04 January 2012

Cover Art Coverage: 9 New Titles!

My favorite thing about a four day week is how the weekend can sneak up on you, Friday comes so quickly!  It is less fun, however, when Wednesday pops up out of no where.  I apologize for the late post today, my head was still back enjoying the holiday weekend.  I kicked off 2012 by shouting, “Wait, it’s Wednesday?!”, how has everyone else been enjoying the new year?
 
 
 
Before I Wake by Rachel Vincent

(Click to enlarge)

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Description:

N/A

“Yes, it’s pink. I’m normally not a huge fan of the color pink, but I think this cover is gorgeous, and I think the bright color makes for a very striking image. I think it will truly stand out on shelves, both physical and virtual.”

– Rachel Vincent

  • Series: Soul Screamers #6
  • Artist: N/A
  • Goodreads: Link
  • Publisher: Harlequin Teen
  • Release Date: June 22, 2012
  • Source: Author’s Blog

Julia’s ThoughtsThumbs up

Abigail’s ThoughtsThumbs up

I agree with the author’s tone regarding the pink (I’m a fan, myself, but this shade is a little Pepto-Bismol for my taste), as well as her final conclusion.  The color really does pop and I love the dress strap over her shoulder. So sad to see Kaylee solo again after the last two covers, but it makes sense with the story. It's a different look too, but I like seeing more of her...I wish there was a bit more to it, but can't wait to read it.
Previous Covers in This Series

My Soul to Take (Soul Screamer...My Soul to Save (Soul Screamer...My Soul to Keep (Soul Screamer...My Soul to Steal (Soul Screame...If I Die (Soul Screamers, #5)

  

The Seduction of Phaeton Black by Jillian Stone

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The Seduction of Phaeton Black (Paranormal Investigator, #1)

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Description:

In the gaslit streets of Victorian London, phantoms rule the night, demons dance till dawn, and one supernatural detective dares to be seduced by the greatest power of all. . .

He's The Man With The Magic Touch

A master of deduction, seduction and other midnight maneuvers, Phaeton Black is Scotland Yard's secret weapon against things that go bump in the night. His prodigious gifts as a paranormal investigator are as legendary as his skills as a lover, his weakness for wicked women as notorious as his affection for absinthe. But when he's asked to hunt down a fanged femme fatale who drains her victims of blood, he walks right into the arms of the most dangerous woman he's ever known. . .

No Author Comment Available.

  • Series: Paranormal Investigator #1
  • Artist: N/A
  • Goodreads: Link
  • Publisher: Brava
  • Release Date: February 28, 2012
  • Source: Goodreads

Julia’s ThoughtsThumbs up

Abigail’s ThoughtsThumbs up

I have a hard time with the “live” Steampunk covers (the same problem I have with actual people dressed for Steampunk, it just never looks *quite* right).  In this case, I also don’t think this guy is really wearing a hat, goggles or no…  I like the playfulness of this cover, though, so begrudging thumbs up… Love the steampunk background and he looks looks the part, but I think she looks a little too costume-y for me.  Sounds like a crazy fun read, though.
Previous Covers in This Series

N/A

  

Evil Dark by Justin Gustainis

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Evil Dark (Occult Crimes Unit Investigation #2)

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Description:

My name's Markowski. I carry a badge. Also, a crucifix, some wooden stakes, a big vial of holy water, and a 9mm Beretta loaded with silver bullets.
A series of seemingly motiveless murders of supernatural creatures points to a vigilante targeting the supe community. Markowski wouldn't normally have much of a problem with that, but his daughter may be next on the killer's list...

No Author Comment Available.

  • Series:Occult Crimes Unit Investigation #2
  • Artist: N/A
  • Goodreads: Link
  • Publisher: Angry Robot
  • Release Date: April 24, 2012
  • Source: Goodreads

Julia’s ThoughtsThumbs down

Abigail’s ThoughtsThumbs down

The blue band across the top combined with the Angry Robot symbol really makes this cover look like it’s for a DVD (though in person, I’m fairly confident I wouldn’t make that mistake).  The look on that detective’s face is super gruesome, though. That combined with his skin tone makes me think he craves brains.  I’m not a fan of the tone of read used for the title, that and the font used for author and title make this look cheesy. It's a nice compliment to the debut, but the scene is a bit too gruesome for my taste.
Previous Covers in This Series

Hard Spell (Occult Crimes Unit...

  

Toxic by Jus Accardo

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Not Yet Available for Pre-Order.

Description:

When a Six saved Kale’s life the night of Sumrun, she warned there would be consequences. A trade-off. Something taken for the life they gained. But Dez never imagined she’d lose the one thing she’d give anything to keep… And as if it’s not enough Dez finds her immunity to Kale fading, the Six brought in to help Kale learn to control his killer touch starts drooling on him the moment they meet. Worse than that? Jade can touch Kale. But bimbo Barbie is the least of Dez's problems. 

After Dez and Kale got away at Sumrun, her father lost not only his most powerful weapon but an important piece of the Supremacy project. Forced by Denazen to remedy the situation, he poisons Dez and offers her a choice—surrender to Denazen for the cure…or die. More…

No Author Comment Available.

  • Series: Denazen #2 
  • Artist: N/A
  • Goodreads: Link

Julia’s ThoughtsThumbs up

Abigail’s ThoughtsThumbs down

I love the pop-star stance coupled with this title(in a completely humorous way).  They *nailed* the colors and lighting on this title, getting something this warm and interesting with a brown palette is an accomplishment. The colors and post apocalyptic background are perfect.  She looks a little stuck on top and maybe the pose is a bit off, but I like the overall feel.
Previous Covers in This Series

Touch (Denazen, #1)

  

The Unnaturalists by Tiffany Trent

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cvr9781442422063_9781442422063_hr

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Description:

In an alternate London where magical creatures are preserved in a museum, two teens find themselves caught in a web of intrigue, deception, and danger.

Vespa Nyx wants nothing more than to spend the rest of her life cataloging Unnatural creatures in her father’s museum, but as she gets older, the requirement to become a lady and find a husband is looming large. Syrus Reed’s Tinker family has always served and revered the Unnaturals from afar, but when his family is captured to be refinery slaves, he finds that his fate may be bound up with Vespa’s—and with the Unnaturals. More…

“[…] I rushed to tell everyone, so excited was I by the result. I’m so happy to be able to share it with you now. Ladies and gentlemen, meet Vespa Nyx.  I couldn’t be more pleased about this cover. The Simon & Schuster team bent over backwards to make it truly reflect the book; I can’t thank them enough.”

– Tiffany Trent

  • Series: N/A
  • Artist: N/A
  • Goodreads: Link
  • Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
  • Release Date: August 14, 2012
  • Source: Author’s Blog

Julia’s ThoughtsThumbs up

Abigail’s ThoughtsThumbs up

I love how her dress follows the line of the title.  Even better, colors and subtle touches definitely say “Steampunk” without going over the line. Really beautiful.  Love the font and colors, but I was totally won over by the first line of the cover copy: "In an alternate London where magical creatures are preserved in a museum..."
Previous Covers in This Series

N/A

  

This Dark Earth by John Hornor Jacobs

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Description:

So you survived the zombie uprising. Now what?

The land is contaminated, electronics are defunct, the ravenous undead remain, and life has fallen into a nasty and brutish state of nature. You need: food, water, weapons.

Welcome to Bridge City in what was once Arkansas—part medieval fortress, part Western outpost, and the precarious last chance for civilization.

A ten-year-old prodigy when the world ended, Gus is now at fourteen a battle-hardened young man.  Gus designed Bridge City to protect the living few from the shamblers always at the gates. Now he’s being groomed by his physician mother, Lucy, and the gentle giant Knock-Out to become the next leader of men. But an army of slavers is on its way, and the war it wages for the city’s resources could mean the end of survival as we know it. More…

“So, here it is. I think it’s just wonderful. It captures the feel and themes of the book (and they used Alternate Gothic! My FAV san serif font). Kudos to the designers at Simon & Schuster. They knocked that sucker out of the park on the very first try.” – John Hornor Jacobs

  • Series: N/A
  • Artist: N/A
  • Goodreads: Link
  • Publisher: Simon & Schuster
  • Release Date: July 3, 2012
  • Source: Author’s Blog

Julia’s ThoughtsThumbs up

Abigail’s ThoughtsThumbs up

Love the continents on this skull, and the arrangement of text on the cover reminds me of old fashioned advertisements and banners.  Love me some snake oil, this is really well done! This cover is strong but simple.  I'm loving the little touches in the bones, sword, and club details. 
Previous Covers in This Series

N/A

  

Thread of Death by Jennifer Estep

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Thread of Death

Description:

Gin Blanco, aka the assassin the Spider, might have finally killed her nemesis, Mab Monroe, but that doesn't mean that it's smooth sailing. Gin goes to Mab's funeral to say her goodbyes and runs into some of Ashland's most notorious underworld power players, including Jonah McAllister and Phillip Kincaid. McAllister wants her dead, and Kincaid has his own murky motives when it comes to the Spider, and Gin once again finds herself fighting for her life. Only this time, she might wind up in the cemetery right next to Mab.

No Author Comment Available.

  • Series: Elemental Assassin #5.5 
  • Artist: Tony Mauro 
  • Goodreads: Link
  • Publisher: Pocket Books
  • Release Date: January 31, 2012
  • Source: Author’s Newsletter

Julia’s ThoughtsThumbs up

Abigail’s ThoughtsThumbs up

I love the shadows and sunlight in this one and can’t believe this is a novella, five star treatment! Beautiful job and a perfect fit for the series. Tony Mauro is the man.  I love all his covers for this series, and even the novellas get the same attention. Awesome!
Previous Covers in This Series

Spider's Bite (Elemental Assas...Web of Lies (Elemental Assassi...Venom (Elemental Assassin, #3)Tangled Threads (Elemental Ass...Spider’s Revenge (Elemental...

  

Changeling by Kelly Meding

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changeling

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Description:

N/A

No Author Comment Available.

  • Series: MetaWars #2 
  • Artist: N/A
  • Goodreads: Link

Julia’s ThoughtsThumbs up

Abigail’s ThoughtsThumbs up

Is this supposed to be the same character from book one?  She’s punked out since then…  I like the orange cast more than the lavender, that and her clothes make this one look a little more terrestrial… I like the tougher look this cover has compared to the debut.  Teresa looks cool & capable.  It works.
Previous Covers in This Series

Trance (MetaWars, #1)

  

Nightwalker by Allyson James

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Nightwalker (Stormwalker, #4)

Compare with:

Description:

When someone comes to slay Janet Begay's resident Nightwalker, Ansel, Janet and Mick find themselves embroiled in another round of trouble. Book 4 of the Stormwalker series.

No Author Comment Available.

  • Series: Stormwalker #4
  • Artist: Tony Mauro
  • Goodreads: Link

Julia’s ThoughtsThumbs down

Abigail’s ThoughtsThumbs up

Different cover model, I know, but I had to show UNSEEN in comparison to show what I liked better.  The NIGHTWALKER cover is too blurry and too zoomed out, it looks like someone put a cover overlay on a vacation photo.  I’m in love with this author’s Highland Pleasure series (Yes, UF, I cheat on you with Historical Romance), so I’m picking it up regardless, but this cover doesn’t work for me. This is a much softer look for Janet...but it looks too much like UNSEEN by Rachel Caine, so it lacks the wow factor of the previous covers.  Still pretty though
Previous Covers in This Series

Stormwalker (Stormwalker, #1)Firewalker (Stormwalker, #2)Shadow Walker (Stormwalker, #3...

  

And our picks for Best & Worst…

Best

Worst

This Dark EarthThe Unnaturalists Evil Dark

Which are your Best and Worst?

 

11 comments:

  1. After a closer look at NIGHTWALKER & UNSEEN, it's the same image, just with a different head. The bikes are identical and the body is the same. Too bad.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Loving that Toxic reveal. I just started Touch last night and I am very excited about it.

    http://twentysomethingfictionwriter.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  3. great stuff!

    C | www.linenandleaves.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. I did the same as Abilgail - took a closer look. The Unseen cover has a photoshopped head on the other girl's body (with another person's hair on top of the new head as well). I actually like it better at first glance, but zoomed in it's all wrong. I really like the Thread of Death cover. Another great post!

    ReplyDelete
  5. You'll know the authors have VERY LITTLE to no control over their covers, right?! It's a topic that's extremely frustrating to authors! I blog with several and they are as surprised/horrified as we readers...It's controlled by the publishers and their art department. I think someone got lazy in regard to the James/Caine covers. Too bad the Allyson James series is fantastic. I haven't gotten to Rachel Caine's yet.

    ReplyDelete
  6. glittergirl - Oh we know authors have practically zero input on their covers. I've have some private conversations with authors in similar situations to this one and it can be devastating. I've read both these authors & I'm a fan, which makes it all the more disappointing. I don't think this is as glaring as some of the other cover copy cats in the past, & I doubt most readers will pick up on it, but both authors deserve better.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hi ladies! I'm so excited to see the thumbs up on the cover for CHANGELING. I absolutely love it! I know the blurb hasn't released yet, but the character depicted on the cover isn't Teresa this time. She's a character you meet about halfway through TRANCE.... ;)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Kelly - Oh, nice! That makes more sense now :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. LOL I actually quite like the Gustainis cover. It harkens back to the old Dell paperbacks and the style of Chandler mysteries. Very period and authentic.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I love the cover for The Unnaturalists!

    ReplyDelete
  11. @Kelly - I love this latest cover model, she reminds me of Claudia from Warehouse 13.

    @SciFiGuy - I love that THIS DARK EARTH reminded me of old circus banners (that I've never seen), but I completely missed the pulp connection for EVIL DARK.

    @Rebs - Completely agree, that's how steampunk should be done!

    ReplyDelete

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