A brand new permutation of comments today, Abigail and Kristina had both posted comments before I arrived on the scene, but left the Best/Worst to me.  Teamwork!  I loved the sinister shadow of DUALED, there was no hesitation on my favorite (and given how often I complain about overly Photoshopped dudes, my least favorite should not be a surprise).

 

This week the Cover Art comment change-ups continue, as Kristina subs in for Abigail.  We’re eager to make it to Wordpress so all three of us can post together!  In the meantime, our constellation of commenters continues to change from week to week.  Though only THE SHATTERED DARK made it as my favorite this week, the cover reveal for Patricia C. Wrede’s THE FAR WEST reminded me that this was a beloved series that I was way too far behind on (and sparked an order and pre-order).  I hope these titles bring as many happy reminders to your own To Be Read list, enjoy!

 

We’ve got two Cover Art Coverage posts for you this week.  All the new reveals on Wednesday, and today we’re showing off the latest batch of foreign covers (17!) in the Global Edition.  Abigail is up to her eyeballs working on setting up the new Wordpress site (more details about that coming soon), so I’m (Kristina) filling in for her on Wed and I’ll be permanently taking over commenting duties on the Global Edition posts with Julia.  We’ll have a shiny new template once we switch to the new site that will accommodate all three of us commenting on the weekly posts, but for today, Julia and I picked our favorites. We had quite a few cool covers to pick from and some were pretty tough choices. Which covers do you like?

 

While Photoshop is a glorious tool, when applied with too heavy a hand it is a big turn off for me.  Considering how much I love magic, monsters, and make-believe, you’d think I’d be more tolerant of the software that often brings these three to life.  When it comes to  leading men, it seems, I insist on some realism.  In everything except for the muscles, that is.  I don’t really care where those broad shoulders come from, just how well they fill out a t-shirt.

 

 

This week Abigail and I have the opposite of a “perfect game” going on.  There are many titles that received unanimous approval, but we also have a perfect record of asynchronous thumbs down going on.  Not one title got two thumbs down this week. In a few instances, we mentioned the exact same detail and then went our separate ways (my favorite is the battle axe rock star).  Feel free to chime in an help us break all these ties.

 

Despite the unlucky number, this crop of covers was particularly nice.  Only two covers managed to tip all the way to a thumbs down, and neither of them unanimously.  Of course, Abigail and I both started our cover art perusal with these gems… which is enough to put anyone in a good mood.

 

My favorite part of doing these posts is finishing my comment and reading Abigail’s, it’s always fun to get instant feedback in the form of her observations and opinions.  This week in particular we had some great similarities and some hilarious differences.  Seeing the new Bloodhound Files was exciting, and Faith Hunter’s new Jane Yellowrock stopped me in my tracks.  Jane is more gorgeous and exotic than ever!  Ending on A HOWL FOR A HIGHLANDER was icing on the cake, the same detail came up in both of our comments… but in completely different ways.

Have you joined #TeamAmity yet? There are tons of ways to get involved (and tons of amazing giveaways too) Just search #TeamAmity on twitter to enter them all & don’t forget to clickety-click the Choose Amity links as often as possible. As promised, there are several fun ways to show your support for #TeamAmity and the upcoming book INSURGENT by Veronica Roth.  Today kicks off a chance for you to win an amazing Dystopian YA Prize Pack including DIVERGENT & INSURGENT!

 

I don’t know about you guys, but my newsfeed has been filled with ever more entertaining items being added to Pinterest.  This week has reached a new high, as Abigail created a board for All Things Urban Fantasy.  If you’re ever in the mood for new cover art before Cover Art Coverage hits newstands, feel free to stop by our Pinterest and browse.  Global covers will appear there, too, be sure to check it out!

So excited to be back from vacation and find that Abigail has refreshed the look of Cover Art Coverage.  She’s the graphical guru here on the blog, and I don’t know about you, but I love the new look.  While we agree on the blog’s look, we disagree a few times on the covers this week.  Abigail is all thumbs up whereas I have a few thumbs down.  We’re in complete agreement about the Best this week, however, as the stunning WILLFUL IMPROPRIETY anthology blew us both away.  I’m a tough sell when it comes to short stories, but this cover alone has added WILLFUL IMPROPRIETY to my TBR list, can’t wait!

 

Hi All! Julia’s taking another much needed week off from the Cover Art Coverage post (there have been scads of cover reveals lately and this is a time consuming post to put together each week).  Several great covers to gush over this week including a new one from artist Gene Mollica that get’s my Best pick, as well as a very promising new series from Anton Strout. And it seems that no week is complete without a disappointing PNR cover and Julia and I agree on below.  Let us know which ones you love and hate in the comments or via Twitter @Abigail_ATUF

Today we have a new variety of Cover Art Coverage to share, as we compare and contrast the cover art of familiar books around the globe.  Rather than thumbs up and down, Abigail and I have picked our favorites and I hope you do, too! 




 

 

Hi Guys, Abigail here. I’m filling in for Julia this week (although her comments are still included). We’re introducing some new changes to the Cover Art Coverage posts including an updated graphic, a new layout for the covers, and the Cover Submit form is linked at the bottom instead of being embedded (let us know in the comments if you’re not a fan of the changes).  There are two series that are featuring new looks, one of which I’m a big fan of, the other gets my pick for Worst this week.  We’ve also got several highly anticipated reveals including Kresley Cole’s first YA, and the first in Gail Carriger’s new series.  And the busiest man in paranormal romance adds yet another cover to his resume.  Can you spot model Paul Marron below?

 

 There are some really gorgeous covers this week (both with and without gorgeous people on them).  There are many covers that deserve to be discussed, above and beyond Best/Worst.  Lara Avery’s ANYTHING BUT ORDINARY is a gorgeous use of light and perspective, and Meljean Brook’s Iron Seas series gets a new style.  Keri Arthur’s Dark Angel books got my favorite cover of the series and I’m seeing hints of Supernatural boys in cover models again (thank you, ANGEL IN CHAINS).  Enjoy!   Feedback by Robinson Wells

(Click to enlarge)

Description: N/A No Author Comment Available.

Series: Variant #2  Artist: N/A Goodreads: Link	Publisher: HarperTeen Release Date: October 2, 2012 Submitted By: Truly Bookish
Julia’s Thoughts	Abigail’s Thoughts
These covers say “Thriller” and “Summer Blockbuster”, and I think the cinematic style matches the series tone.	I like the perspective here. It feels like we're trapped behind the fence.  But otherwise, I don't really think this is a memorable cover.

Previous Covers in This Series

We are excited to welcome back Laurie London, author of the much loved Sweetblood series.  The latest installment, TEMPTED BY BLOOD (available now from HQN Books) was described in Abigail’s review as, “imaginative and sensual, the Sweetblood paranormal romance series is one I keep going back to.” The covers are what first drew us to this series, but it’s the stories that keep us coming back for more.  Speaking of those covers, Laurie is spilling inside details about how they created such a sizzling look for the series. 

Judging A Book By Its Cover

by

Laurie London

Thanks, Abigail, for having me on today. Hi, everyone! Since the third Sweetblood book, Tempted By Blood, just came out and the series has received a lot of cover love, I thought I’d share what I know about the cover creation process.

The first book, Bonded By Blood, required more back and forth between my publisher’s art and editorial departments (which included my input) than Tempted. Once a cover look for the series was decided, it remains consistent with the other books and doesn’t need to be reinvented each time.

An in-your-face close-up of a hot guy. Fangs that read sexy, but not horror. The same title and author fonts. It’s mainly the colors and models that change with each book.

 

Do not adjust your screen!  That is not a typo (not even a transposition), 32 cover reveals this week.  As if this Tuesday’s batch of new releases wasn’t excitement enough, now I’m breathless with anticipation for the end of this year and beyond.  Gorgeous covers to continue A Beautiful Dark, World of the Lupi, and Guild Hunter series as well as several new faces that I’m intrigued to pick up.  The pen-and-ink style of both MOCKINGBIRD and the Fever graphic novel have me sold, how about you?

 

It’s been awhile since we’ve had a cover show up on both the Best and Worst side of our wrap up, but the vibrant SOUL TRADE cover has divided opinions here at ATUF.  Over all, I’d say this is a darker than average crop of covers.  I don’t think I’ve ever wanted to use the adjective “creepy” so much in one post. 

 

 

It’s been a long time since we’ve had such a big Cover Art Post, and all of this bounty is overwhelmingly weighted towards the good.  This is one of the few weeks when I had no “worst”, so as you can imagine, I also had a very hard time deciding on which cover would be the best.  In the end, mood and special effects won out for me, which cover will be your favorite?

 

There’s some interesting series covers today.  What’s better, a series that keeps changing cover styles while trying to get it right, like Anita Blake?  Or a recognizable cover that fits the overall theme but isn’t great on it’s own, like the latest installment for Deadtown?