Cover Snark (19)

Covers, covers, covers! I never get tired of them or of snarking about them. You guys ready? *climbs onto THRONE OF JUDGMENT* *gets comfortable* *waves scepter* Let's get started! Also, props are due to Giselle of Xpresso Reads, whose FB page was seriously helpful in finding this week's new covers.

Wicked Sense (Singularity #1) - Fabio Bueno

Thoughts: Fabio? Fabio Bueno? This HAS to be a nom de plume, right? Then again, why would that be your chosen name for righting? It would be so much better for porn. Ahem. Seriously, though, that means 'good Fabio.' However, this is not a romance novel, so who knows. For an indie, this is a fabulous cover. The fonts mark it indie, but the pictures are pretty.

The Key and the Flame (Untitled Series #1) - Claire M. Caterer

Thoughts: Decent middle grade cover. It's really just not popping for me. It may be how mellow and beige so much of it is. Meh.

Cover Battle: Marked (House of Night #1) - P.C. & Kristin Cast

Original vs. Redesign: Well, this is going to piss people off. We've got another midseries makeover. AND this one comes at book ten in the series. O_O As if reading the House of Night series wasn't punishment enough already. The original cover was weird, so I'm going with the new one for its vibrancy, even though it looks like an iPod commercial.

 Cover Battle: Betrayed (House of Night #1) - P.C. & Kristin Cast

Original vs. Redesign: Yellow? Gross. That's no good. Besides, I think the older covers just scream post-Twilight vampire craze, so you know what you're getting when you grab one.

Cover Battle: Chosen (House of Night #1) - P.C. & Kristin Cast

Original vs. Redesign: Again, I always really hated this original cover, and they chose a good background color for the new one.

Cover Battle: Hidden (House of Night #1) - P.C. & Kristin Cast 

 Attempt 1 vs. Hardcover: So, I guess that, for the most part, I think this is a good recover. However, they're big dicks to do it NOW. This series was already enough of a money whore.

Dominion - Melody Manful

 Thoughts: Manful? Seriously, what is with all of the porn names. Moving on, I kind of like this. Kind of. There are some definite issues (angel wings, the guy on the right looks exactly like a Ken doll, the two bloody handprints on an otherwise spotless dress), BUT the girl looks like Belle from Beauty and the Beast, so... that's awesome.

Iridescent (Ember #2) - Carol Oates

Thoughts: These covers are really amazing. Were this book and author not entirely unfamiliar to me, I might have thought this was from a big publisher. I really like the font treatment and colors. That said, I'm really grossed out by the moth on her shoulder. Also, what is her expression? Can anyone tell me?

Cover Battle: Mind Games/Sister Assassin - Kiersten White

US vs. UK: I am always curious about title changes from country to country. Why does this happen? What's the reasoning behind it? Well, I much prefer both the US title and cover. Woo! Doesn't the girl on the right look like Christina Ricci?

Infinite Sky - C. J.. Flood

 Thoughts: I like this cover okay. The color's pretty and the barbed wire title adds a darkness to it that I like. HOWEVER, I was thinking a middle grade about CORN, but I read the description and the cover says NONE of that to me.

Cover Battle: Maid of Secrets - Jennifer McGowan

Mysterious Leaked Cover vs. Actual: Well, apparently, some trickster of a Goodreads librarian decided to post a pretend cover. The one I found last week is NOT the real cover of Maid of Secrets. Curious. Anyway, here's the actual cover, which...is still ugly. I think I don't like it because I just don't care for this model's face. She looks like an evil stepsister. Also, the one on the left must have been considered, because the knife, necklace and dress really look the same. I wonder if they went with a different one because that one was leaked and mocked? I choose neither as the winner. This doesn't seem like it would be that difficult to make an awesome cover for.

The Devil's Metal - Karina Halle

Thoughts: Now THIS is a fabulous indie cover. It would also make a stellar Florence vs. the Machine album cover, amiright?

Parched - Melanie Crowder

Thoughts: Am I the only one who finds this disappointing? The art style really just doesn't appeal to me. I also, if I didn't know better, would think this was from the 90s.

Hot Blooded (Jessica McClain #2) - Amanda Carlson

Thoughts: These are awesome UF covers. I love how hardcore the girl looks, but I also really appreciate that she's wearing clothing she could actually fight in, rather than a mini skirt or something.

Taken (The Watchers Trilogy # .5) - Karice Bolton

 Thoughts: Why is a naked child happening? I don't care if it's an angel. This is still creepy. Is this about child bondage? UGH. Also, I say this all the time, but there's no way that a person of that size could fly with wings so puny.

Altered Souls (The Witch Avenue #2) - Karice Bolton 

Thoughts: Well, this one I actually DO like. The creepy setting really works. Like that castle and the fog? Made of win. I am unconvinced of the practicality of that dress for what has surely been a hike to reach said creepy castle, but oh well.

Confessions of a Murder Suspect - James Patterson & Maxine Paetro

Thoughts: I just found this one. I like it, but I wish Patterson would stop with the YA. Oh well. This is going to be a new series, I think, because of course it is.

Cover Battle: Blood, She Read - Sara Hubbard VS. Eden's Root - Rachel Fisher

 Thoughts: Usually, I fail to notice models are the same, but, with this one, I knew immediately that I'd seen this model before, and where. I want Eden's Root to be the best, because I saw it first and being second is lame, but I like the way they reddened up her hair on Blood, She Read. Plus, that looks so pretty set against the green.

Cover Battle: The Alchemy of Forever (Incarnation #1) - Avery Williams

Hardback vs. Paperback: This redesign needed to happen. The hardback cover is awful. The weird face she's making, the way she's pictured three times. It's just no good. Besides, it's also boring. This new one is so pretty. I really like the colors! Also, it looks like a contemporary romance, except that the font hints at some fantasy elements. Approve.

The Impossibility of Tomorrow (Incarnation #2) - Avery Williams

 Thoughts: Matching the paperback cover, this is the cover for the sequel. I like the warm colors of the first one better, but this is still pretty. I guess she likes the boy now, since she's turned to face him.

Premeditated - Josin McQuein

Thoughts: Don't care. I just really have no interest in this cover at all. Her hair looks really dry.

Cover Battle: Speechless - Hannah Harrington

US vs. Australia: While there's something fascinating about the simplicity of the US cover, let's be honest, it's not as interesting. Also, duct tape.

Code (Virals #3) - Kathy & Brendan Reichs

Thoughts: What the hell is this? Don't get me wrong. This cover, in and of itself, is interesting. BUT designers for this cover, have you met the first two covers? Because you should! I even looked to see if this was a redesign, but it doesn't seem to be. WHY????

The Book of Broken Hearts - Sarah Ockler

Thoughts: Although the heart out of the book pages is cheesy as all get out, I really like this. What makes it work for me are the bright colors. I wouldn't expect that purple and yellow to dovetail so nicely, but their juxtaposition is a joy for the eyes.

The Different Girl - Gordon Dahlquist

Thoughts: YELLOW. This is not my favorite color. Her earring is a power button. Interesting. The cover definitely is eye-grabbing, and it did make me want to look up the book on GR, so good enough.

Nobody - Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Thoughts: *weeps in disappointment* That's it? Really? All of that lead up to the reveal and that's IT? This is boring and not particularly originaly. Plus, what is with the smoke in the bottom right corner? That really isn't adding to the cover.

Outstanding Cover of the Week:

The Devil's Metal - Karina Halle