a critique site for book lovers, hosted by author Jude Hardin
Sunday, March 13, 2011
False Colored Eyes by Sean O'Hara
What's the genre? What is it you like or don't like about this cover? Does it make you want to know more about the book? Does it make you want to BUY the book? Discuss.
Beautiful cover. I really love the lettering, with the rune-ish dots. Fantasy for sure. The colors are lovely. In a bookstore I would pick this up - as a thumbnail, its harder to appreciate.
I'm finishing up a novel and decided I should get some practice by publishing short stories first. This is my first cover with Gimp (previous attempts with Paint really, really suck) and I'm open to tips and suggestions. Please, tear it apart.
Her face looks really intriguing, but I'm not sure what is covering part of her face? A moon? As a thumbnail, I'm worried the colors will blur together and made the image harder to see.
The letters are very nice... but almost impossible to see when scaled down. I wouldn't be able to read either your name or the title. I like the style, but they need to pop more.
For theme, the face makes my first guess romance, the castle my second guess fantasy? Is she trapped in the tower and needs to be romantically rescued?
This looked like a gothic romance to me, but I'm not really sure. It wasn't an unattractive cover, but looking at it, I assumed it was not done by a professional cover artist.
The image is stunning, though in a thumbnail it is not as clear. Perhaps a little tweaking of the contrast might improve that. I do like the font though the trade-off of the unique style is some readability is lost... however it almost makes me pause and look closer, and anything that makes a reader look closer is good.
Perhaps moving the title to the top of the cover and increasing the size slightly might be good. Also, I'd lose the 'by'; I don't think it's needed.
Beautiful cover. I really love the lettering, with the rune-ish dots. Fantasy for sure. The colors are lovely. In a bookstore I would pick this up - as a thumbnail, its harder to appreciate.
ReplyDeleteI'm finishing up a novel and decided I should get some practice by publishing short stories first. This is my first cover with Gimp (previous attempts with Paint really, really suck) and I'm open to tips and suggestions. Please, tear it apart.
ReplyDeleteHer face looks really intriguing, but I'm not sure what is covering part of her face? A moon? As a thumbnail, I'm worried the colors will blur together and made the image harder to see.
ReplyDeleteThe letters are very nice... but almost impossible to see when scaled down. I wouldn't be able to read either your name or the title. I like the style, but they need to pop more.
For theme, the face makes my first guess romance, the castle my second guess fantasy? Is she trapped in the tower and needs to be romantically rescued?
Shackled
Cheat
My guess is Fantasy Romance.
ReplyDeleteAs pretty as the font is, I'm not sure it's the right choice for the cover because I can't read it as a thumbnail.
Overall, it's an attractive cover but there is a little something missing from it. Unfortunately, I can't pinpoint what the missing ingredient is...
I would also guess from the artwork that it's fantasy with a bit of romance tossed in. If this is not correct then the cover is wrong.
ReplyDeleteWhile the font looks nice, it doesn't read well. I would strongly suggest pick another.
I like the graphic. The woman's face is beautiful and intriguing. But I agree with the others - the font is hard to read.
ReplyDeleteThis looked like a gothic romance to me, but I'm not really sure. It wasn't an unattractive cover, but looking at it, I assumed it was not done by a professional cover artist.
ReplyDeleteI like the art, not the layout or font.
ReplyDeleteHow about something more like this
The image is stunning, though in a thumbnail it is not as clear. Perhaps a little tweaking of the contrast might improve that. I do like the font though the trade-off of the unique style is some readability is lost... however it almost makes me pause and look closer, and anything that makes a reader look closer is good.
ReplyDeletePerhaps moving the title to the top of the cover and increasing the size slightly might be good. Also, I'd lose the 'by'; I don't think it's needed.
Nathan Lowell's redone cover is a big improvement. I would go with his suggestions.
ReplyDeleteI love Nathan's suggestion. I thought the art is stunning but the font is too busy for me. And lose the "by". It's a sure sign of an amateur cover.
ReplyDelete