a critique site for book lovers, hosted by author Jude Hardin
Friday, August 5, 2011
Wolf Hunt by Sebastian P. Brett
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.
I think the art is really beautiful, and any fiction that involves Nazis is likely to be engrossing if well-written. I'm not sure if the wolf is hunting the Nazis or is working with them, and because the Nazi flag is torn, I'm not sure if the Nazis have been defeated yet. The snowstorm is a nice component also, leading to an appealing shadowiness. I don't like the title font. It looks like typewriter pica, and the letters of the main title are too far apart.
I think this has a lot of potential but for some reason it doesn't jump out at me. I like the graphic with the wolf and the Nazi flag and the figures in the background. But it just doesn't grab me. I think Matt may be right. It could be the way the title is presented. And I don't care for the author's name being in front of the wolf.
I think a little work on the layout could make this much better. Play around with different fonts and sizes, get rid of the black backgrounds on the text, maybe lose the tag line and just go with Wolf Hunt and make it bigger and more pronounced. I don't know...just some ideas.
My first thought seeing this was Nazi Werewolves, but that is just a guess.
I think that the cover can be improved to make it stronger. I would lose the black borders for the title and names. Increase the size of the artwork just a hair to make the wolf and flag bigger. Once it is bigger, shift the artwork a little off center so that wolf is in the lower right hand side. Then make new and much bolder text in the upper right hand side over the storm.
This should grab me and it just doesn't quite. Often the devil is in the details. I agree that the title font and layout doesn't quite work. Try Eric's suggestions. I don't think a lot of changes are required to make this a really winning cover.
I'm having a bit of trouble with the wolf; I think he's supposed to be snarling but he just looks buck toothed to me. There doesn't seem to be a lower jaw. I also think there's a bit too much "white space" around the wolf and flag. I would make the wolf much larger and slide him a bit left, so there is a flow from the right corner of the flat, down to the left and then the wolf's body draws you back to the right again. I'm also not thrilled with the typeface for the title; I like it on the author name. I don't have a problem with the black, but it might look better a bit transparent. Not sure where the yellow color is coming from.
Historical fantasy or alternative history. I say either or because of the Nazi flag waving.
ReplyDeleteI really love the cover, as I have an interest in wolves and in WW2 history.
I may have to check this out...
I think the art is really beautiful, and any fiction that involves Nazis is likely to be engrossing if well-written. I'm not sure if the wolf is hunting the Nazis or is working with them, and because the Nazi flag is torn, I'm not sure if the Nazis have been defeated yet. The snowstorm is a nice component also, leading to an appealing shadowiness. I don't like the title font. It looks like typewriter pica, and the letters of the main title are too far apart.
ReplyDeleteI think this has a lot of potential but for some reason it doesn't jump out at me. I like the graphic with the wolf and the Nazi flag and the figures in the background. But it just doesn't grab me. I think Matt may be right. It could be the way the title is presented. And I don't care for the author's name being in front of the wolf.
ReplyDeleteI think a little work on the layout could make this much better. Play around with different fonts and sizes, get rid of the black backgrounds on the text, maybe lose the tag line and just go with Wolf Hunt and make it bigger and more pronounced. I don't know...just some ideas.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete(Eric -) Finally got my Google account to work.
ReplyDeleteMy first thought seeing this was Nazi Werewolves, but that is just a guess.
I think that the cover can be improved to make it stronger. I would lose the black borders for the title and names. Increase the size of the artwork just a hair to make the wolf and flag bigger. Once it is bigger, shift the artwork a little off center so that wolf is in the lower right hand side. Then make new and much bolder text in the upper right hand side over the storm.
This should grab me and it just doesn't quite. Often the devil is in the details. I agree that the title font and layout doesn't quite work. Try Eric's suggestions. I don't think a lot of changes are required to make this a really winning cover.
ReplyDeleteI'm having a bit of trouble with the wolf; I think he's supposed to be snarling but he just looks buck toothed to me. There doesn't seem to be a lower jaw. I also think there's a bit too much "white space" around the wolf and flag. I would make the wolf much larger and slide him a bit left, so there is a flow from the right corner of the flat, down to the left and then the wolf's body draws you back to the right again. I'm also not thrilled with the typeface for the title; I like it on the author name. I don't have a problem with the black, but it might look better a bit transparent. Not sure where the yellow color is coming from.
ReplyDelete