by Kay | Oct 26, 2010 | Shelf Analysis |
You might have heard that the Vampire Academy books in the UK are to be re-released with brand new covers. Very exciting, of course, as it is bound to attract more readers – hopefully by the masses. And despite how lovely the new cover is, I can not say that I am a fan. Why? Well, take a look.
Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead – New Edition
Finding Sky by Joss Stirling
This book has suffered from its cover, at least on my behalf. I saw it in the store and thought it was Claire de Lune! It wasn’t until I saw The Bookette’s review that I remembered that I had seen this book on the shelves… that said, really want a copy!
Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma
One of the few times this cover is applicable. Hello, incestuous relationship? Certainly merits a barbed-wire heart.
Claire de Lune by Christine Johnson
Not quite as hearty as some of the other covers, but it is still clear what they were going for!
The Dark and Hollow Places by Carrie Ryan
Love this cover, but my goodness gracious is it ever the same as the cover of Forbidden!
The Fortune of Carmen Navarro by Jen Bryant
This is the US cover, but I think the UK cover will be the same. Lovely ghost-smoke effect… but, er, yeah.
I noticed the glaring similarities between The Dark and Hollow Places and Forbidden a couple of months ago, but it seems that publishers have gone crazy with this new trend. When is unfortunate is that, unless you are really focusing, these covers blur together. Unlike the Twilight-effect on YA covers – which, at least, resulted in some vaguely distinguishable book covers – I have a feeling all of these books will just blend together and then no one will end up buying any of them. *frets* Is no one else worried?
by Kay | Aug 24, 2010 | Shelf Analysis |
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!
very old // old // new
Personal Demons by Lisa Desrochers (September 14th, 2010)
Even though I am super excited about this book, I can’t say I am overly in love with any of the covers. The first was very much an ARC cover, the second (my favourite) looks a bit bland, and the final cover looks like it belongs on a PNR shelf – not YA. Honestly, how old are those models?
old // new
Ghost Town (UK cover) by Rachel Caine (October 26th, 2010)
The new cover for this book just came out in Rachel’s newsletter, and while it is a small change… I am not sure I love it. I am used the the covers of Caine’s Morganville Series to feature random!girls and crappy backgrounds – but this cover so obviously features Eve, and that is bizarre in itself. I was perfectly happy with my own picture of Eve, and frankly? This one kinda creeps me out. I shall likely be getting the hardcover US edition – especially considering my UK copy of Kiss of Death had pages falling out after a single read!
old // new
The Water Wars by Cameron Stracher (January 1st, 2010)
There have been a lot of ARC covers for this book out on the wild-web as it was featured on Teen Fire to
help the publishers choose a cover. This new cover is currently considered the “final” one, but it may change. Even though I
LOVE new cover (*pets*), I think the original was much more guy-friendly. :/
old // old // already out on the bloody shelves
Betrayals by Lili St. Crow
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?
by Kay | Jul 16, 2010 | Shelf Analysis |
Soo… I was checking out the lovely UK cover to Carrie Ryan’s third book The Dark and Hollow Places and I had a slight WTF moment. Just take a look:
Yup, that’s right. The Zombie Apocalypse book and the Incestuous Teen Romance have virtually the same cover. Totally gorgeous covers, I’ll admit – but seriously? *stares*
Now, apparently the whole barbed wire thing is quite relevant to The Dark and Hollow Places plot. And the whole forbidden romance thing is really expressed wonderfully on the cover of Forbidden.
Despite the ludicrous similarity – I am totally down with barbed wire hearts becoming the new Twilight cover. I much prefer this UK cover of The Dark and Hollow Places over the US cover. I still believe the cover to Forbidden is absolutely perfect for the content.
by Kay | Dec 21, 2009 | Shelf Analysis |
I have purchased two books over the past few weeks that have something in common. It won’t take you too many guesses to work out what!
Is it the exact same stock photo, or did they just use very, very similar models? Who knows. But it is worth noting that that is the UK cover for Ivy – the US one is totally different. Why change the book cover to make it look identical to another? Yet another publishing mystery never to be resolved!
by Kay | Nov 15, 2009 | Shelf Analysis |
As a highschooler, coffee was an adult thing. Something that you drink when you are old and have no energy. A drink for those who are so desperate for caffeine they ignore the horrible taste. Going to uni brought me over to the “dark side” and far too much of my work was done with a latte in hand.
And even though I am not long out of my teens, it seems things have changed. Kids line up at Starbucks after school for their mochas, and can’t get by without a morning latte. Not sure if that is good or bad, but it has affected the YA genre. Has anyone else picked up on the coffee-infused stories and covers that have been published lately? Well, if not, here’s a shot.
