You know that feeling when you see the cover of a new book for the first time and think “I need to know that book”. I think of it like falling for someone the first time. Where you see them is important (coffee store or university library – science fiction shelf or biographies), and so is their reputation (whether they are friends of friends – if there is a quote from your favourite author on the cover). But let’s all be honest, good looks come first. If they aren’t attractive you won’t go out of your way to get to know them. Sure, you can fall for someone who looks like Jensen Ackles and they can turn out to be a complete waste of neurons – just like that bloody Hush, Hush book and…
Ok, maybe I went a bit crazy with the metaphor. But I think you get my point.
Looks matter. Book covers matter. They meet your eyes across a crowded bookstore and scream “Pick me!” until you give in.
But sometimes the unthinkable happens. You fall in love with a cover, the cover of a book you haven’t yet had the chance to read and enjoy but, golly gosh, you have so much hope because surely a book that pretty must be brilliant. Then, publishing day finally arrives and…
The publishers have changed the cover.
I’ve complied a few recent examples of changes for good and for ill. I have some pretty fierce opinions about them all, but please let me know yours!
Ok, I have waited a long time to rant about this cover, so – er – take cover.
I HATE the covers for Betrayals and Jealousy – the second and third books in the Strange Angels series. And the transition from brilliance (Strange Angels cover) to complete and utter crap (Jealousy cover) can be seen right here.
The Strange Angels series is about Dru and her complete and utter misery (oh, and vampires and whatnot). It is not about her romantic entanglements – which, while brilliant to read, are not fundamental to the plot. But looking at the covers to Betrayals and Jealousy you would think that that is all they are about. That the only thought Dru has is “woe is me, I have two hunky boys to choose from!”. And that? That pisses me off. This is Dru we are talking about here.
The original cover for Betrayals (furthest left) is fantastic. It matches the Strange Angels cover, and Dru looks like the tough, depressed girl she is. She has her hood up and her hair all over the place – she can clearly kick your ass. In the final cover she has her hood down – because gosh let’s not intimidate the cheerleaders – and pushed back. Oh, and there are two emo guys watching her every move.
I think Betrayals laid the way for the craptastic cover of Jealousy. The publishers decided a change of direction was in order, and decided to ignore Dru’s angsty goodness and focus on the love triangle. Et voila! Let’s dress her up as a prom queen and put her in the arms of some protective hunk – because that’s all teen girls want anyways. *slams head on table repeatedly*
How can you not get pissed off by this???
*gets off soapbox*
Anyhow, opinions anyone?
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It seems to me that as the covers go through the transistions they tend to get blander (is that even a word?!). Most of the original bits in the ARC covers get removed until the covers become similar to all the other books out there. There’s an arguement that the covers move towards gaining a wider readership – but sometimes, as you’ve pointed out Kay with the Strange Angels books, it looses something vital to the plot/character. More originality please!
@Mel – If blander isn’t a word, it should be. That’s exactly what happens, covers go through multiple edits and end up looking a lot like the covers-that-came-before. Perhaps originality is bad for sales!
Oh Kay, you do make me laugh! (In a good way, of course). Your utter horror at the Strange Angels covers shows you love that series, though I don’t really have a problem with the covers myself. I love the final Betrayals one, and I’m even quite fond of Jealousy. I admit they have taken it in the wrong direction (more kick-ass Dru, please!), but for what they are, I like them.
Now, that new UK Ghost Town cover is another story. What is that?! It’s pretty horrific, if you don’t mind me saying – the girl looks like something out of a low budget student horror flick. Her eyes! The first one was elegant, but that’s just creepy as hell.
The Water Wars, I’m going with the new one. And Personal Demons, the middle one. I agree the new (and presumably final? Ha!) cover looks like it’s PNR – those models look older than the actors from Smallville. Sigh. Though I can’t discern whether the guy in the background is a hot Jensen Ackles lookalike or if on closer inspection he won’t be worth looking at. If I saw it on a shelf, I don’t think I’d even give it a second glance. Shame.
Great post!
I think in all of these examples I prefer the first ones – especially Personal Demons and Ghost Towns – really don’t like the new Ghost Town one – eek!