62 pages • 2 hours read
Amber NicoleThe Book of Azrael
Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2022A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Symbols & Motifs
“This Is How the World Ends”
Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of graphic violence, death, and emotional abuse.
The recurring phrase “This is how the world ends” serves as a motif that illustrates the novel’s exploration of fate (284), self-perception, and The Deceptive Nature of Appearances. Liam, in his recurring nightmares, sees visions of Kaden’s rule and Dianna’s lifeless body while hearing the phrase ominously whispered. These nightmares and his inherited prophetic abilities lead Liam to believe that he will fulfill his grim moniker as the “World Ender.”
The motif gains further weight when juxtaposed with a prophecy made by Reoccurrem, the last fate: “There will be a shuddering crack, an echo of what is lost and what cannot be healed. Then, Samkiel, you will know how the world ends” (489). Both the dreams and the prophecy reinforce Liam’s belief that his actions—or his failure to act—will ultimately bring about the apocalypse. However, this assumption reflects Liam’s skewed perception of himself, which is shaped by years of guilt and the burden of power. His self-identification as a harbinger of destruction obscures the broader dynamics at play.
Liam’s nightmares and the prophecy mislead not only him but also the reader. The anticipated “shuddering crack” originates not from Liam but from Dianna following her sister’s death, subverting the expectations the novel has cultivated and shifting the narrative’s focus. Dianna’s actions complicate the prophecy, revealing that the end of the world is not solely tied to Liam’s identity as the “World Ender” but to the collective choices and vulnerabilities of those around him.
The phrase “This is how the world ends” thus challenges the characters to question assumptions about fate and agency. By weaving this motif into the narrative, the novel examines how fear and prophecy can distort perception, driving actions that may hasten the outcomes they seek to prevent.
Diana’s Heart
Dianna’s mortal heart is a symbol related to The Struggle Between Good and Evil, humanity and monstrosity, and vulnerability and strength. This last remnant of her mortal life before becoming an Ig’Morruthen underscores her internal struggle to retain her humanity despite transforming into a creature of immense power. Dianna herself acknowledges this duality: “Ig’Morruthens were strong and nearly impossible to kill—almost. We all had a weakness, one thing that would destroy us […] My stupid mortal heart was my weakness” (26). However, what appears to be a weakness also emerges as her most enduring source of strength, grounding her in compassion and morality.
Dianna’s mortal heart symbolizes her capacity for love, loyalty, and sacrifice even when such emotions expose her to pain. Her love for her sister, Gabby, is a defining force: “Family […] each beat of my heart was for her, and remembering that she existed brought me back from the edge of madness” (20). This love anchors Dianna, preventing her from succumbing to the hatred and fear that Kaden tries to instill in her. Her heart also compels her to care for others, including Liam, despite the risks that such connections pose to her emotional well-being. It becomes a reminder that her fragile humanity persists amid the darkness of her circumstances.
Particularly given how fiercely she clings to her humanity, Dianna’s willingness to sacrifice her mortal heart encapsulates her heroic resolve. In one pivotal moment, she tears Tobias’s hand—and her heart—out of her chest to save herself and others. This act of physical and emotional defiance highlights the strength of her heart, both as a symbol and in reality. As Drake observes, “No matter what Kaden did to turn her fully into a creature of hate and fear, she did not break. It’s that heart of hers. It may be a mortal heart, but it’s stronger than anything he has encountered” (320). The Book of Azrael illustrates the enduring power of compassion and morality in the face of overwhelming darkness by portraying Dianna’s heart as both a weakness and a source of unparalleled strength in the face of the corruption and cruelty surrounding her.
The Book of Azrael
The titular artifact serves as a complex symbol of power, control, and the struggle between good and evil. The book, created by Azrael as a contingency plan for the celestials, embodies The Duality of Power as both a tool for protection and a means of destruction. Ava explains its significance to Liam: “Azrael created a manual, so to speak […] It’s a book to open realms and end worlds. And it all starts with [Liam’s] death” (410). As a repository of knowledge, secrets, and unimaginable power, the book becomes the central object of desire, driving much of the novel’s conflict. It represents the celestials’ contingency against Liam and the extent of their paranoia and moral corruption.
The Book of Azrael also highlights the gods’ failure to trust and nurture their creations. Despite Liam’s efforts to help Azrael during the Gods War, the book’s existence casts doubt on Liam’s intentions, painting him as a potential threat rather than a savior. Although Azrael himself expresses regret for the celestials’ inability to see Liam’s true nature—“You are not like [Unir]. I am so sorry the other gods cannot see it” (170)—this tension reflects the broader theme of mistrust among the gods, whose abuse and neglect of the celestials ultimately led to rebellion and devastation.
Furthermore, the book symbolizes the struggle between good and evil, as characters grapple with how to use or destroy it. For Kaden, the book represents ultimate control, a way to unseal the realms and consolidate his power. For Liam and Dianna, however, it is a source of existential dread and moral conflict, forcing them to confront their vulnerabilities and the ethical implications of wielding such power. More than a mere plot device, the Book of Azrael thus symbolizes the novel’s central conflicts: the corrupting influence of power, the complexities of trust, and the enduring struggle to balance good and evil.
