The Last of Us Season 2 has officially concluded, leaving viewers with numerous inquiries rather than resolutions. While many fans are pondering Ellie’s (Bella Ramsey) destiny or the plans of Abby (Kaitlyn Dever) and her group prior to their interruption, there’s also a lesser-known, captivating enigma: What is the meaning of the book Abby is seen reading in the concluding flashback?

What book does Abby have in the finale?

In a flashback taking place three days before the current storyline, we find Abby relaxing on a couch at the Washington Liberation Front (WLF) headquarters with a book lying on her chest. The book’s title? Thieves of the City by Ben Davidoff. A brief search indicates that this book is fictional. Nonetheless, it bears a striking resemblance to City of Thieves, a 2008 historical novel by David Benioff—one of the showrunners of Game of Thrones.

What’s the significance of Abby’s book?

The presence of this imaginary book is not by chance. Neil Druckmann, the mind behind The Last of Us, has previously mentioned City of Thieves as a source of inspiration while creating the original game. In a 2013 discussion with VentureBeat, Druckmann shared that the narrative features two survivors navigating a war-ravaged Leningrad during World War II. Despite the bleak backdrop, the story mixes horror with humor, and the primary characters—initially in conflict—develop a profound connection throughout their adventure. Druckmann commended how the book addressed these subjects, which evidently shaped the narrative style in The Last of Us.

Notably, the book also makes an appearance in The Last of Us Part II video game, where Abby can be observed reading it in a scene that closely parallels the one from the Season 2 finale. The series merely modified the title and author a bit for its adaptation.

Fresh episodes of The Last of Us Season 2 are released Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.

Interested in exploring more of The Last of Us universe? Here’s how to begin playing the games.