It has been too long since we did our cover snark series - but while it’s fun to look at covers that are united by their flaws, it’s also fun to look at the covers we see every week (especially since, as a big e-reader, I barely even see the cover half of the time) and seeing how those flaws continue and also compare what’s on the cover with what is inside: so here’s our first of our new cover-posts, looking at the books we’ve read through the week and the face they present on our bookshelves (virtual or otherwise).
Faefever by Karen Marie Moning
This cover is further proof of one of my long running theories - awesome cover = awful book. I don’t know why, do cover artists take pity on awful books or something? Is it a kind of charity work? Look at this - wonderfully moody, evocative an excellent cover for the setting and scene. I look at this, I love it and I can’t help but think what a disappointment it sets you up for.
Grim Anthology
This cover is, to me, like Regency Stripe wallpaper. Kind of classy, really stylish and can’t help but look awesome - but it’s also a little impersonal. I think that’s part of the issue with abstract covers; they have to be carefully made to give you a sense of what’s in them. Still, it does a good job, the fake leather cover gives the sense of an old book, evocative of the fairy tales within. The tree with the pictures suggests several different stories - even if it does also look a little like a family tree and you look at it and think “wait, your cousin was a bird?”
It’s definitely beautiful and it’s kind of intriguing but it doesn’t really tell me anything.
Blake 187: A Zombie Revolution Aiden James & Michelle Wright
I didn’t see this cover before I read the book - but if I had it would have made me buy it. It’s unique, it speaks of a unique story and a very original character and it’s damn pretty as well. Of course, the breastplate would also
In terms of relating to the book - it’s perfect. This is kind of exactly how I picture Blake (and manages to make it clear he’s a zombie AND not make him look so hideous he could be hard to relate to). The looking up towards the light is a sense of hope, the dark, ruined setting a perfect.
This is one quality bespoke cover. Even if he is kind of staring up at the author’s names in a kind of resignation. It’s like “oh, they’re writing my book? *sigh*” And now I can’t unsee it.
Stolen Songbird by Danielle L Jensen
Stolen Songbird falls into category of yet another book with a disembodied protagonist. We have spoken about this phenomenon in the past. There is no reason that Cécile could not have been completely depicted. Beyond that, the cover itself is stunning and portrays key elements from the story. We get a great sense of what the troll world actually looks like.
Blood Descent by Marie Treanor
This is one of the few paranormal romance books that does not have copious man titteh on the cover. Don’t let it fool you though, Blood Descent is pure paranormal romance with all of the problems that this implies. The cover is highly whimsical which gives no clue to the gender based violence that is masked as romance. I don’t understand what the gothic columns are doing in the background. I suppose those could represent the mausoleum that Maggie ends up living in but that is a pretty swank mausoleum wouldn’t you say. Also she’s wearing a sheet - a transparent sheet that becomes magically opaque around her ladybits. I assume it’s held with doubled sided tape.
Daysider by Susan Krinard
Paranormal Romance - behold the Man-titteh! The problem with Man-titteh covers is they all tend to look pretty samey so I have to give points to this one with its original pose, different setting and the daylight streaming onto his hand which really does give a sense of a vampire who can walk in sunlight - albeit with more wonder than Damon would have.
I do want to know where he is though, since the book takes place predominantly in the wilderness (I also think wilderness agents probably wouldn’t wear low rise trousers but far be it from me to complain).
Just out luck that the first weekly cover analysis has a collection of pretty damn good covers!
