Kingdom of Ash

Fire serves as a symbol of hope throughout Kingdom of Ash. As the Valg’s greatest weakness and deepest fear, it proves to be their downfall; Aelin’s fire magic is a beacon of hope for her allies across the world.

The novel often uses destructive fire imagery when characters’ hope runs low. When Aedion fears being able to stand against Morath’s might without Aelin, he sees the flame in the fireplace as “so different from Aelin’s fire. As if the one before him were a ghost compared to the living thing that was his queen’s magic” (16). This juxtaposition shows how Terrasen’s forces and allies feel without proof of Aelin’s presence. Similarly, while in captivity, Aelin dreams of Terrasen on fire. She envisions The Lord of the North—who symbolizes her homeland and the goddess Mala Fire-Bringer—burning “as if the heart of the world were being shredded” (33). At this point in the novel, Aelin is losing faith in an eventual rescue and her resilience is faltering. Her increasing hopelessness is symbolized by the fire raging out of her control, destroying everything she holds dear.

Yet, when hope returns, fire imagery is also used—but with the connotations of warmth, strength, and the hearth.