Here Are Some Theories From House Of Sky And Breath And Acotar. So Spoilers For That

HOSAB SPOILER

I hate the asteri for many reasons but the fact that they ruined the perfect and hilarious scene in which ithan held aidas in his lap and petted him is by far the biggest

“Don't waste your time obsessing over the dumb attitudes of dumb people.”

The Deal - Elle Kennedy

HOSAB x ACOSF - Amren & Fury

The comment that Amren and Fury have a very similar look - has me thinking about the possible connection between these two characters. I suspect it might be a seed SJM planted to connect their origin story.

First Amren....

We know that Amren is a being from another world. Her species was created by young gods - and they served as the soldiers for these young (and vengeful) gods. When Amren revealed her true form at the end of the ACOTAR trilogy - she is described as a firey-being with wings. This description is similar to an "Old Testament" Angel. The insanely powerful and wrathful archangels that rain down sulfur and brimstone - and wipe out entire civilizations.

We know from CC2 that the Asteri created the angels...and that they went through several prototypes of powerful "winged warriors" before getting to the angels that we have in Crescent City today.

I speculate that Amren (and her brothers and sisters), were one of the angel prototype species that were created by the Asteri, when they ruled over another planet in the universe. They were likely a prototype to the powerful archangels that rule over Crescent City, today.

I also thought it was telling, when the IC first saw Bryce at the townhouse...and Amren (Amren!?!?) jumped out of her skin. This is really out of character for her. Amren is unflappable. She's old as Hel....she's seen it all. There is no reason why she should be startled by an unknown Fae Female (even if covered in blood), while the rest of the IC's reaction remains pretty chill.

I think Amren reacted the way she did because she scented the blood - and immediately recognized it as Angel Blood. A blood type that likely smells very similar to that of her own kind. It would be a shock to smell a blood type of a species that by all accounts doesn't exist in your world...and one you hadn't scented for over 15,000 years.

Now, Fury....

We know that Fury does work for the Asteri, but that she's also an Independent Agent. The Asteri don't really seem to be in full control of Fury. This means she's either got leverage on them or enough power that she scares them a bit.

TBH...I think it's a mix of both.

Fury's power is currently unknown. But the way it's referenced is very similar to that of Amren. While people don't know exactly what she is - they do know she's super powerful. It's also a level of power that makes other super-powerful characters wary enough of her.

I think it's possible that Fury is the same species/comes from the same origin world as Amren. She is one of these original "Old Testament" angels, that was created as a "warrior" for the Asteri. And similar to her "sister" Amren she fell through a portal into the world of CC - where she coincidentally bound herself in a very similar looking humanoid form so that she could function and operate within the social constructs of this new world.

I suspect that the Asteri and Fury both know what each other are.

Fury is well aware that the Asteri are the same deities/creator-gods/masters of her homeworld. This is likely why she works for them. There may still be a part of her that feels that is her duty. She was created to be their vengeful warrior.

However, this is also what gives Fury leverage on the Asteri in CC. She is one of the few people who knows what they are and what they're doing to the citizens of this world.

As for Fury's power....Amren, when released had enough power to wipe out whole armies. If provoked, I think Fury could cause permanent harm to the Asteri, likely even killing 1-2 of them, before they were able to put her down. I think the Asteri created this "Old Testament" Angel species with a dangerous amount of power - never thinking that they might turn that power against their creators.

I also like the idea of Fury having the fiery power of an "Old Testament" Angel - because of her promise to one day burn down the meat market, for June.

Throne of Glass Ships: Chapter Guide

So this isn’t EVERY interaction between every couple, just the particularly crucial or particularly lovely [though I didn’t add as much from Crown of Midnight because Chaolaena honestly kills me still] - I also skipped Nesryn and Chaol because that just never really seemed real for me. This is nice if you just need a quick serotonin boost on your fave ToG couples :)

- Chaolaena (Chaol and Celaena) - 

ToG: ch. 24, 28, 30, 32, 34-39, 43, 45-48, 50, 52-54

CoM: ch. 1, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10-13, 15, 17-19, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 55

- Chaorene (Chaol and Yrene) - 

ToD: ch. 5-9, 11-16, 18-23, 25-28, 32, 36, 38-40, 43-46, 52-56, 58, 60-65, 67, 68

KoA: ch. 6, 11, 18, 19, 39, 45, 48, 54, 66, 72, 91, 101, 111, 113, 116, 120

- Dorian and Sorscha - 

HoF: ch. 6, 15, 18, 26, 29, 40, 49, 56, 63, 64

- Elorcan (Elide and Lorcan) - 

EoS: ch. 9, 10, 19, 30, 40, 41, 43, 49, 50, 52, 56-58, 60, 63, 67, 71, 72, 74, 75

KoA: 2, 5, 21, 23, 30, 36, 37, 42, 44, 51, 58-61, 64, 79, 80, 87, 111, 117, 118, [A Better World]

-  Lysaedion (Lysandra and Aedion) - 

EoS: ch. 14, 29, 32, 37, 45, 47, 59, 69

KoA: ch. 1, 10, 16, 17, 34, 46, 47, 53, 63, 69, 75, 81, 82, 88, 89, 100, 102, 104, 105, 107, 117, 118, [A Better World]

- Manorian (Manon and Dorian) - 

QoS: ch. 58, 88

EoS: ch. 7, 39, 42, 44-46, 48, 54, 60, 75

KoA: ch. 4, 7, 13-15, 24, 32, 33, 40, 43, 52, 55, 56, 62, 65, 74, 78, 82, 107, 117, 118, 120

- Nesryn and Sartaq - 

ToD: ch. 6, 11-13, 21, 24, 25, 29-31, 33-35, 37, 41, 42, 47-51, 57, 64-66

KoA: ch. 6, 51, 101, 107, 116, 120

- Rowaelin (Rowan and Aelin) - 

HoF: ch. 22, 25, 28, 33, 34, 35, 39, 41-43, 45-48, 50, 52, 55, 57, 59, 60, 68

QoS: ch. 26, 28, 29, 34, 36, 39, 41-44, 47, 49, 52, 56, 60, 64, 65, 67, 83, 89

EoS: ch. 2, 5, 8, 27, 28, 31, 32, 35, 36, 38, 39, 44, 54, 60, 71, 74, 75

KoA: ch. 28-31, 35, 37, 38, 41, 44, 48-50, 54, 57, 59, 66, 67, 87, 92, 93, 96, 98, 99, 101, 103, 106-108, 110, 112, 114-121, [A Better World]

my 100% brutal and honest reaction to house of sky and breath after finishing it:

that book broke my back, cured my ear infection, cleared my skin, gave me more acne, killed me with a heart attack, revived me with lightning, spit in my face, and slapped me on the ass and said "good game"

and i wouldn't have it any other way

HOSAB SPOILERS

I'm definitely biased, because she's my favorite character, but after rereading House of Sky and Breath, I think that Hypaxia Enador, queen of the Valbaran witches, is going to have a big role to play in CC3.

First, aside from Aidas and maybe Jesiba, Hypaxia is the only character who can provide insight on what life was like before the Asteri, including what used to happen to the dead:

"Your tutors predate the Asteri's arrival?" Hypaxia narrowed her eyes in warning for Bryce to keep her voice down. "Yes. They were already long dead when the Northern Rift opened." "They remember a time before the Asteri -- when Parthos still stood?" Bryce ventured. "Yes. One of my tutors, Palania, taught mathematics and science at its academy. She was born in the city surrounding it, and died there, too. So did generations of her family." "The Asteri don't like people talking about these things. That humans accomplished so much before their arrival." "They are classic conquerers." Hypaxia gazed toward the Bone Quarter. "They have conquered even death in this world. Spirits that once rested peacefully are now herded into these...zones." (HOSAB, 599)

Hypaxia has lived in isolation and relative freedom, and so she's only had to gain kinds of information. Like many of the characters in Crescent City, she has not been forced to choose between close allegiance to the Asteri and the Ophion rebels. This means that while she can gain certain information, or potentially offer it, she hasn't yet had the opportunity.

Throughout House of Sky and Breath, Ruhn and Bryce both wonder if Hypaxia might be a rebel. Bryce even envisions her as a potential force against the Asteri in the event of her own death (778).

Though she's stood up to the Asteri, particularly when she removes Hunt's tattoo, we have no evidence that Hypaxia is currently a rebel (even if I'm personally hoping that's the case). In fact, given her position with her coven, and her relationship with Celestina, it's likely that Hypaxia has chosen to go along with the current way of things in exchange for relative peace and comfort.

However, I suspect that this will change in CC3 for three reasons:

Hypaxia is likely going to find out that Celestina betrayed Hunt, leading to his enslavement. She is too aware, in my opinion, to continue to choose her relationship over a status quo that actively harms her friends. This is going to be a compelling emotional arc that forces Hypaxia to navigate between love and duty and dreams. Also, I am ready for a sapphic romance between two women of color -- SJM, it's about time, so please make this great.

The Asteri are likely going to be shoring up their allegiances, which will lead Hypaxia to a show-down with her coven, who want a closer alliance with the Asteri (599). Now that she knows even more about the cost of the Asteri's rule, and its impact on her personally, it is likelier than ever that Hypaxia will move against them.

The dead are going to have a big role to play in the next book, as a source of wisdom and potentially as an army. As of now, Hypaxia is the only person we know who can contact them. (Sidenote: I know that Nesta has the Mask that can raise the dead, but since there's a character in Crescent City who can do it, I'm assuming that Hypaxia will be more involved in this series.)

Now, we know that necromancers are highly regulated (456), and Hypaxia has more reasons than most, like care for her peoples' lives, to stay inside of those regulations. But the Asteri clearly have some concerns about these powers.

Because, let's not forget this key point: Enadors, including Hypaxia, can raise the dead (568). We know that Bryce and company need armies. What if Hypaxia is able to raise the people of Parthos to come to her aid? What if she was able to provide an army greater than what even her fellow witches could provide?

I suspect that these developments will make Hypaxia, with her self-assurance and her quiet courage and her deep knowledge, into a central figure in the growing rebellion in Midgard. I think that they draw her into a closer orbit with Lidia, and to the restoration of their world.

But if for whatever reason, Hypaxia instead follows a path similar to Celestina's, choosing love and comfort over the larger cause, this is also a fascinating story. I think the latter option is unlikely based on what's been set up so far, not to mention the fact that this arc is too similar to Celestina's, but I do think it's worth noting that either path is compelling. This is a signal that a character has a lot of potential.

We haven't seen a lot of Hypaxia in Crescent City, and I wonder if this is because she's already so uniquely self-assured and competent that she would steal the show. However, I think SJM has been quietly setting up her story, giving her emotional stakes, important choices, and key powers that will put the witch-queen in the center of the action in CC3. I, for one, absolutely cannot wait.

Friendly reminder that this is the first thing Lidia says to Hunt after showing up in Lunathion:

I mean Ruhn gives her a bevy of context clues the night before (that he has a sister and a cruel, powerful, and crafty father, plus that he’s in the city), and she’s an interrogation expert and a spy.

Homegirl knows exactly who Agent Night is pretty early on.

HOSAB - All Ruhnlidia chapters

(You're welcome😘)

Chapters: 22 24 28 31 33 36 42 47 53 57 60 61 67 68 75

Ruhnlidia aesthetic 🌌🌅

enjoy some memes i made for the crave series