The first thing that strikes me about the Hourglass Throne cover is that it is beautiful yet haunting. I find my eyes are drawn to Rune, sitting down at the top of some dark steps. It elicits an almost foreboding visage against the elegant and bright statues that surround him. It goes without saying that the juxtaposition of light and shadow are breath-taking. Rune’s focus on his hands and the golden whisps – that I later realised was sand- which pours through his fingers is symbolic, but I will return to that later.

Oddly enough, despite its grandeur, the hourglass itself was the last thing I noticed.  Its golden sand, I originally saw as golden light and the imagery of Angels never struck me as being part of an hourglass, but rather signifying the nature of Runes kin, the Atlanteans. We learn throughout The Last Sun and The Hanged Man that the Atlantean people are capable of being beautiful, but often this is tainted either by manipulation, enslavement and being taken advantage of. Where they are not innocent, the godlike status some of them occupy hides a capriciousness that belies the heart of their people and an arrogance that will ultimately be their undoing. The Hanged Man unilaterally pushes this point. The indolence of the upper echelons has given rise to risk that could see them destroyed. I suspect this is one meaning to the angels impaling each other. Especially given it is the upper angels that is doing so while the lower ones seem to reach for other in. In a sense it is a bit like the Montague and Capulet feud. The elders’ squabble amongst themselves while the youngsters want reconciliation. Once I saw that it was an hourglass, I realised that it was hiding in plain sight something that could represent how the Hourglass Throne is operating within the narrative. We did Afterall, learn that the Hourglass court had fallen a long time ago and that time magic itself was taboo.

Rune’s visage certainly forms a nice contrast to the hourglass behind him. First in a sense of status, he is dressed casually, and shrouded in shadow. While the hourglass is a bastion of golden light. One could easily surmise that this is a commentary on Rune’s status, and his recent claim on his devastated and ruined father’s court. He is young and inexperienced, a fish out of water against the other courts. I suspect this is one of the many hurdles he must grapple with in the Hourglass Throne. How to adjust to his new position.

Looking to the golden sand that trickles through his fingers, I am reminded that at first it seemed as though it was golden whisps of light, a trait of his Aspect but when I realised it was sand, I surmised it is representative of two things. First that his time is short, he has to solidify his power so he can stand on his own as an equal. Second that it represents a terrible choice he has to make. We learned at the end of The Hanged Man the true cost of using his Arcana Majeure – one that he and Brand both have to face.

Rune’s expression is one of resignation, concern – his brow furrowed as he watches the sand slip away, again this could be a reference to the lifeforce he must sacrifice for him and brand every time he uses Arcana Majeure, but it could also be referencing the little time he has to prepare for whatever he must face. As the synopsis states:

“…he must secure relationships with newfound
allies in time to keep his growing found family safe”

This could also explain why is he in sitting on the steps: he is an equal in status to his peers, but not completely. Without allies his fledgling court and his family will likely fall.

The final reading that can be drawn from the cover is the sense that the hourglass represents the turning back of time. Unlike a mechanical clock that forever marches forward. An hourglass is symbolic of infinity and cycles. As such it can be said to be representative of turning back time. For Rune, this could mean looking deeply at his past, the fall of his Fathers court, the tragedy he endured following this – exposing long buried, forgotten and perhaps concealed truth.