring destruction on behalf of the ancients) have onyx, feathered wings. Could ni'meres be the ones guarding Dalos? Can they turn to stone as a way to hide who they are? It makes sense for them to stay hidden, but protect the City of Gods. But it also can be related to Holland. In Born of Blood and Ash, he changes, and the mist formed wings, Sera thinking she saw glossy, black feathers. Just something to think about.
The silver wings I believe represent the silver hawk Sera saved in
ASITE. A silver hawk is mentioned many times - Sera seeing one and
saving it despite Ash saying that was impossible. Eythos' fascination with
them. Attes nota being one. - i think we will learn more about why
Eythos was fascinated by them, and what/who Sera saved that day.
I do find the theories about it being connected to Dark Elements/Harbinger interesting. I don't think it's likely, but there are definitely some arguments there that can be made. Such as the ancients being referred to many things through the ages - including angels and demons - called that by mortals who wrote scripture based on one God, who didn't understand the visions they would get. And Thorne says that in a way, Ancients were all those things they were called. Considering those books feature angels and demons, it's possible. Plus, Layla does have black, feathered wings. I also find it interesting that Thorne and his men (FORAW) has a sword with two golden wings on either side of it, stitched in gold thread on their shirts ... Which brings to mind Trinity with her sword and Zayne's golden wings. I'm more of a mind that just happens to be a coincidence, because it seems like such a far leap between those books and this, but it's fun to think about.
Well that's it. Those are my thoughts. It's a little late coming - I had this half typed up when I realized my laptop charger decided to stop working, so I have had some more time to think things through on this cover. I have some thoughts, and theories. But I am curious - what do you think?
by preordering through Amazon, the Amazon gods will bestow a few coins upon this fellow book lover
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