Slytherin Season: Celebrating Snaky Book Covers!

Recently, there has been a growing trend of book covers adorned with slithering snakes. Just within the last few months, we’ve seen them on the gorgeous covers of Shelby Mahurin’s debut, Serpent & Dove, and Pierce Brown’s latest addition to the Red Rising Saga, Dark Age. The trend is especially prominent among young adult fantasy titles, but it seems to be spreading to other markets and genres, as well. And I have to say, as a Slytherin, I am 100 percent on board with this!

In ancient cultures, snakes were often associated with femininity and fertility, while the Biblical tale of the serpent in the Garden of Eden associates them with craftiness, temptation, and evil. Around the world, snakes are often affiliated with witchcraft and the occult. Myth aside, encounters between humans and snakes have taught us that they are creatures to be feared and respected, but most importantly not to be messed with. And of course, for those of us who grew up reading Harry Potter, snakes are the emblem of the most resourceful, cunning, and ambitious Hogwarts house, Slytherin. With such a rich tapestry of symbolism to draw on, they make for particularly poignant symbols in cover art. Now, I know they say not to judge a book by its cover, but I can’t help but be drawn books that feature our slithery friends so prominently on the cover, especially in cases when they are reflective of a wily, ambitious female protagonist. Below are a few upcoming books that exude strong Slytherin energy in both their covers and their contents!

1. Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo

Leigh Bardugo is well loved for her two YA fantasy series: Six of Crows and Shadow and Bone. On October 8, she is coming out with her first book for adults, Ninth House. The novel’s protagonist, Alex Stern, has had a rough life, culminating in a gruesome multiple homicide of which she is the sole survivor. While recovering from the ordeal, Alex is offered a second chance at a better life: a full ride to Yale University. The only catch is that she must spend her time there investigating the occult activities of Yale’s secret societies. In a world full of violence, abuse, and dark magic, Alex will prove just how resilient a woman can be, and that she can strike back with sharp fangs of her own. Ninth House will be on shelves tomorrow, or you can preorder it now through this IndieBound affiliate link.

2. Queen of the Conquered by Kacen Callender

Releasing November 12, Queen of the Conquered is a new fantasy novel by debut author Kacen Callender. The protagonist Sigourney Rose is the very definition of a Slytherin—ambitious, manipulative, and willing to pursue revenge at all costs. Her family was murdered by the violent colonizers that rule over her island. But when the childless king announces that he is looking for a successor, Sigourney sees her chance to avenge her people and take back control of their land. She uses her power to read and control minds to slip in among the eligible nobles. But when someone starts killing off those in line for the throne, Sigourney must find some allies among her enemies if she wants to take on this new dark magic and make it out alive. You can preorder Queen of the Conquered using my IndieBound affiliate link.

3. Queen of Nothing by Holly Black

Seems like Slytherin house is just full of royalty here. Queen of Nothing is the third book in Holly Black’s Folk of the Air fairyland series, coming out November 19. As I haven’t read the second book yet, I’m avoiding any synopses or plot descriptions of the third. But the title quite clearly refers to the character Jude, my favorite unapologetically ambitious heroine in The Cruel Prince. You can see my write-up of her, here. If Jude continues on the trajectory that she’s laid out for herself in the first book, we can expect more crazy schemes, cunning alliances, and knocking down anyone or anything that stands in the way of her goals. You can preorder Queen of Nothing using my IndieBound affiliate link.

Bonus: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

The title and cover of this prequel to Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games series were just revealed at New York ComicCon last week! Very little is known yet about the book’s contents, and the book won’t be out until next May. But as Katniss Everdeen was one of mainstream YA fantasy’s first kick-ass Slytherin heroines, I have high hopes that we’ll see something similar in this new addition to the series! You can preorder it now through this IndieBound affiliate link.

Have you seen any other snaky covers lately? Are you feeling the Slytherin energy as strongly as I am? What do you think of this new trend? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!