Shelf Analysis: ARCs vs. Final Copies

by Kay | Aug 24, 2010 | Shelf Analysis | 4 comments

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?