a critique site for book lovers, hosted by author Jude Hardin
Sunday, March 27, 2011
To Dare a Future by David Franklin
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.
This is a very creepy looking cover that says to me straight fiction, urban setting, lots of violence. Maybe the main character trying to escape his life to build something better? The title color is striking, but I'm not sure I like how it crosses the mask. Although I have no suggestions where else to put it. I wouldn't buy this 'cause it's not my thing, but it says a lot.
I can't tell the genre. Urban fiction? The cover doesn't look quite polished enough to be professional to me. I like that the font of the title brings out the green of the guy's eye, but otherwise the font doesn't do much for me. No drop shadow, or something else, makes it look slapdash. Same with the author's name. It's pushed all the way to the left rather than positioned on the left with just a bit of cover space to buffer it.
My main problem with this cover, besides not knowing the genre, is that I don't like looking at it. The guy, or just his mouth, is ugly, so I would flip past this quickly. Honestly, I can't tell if that's just because it's not my genre or if another cover would make me want to read it anyway. Not knowing the genre, it's hard to tell. Sorry.
I actually like it. Yes, it's creepy and a bit ugly but some covers should be. My only criticism does leave the genre open to question. I would guess thriller, but wouldn't be sure. I think either the cover or the title should make that pretty clear. I don't like drop shadows on titles which look a bit cheesy to me, so I can't say I agree with that comment. I'd rethink the title. It doesn't go with the look of the cover.
LOL. This cover is certainly not going to attract fantasy and romance fans! Joking aside, as others have stated it is a bit jarring, which can be perfect if there were a bit more hint where it's going. Is it gritty urban violence or a classic heist? A botched bank robbery or terrorism. Each will attract certain readers and turn away others, yet this cover could be any of the above or something else entirely, and the pure hostility it exudes might hinder many from pausing to look further. The title seems to conflict with the image... dare and future are both motivational-like words, and that image isn't. The font seems to be just missing the mark.
I would be curious to see if the image was enlarged and focused just on the ski-mask and eye, which is striking in itself, and the reworked title then could overlay across the black of the mask as well as some tag-line.
This is a very creepy looking cover that says to me straight fiction, urban setting, lots of violence. Maybe the main character trying to escape his life to build something better? The title color is striking, but I'm not sure I like how it crosses the mask. Although I have no suggestions where else to put it. I wouldn't buy this 'cause it's not my thing, but it says a lot.
ReplyDeleteI can't tell the genre. Urban fiction? The cover doesn't look quite polished enough to be professional to me. I like that the font of the title brings out the green of the guy's eye, but otherwise the font doesn't do much for me. No drop shadow, or something else, makes it look slapdash. Same with the author's name. It's pushed all the way to the left rather than positioned on the left with just a bit of cover space to buffer it.
ReplyDeleteMy main problem with this cover, besides not knowing the genre, is that I don't like looking at it. The guy, or just his mouth, is ugly, so I would flip past this quickly. Honestly, I can't tell if that's just because it's not my genre or if another cover would make me want to read it anyway. Not knowing the genre, it's hard to tell. Sorry.
I actually like it. Yes, it's creepy and a bit ugly but some covers should be. My only criticism does leave the genre open to question. I would guess thriller, but wouldn't be sure. I think either the cover or the title should make that pretty clear. I don't like drop shadows on titles which look a bit cheesy to me, so I can't say I agree with that comment. I'd rethink the title. It doesn't go with the look of the cover.
ReplyDeleteThe cover does get one's attention but it doesn't give much information. There is no information on if this is a Novel, what Genre and so on.
ReplyDeleteIf I had to guess I would say something about terrorism?
LOL. This cover is certainly not going to attract fantasy and romance fans! Joking aside, as others have stated it is a bit jarring, which can be perfect if there were a bit more hint where it's going. Is it gritty urban violence or a classic heist? A botched bank robbery or terrorism. Each will attract certain readers and turn away others, yet this cover could be any of the above or something else entirely, and the pure hostility it exudes might hinder many from pausing to look further. The title seems to conflict with the image... dare and future are both motivational-like words, and that image isn't. The font seems to be just missing the mark.
ReplyDeleteI would be curious to see if the image was enlarged and focused just on the ski-mask and eye, which is striking in itself, and the reworked title then could overlay across the black of the mask as well as some tag-line.