Cover Snark (20)

Welcome to Cover Snark, where I share all the interesting cover reveals of the week that I can find, and we rip them apart with judgment or, slightly less often, praise them for their awesomeness. Get out your judgin' shoes and let me know your thoughts on the covers!

Oh, also, I do know this is the longest post ever. Do you like it or should I cut the size of the images to make it shorter? Thoughts?

Shattered Hourglass (Day by Day Armageddon, #3) - J. L. Bourne

Thoughts: These are some pretty fabulous zombie covers. I really like the colors and the tie-dyed look of the title font. I expect this series to be action-packed but also funny. Hope that's true!

Wicked Kiss (Nightwatchers, #2) - Michelle Rowen

Thoughts: MENACING POLKA-DOTTED SCARF! Has anyone ever seen the wind make a scarf fly like that? This is too much magenta. Just too much. What the eff is up with her dress/coat/thing? Is she a mermaid? I thought this was about angels. Her expression's also a bit weird. AND I am unclear as to why there is water in the background ABOVE the bridge. Confusing.

The Exiled Blade (The Assassini #3) - Jon Courtenay Grimwood

Thoughts:  This cover is GORGEOUS. It is also a trap. I read the first book in this series, back in my requesting everything from NG because I could days, and it was full of defecation and grossness. Do not be lured in by the pretty cover. His work appeals to some people, but read reviews before you add this to your shelves.

Right of Way - Lauren Barnholdt

 Thoughts: Why are Barnholdt's covers always so boring. Of all of her books, I think I've only liked one cover. They're not bad, but...meh. The glaring sunshine through the old ass car really is not appealing. The coloring is also dull.

Conjure (The Hoodoo Apprentice #1) - Lea Nolan

Thoughts: Conjure wins most-marketed cover of the week. Good job. I wouldn't have included it here otherwise, because I really don't care about it. The font's kind of fun, especially the moon as the i's dot, but I'm still feeling the indie vibe.

Derailed - Alyssa Rose Ivy

Thoughts: BAHAHAHAHAHAHA. This is AWFUL. Seriously, who thought the blue and white striped shirt was a good idea with that background and the bright yellow for the title. The concept for this isn't great anyway, but holy crap no. Also, it looks like summer, but this chick appears to be freezing, based on how she's hugging herself. There's also something off about her expression, which really doesn't fit with the idyllic, greeting card style background.

 Wings of Tavea (Wings of Arian #2) - Devri Walls

Thoughts: In the first cover, a young man stands in crotch deep water in a cave. On his left arm, he has a snake. On his right, a water floaty made of clouds or mist. Dude, may I suggest not getting in such deep water if you need a floaty? The second cover in the series introduces us to Floaty's girlfriend (or so I assume), She appears to be in a nicer, man-made cave with less water, although a giant wave seems to be heading her way. It's also evidently quite windy, since her hair and skirt (which may or may not be made of bubble wrap) are blowing to the left.

Tides - Betsy Cornwell

Thoughts: PARDON ME WHILE I DIE OF CUTENESS OVERLOAD. LOOK AT THE SEAL!!! I HAVE NOTHING CRITICAL TO OFFER, BECAUSE ZOMG CUTE SEAL.

 Ever After (The Hollows #11) - Kim Harrison

Thoughts: I was definitely way too lazy to assemble ALL of the covers in this series. At a certain point, there are just too damn many. However, I had to comment on this because WHAT THE EFF IS SHE WEARING? At first glance, it looks like she's not wearing any pants, because she apparently thought a skin-tone pants suit was an awesome plan (Note: it's not). Also, color aside, this really just is not a flattering outfit on anyone, and really makes her look older than she is. Also, am I the only one that would love some more color variation on this cover?

Cover Battle: The Tale of the Vampire Bride (Vampire Bride #1) - Rhiannon Frater

Original vs. Redesign: I looked at this new cover and I thought Really, this is an improvement?!?! Then I looked at the book on Goodreas and determined that, yes, it is. There are no words for that original cover. It makes me laugh (especially the shadow)  and maybe cry a little.

Cover Battle: The Vengeance of the Vampire Bride (Vampire Bride #1) - Rhiannon Frater

 Thoughts: This is, without a doubt, another improvement, although the bar was set low enough you could pretty much zombie shuffle over the damn thing. I do like how the kept the same themes (minus the floaty eyes of the original cover - good choice removing that) from the original but in new ways. The cover still looks indie though, especially the title font.

Cover Battle: The Mad Scientist's Daughter - Cassandra Rose Clarke

 The Madman's Daughter vs. The Mad Scientist's Daughter: I can only imagine that these two books are mortal enemies, as they are both about daughter's of mad scientists. Not only that, but they're slated to come out within a month of one another. Odd that. I like the cover for The Mad Scientist's Daughter, but in the cover battle I have to go with The Madman's Daughter for the splash of color. I want to read both of these.

The Loop - Shandy Lawson

 Thoughts: This goes on the great shelf of meh. Yet another designer who read about how black, white and red covers have a lot of visual appeal. There just isn't anything about this that especially calls to me.

Cover Battle: Cleopatra Ascending (Shadow's Edge #2) - Maureen Lipinski

Astarte's Wrath vs. Cleopatra Ascending: If you insist on using a stock photo for your book cover, at least make sure that you're that your version is better than the existing ones. The coloring alone make's Wolfe's version of this photo world's better; Cleopatra Ascending is likely tinted that way in an effort to make a white model look Egyptian. However, Lipinski's cover also suffers from the use of the transparent hovering symbol, which really looks like an ax about to chop into Cleo's head. Wah wah.

Spies and Prejudice - Talia Vance

 Thoughts: Come on, guys, how about a bit more creativity, please! I'm not getting anything spy-ish, prejudiced (unless she hates rain - umbrella indoors...why?) or Jane Austen-y from this cover. More than anything it reminds me of Pretty Crooked's cover or Gossip Girl, since it seems to be about blonde hair and fashion. I am disappoint

The Mammoth Book of Ghost Stories by Women - Marie O'Regan, ed.

Thoughts: Successfully creepy. I keep trying to see under the sheet and not quite managing, which is distressing. Also, the tree definitely looks like it has arms.

Confederates Don't Wear Couture (Pilgrims #2) - Stephanie Kate Strohm

Thoughts: There really IS another one. UGH. PDWP is one of my most-loathed reads so far this year, so I'm not thrilled. Okay, I'll stop ranting and just talk about the cover. I don't think this one pops like the previous, largely because (much as I love blue) there's too much blue. I do like the bonnet and the dress (although it looks creased, right?). The picnic table cover background really isn't working for me, though.

Nexus - Ramez Naam

Thoughts: OM NAAM NAAM, PILLS. Sorry. Couldn't resist. Anyway, this reminds me heavily of this and this. I'm intrigued, but not blown away.

Cover Battle: Dreadnought (The Clockwork Century #3) - Cherie Priest

 US vs. UK: Why did they bother? They appear to have decided that they didn't like the covers for books 3 and 4, but have kept the one for Boneshaker the same. Sigh. Apparently, they wanted closeups on faces for each. Personally, I like being able to see the creepy steampunk monster in the backgrouns and I love the original model's ginger curls.

Cover Battle: Ganymede (The Clockwork Century #4) - Cherie Priest

 US vs UK: Were I to take the look of the series into account, I would go with the cover on the left for sure, but based solely on these I like the UK version. The monster on the Ganymede cover isn't anywhere near as cool as the one on Dreadnought. On the UK version, I get a boat and a dirigible. Plus, I love that this chick is wearing so damn many shot gun shells.

The Burning of Isobel Key - Jen McConnel

Thoughts: This is a great indie cover. I can still tell, but the model and background have been done better than usual. I like the vibrancy of the colors and the lighting. I want to go to England and Scotland and Ireland RIGHT NOW.

Flutter (Discover #1) - Melissa Andrea

Thoughts: Serious major props for there not being any butterflies on this cover! Yay! I think they're going for more of a dragon fly thing. I really like both the way the skin has been done and the title font. Very eye-catching.

Garden of Stones - Sophie Littlefield

Thoughts: Why does Sophie Littlefield keep writing books that I want to read? Seriously, I've read one of her books and didn't like it, tried another and DNFed, and yet I still want to read all of her books because the topics are so up my aisle. This one's about Japanese internment. The cover's a bit boring, but I like it more having looked up the subject.

Falling to Ash (Moth #1) - Karen Mahoney  

 Thoughts: I like that this looks a bit like an old painting, but it's not quite clicking with me. I think it's the pose that's getting to me. Also, we found the butterflies that weren't used on the Flutter cover.

The Elementals (Vespertine #3) - Saundra Mitchell

Thoughts: I don't know about you guys, but I really don't get a series feeling from these covers at all. This one's interesting in that it doesn't continue the pretty dress trend, though she still is walking away from a fan. Bonus points for the suspenders. Anyone notice her SHINY GOLD SHOES?

Uprising (Children of the Gods #2) - Jessica Therrien 

Thoughts: A definite improvement over book one's cover (because I like the color), although I'm not sure why her hair is all up in her face.

Flukes - Nicole Chase

Thoughts: Congratulations are owed to the person that found the bikini that looks most like shells. However, they probably should have removed the little ties, because they are distracting. I like the bright colors.

V Is for Virgin - Kelly Oram 

Thoughts: First thought: I like it. Second thought: Clever use of those stupid necklaces in case people can't remember their names. Third thought: WHAT THE EFF IS SHE DOING WITH HER HANDS?

When She Was Gone - Gwendolen Gross

 Thoughts: Oh, come on, guys. Really? Ugh.


New Moon: The Graphic Novel, Volume 1 - Young Kim, Adapter

 Thoughts: You're welcome. Is that supposed to be Jacob? Or? Seriously, I never pictured Jacob as that white. Whatever. This makes me so gleeful anyway. Just look at it! They really need to stop making shitty graphic novels out of YA books.

Breaking Dawn (The Twilight Saga #4) - Stephenie Meyer

Thoughts: Apparently two movies means two new movie tie-in covers. The one on the left is a trade paperback which will come out first, followed by the mass market on the right. That child is horrifying, which sounds about right. RPatz has a bit of derp face going.  

Timeless (Transcend Time Saga #3) - Michelle Madow

  Thoughts: Dear indie designers, please remember that simpler is better sometimes. I mean, her dress is awesome. Her hair could use work, sure, but the setting's not too bad. What is bad? That mask that she's flipping out about makes it look like she has a freaking mustache. HOTT.

 Outstanding Cover of the Week: 

Tides by Betsy Cornwell