We can only see the tats in question because Chrsyabelle is wearing a backless and shoulderless dress. Yes, this is yet another example of not matching up with the plot. While Chrsyabell does dress in all white, she certainly would never choose to wear anything so revealing and would see that dress as a complete negation of the vows that she took when she became comarré, but then why bother with a little thing like making sure the cover represents the story when the opportunity exists to show a little skin.
This cover completely negates everything that Painter set up in her story. It’s enough to make me wonder if the publisher even read the story before choosing the cover art. It’s all about what sells, and certainly not about what’s accurate.
Now, if I remember how Mercy is described in the book, she has 1 tattoo. A little coyote paw on her lower stomach. So this? I’ve no idea what this is, Is it adjusted to make her look sexy? Or is it blue collar coding to show she’s a mechanic? (After all, pictures of her almost wearing a boilersuit or carrying a wrench are not uncommon) Or did the cover artist escape his cage and managed to scribble random ink (and remove most of her clothing) before he could be restrained?
(Also please note her feathered ear-rings so you can see her Native American heritage. You’ll have to forgive her, her teepee’s in the wash) This of course is a good thing because we all know that Mercy is Native in name only.
Of course, not all tattoos are wrong - here we have Kevin Hearns’ (and we fanpoodle in his name) wonderful cover art with the extremely delicious Atticus (mine) with appropriate tattooing - the celtic tattoos that are described in the book, that Atticus uses to channel his powers.
And here we have Diana Rowland’s My Life as a White Trash Zombie. Now does Angel have a brain tattoo? No - but you’ve got to love it. And it sets the semi-humorous nature of the book.
