a critique site for book lovers, hosted by author Jude Hardin
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Pandora's Gift by Jennifer Lynne
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.
Rather dramatic and attention grabbing cover, but I can't say it shows a genre to me which is always a bad thing. Still, there is a good chance I'd take a closer look; the problem with that is that I might not be the target audience. I really don't have a clue what genre it is. Some kind of adventure but science fiction? Thriller? Fantasy? The font seems fantasy-ish to me. I kind of like it in spite of it being hard to read.
So I kind of have mixed feelings on this cover. Need some of our experts to come along and give an opinion. :-)
This is one of the best covers I've seen--it's eye-catching, vibrant, and tells a story in and of itself. The lower titling could have a bit more pop, but otherwise, for me, this rocks.
I do like this cover a lot! I like the hot sweaty look, very sexy, and this says paranormal romance to me loud and clear. Knowing it's a Red Sage book gives it away anyway. :) I really like the grungy font, but it's kinda hard to read. Colors are great, model pose is great, and overall win for fussy me. Yay!
That shirt is not a 'wife-beater' as the construction is too sophisticated on the shoulder,,,it reminds me more of something that might be worn under armor/breastplate. With the typeface of the title, it might be first century.
It's a 'hot' book because of the publisher's name.
The author's name is hard to read, but the colors are vibrant and very distinctive.
Thanks to everyone who has commented thus far. Even though this is one of my traditionally published works and therefore the cover cannot be tweaked/changed, I feel it is extremely valuable to get an understanding of what people see when they look at a cover without all the promotional tools that usually accompany it (blurb etc). I made an assumption that the genre would be obvious, but this hasn't been the case. Definitely food for thought. This experience has taught me that when developing covers for my upcoming indie-pubbed works, the cover needs to stand alone as a promotional tool. Common sense? Yeah, but sometimes you need it spelt out anyway!
P.S. I confess to having palpitations when I read the "wife beater" comment, but then realised it was in reference to the top and not necessarily my hero!
@Jennifer Lynne, sorry, didn't mean to imply the hero was a wife beater, but the origin name of the shirt is very well known (and @Pepper, you're wrong, sorry) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleeveless_shirt
Overall it's not a bad cover, I just nit pick. :) I also think that going indie gives authors a chance to work with artists directly and get much better control over their covers, and thus better market their work. That's a good thing!
I like this cover. It has a dark, dangerous, sexy feel. Actually, I'd like it better if the hero was bare chested. I think the white t-shirt jumps out too much against the red-orange background.
I am late to the party on this cover. Over all I think that the artwork is good. However, I can't tell what genre it belongs to. It give me the sort of "fight club" vibe.
I hate to be the one that always harps on this, but again I find some of the text a bit hard to read. There is a nice red outline with all the letters, I would have suggested to make the outlinie a bit bigger.
Personally, I think the cover is pretty hot and intense. I read the book, so I think it conveys the same feel of the story. My thumbs are up on this book cover!
Hi Robin, that's fine about the comment re his shirt! I'm from Australia and as far as I'm aware it isn't a term used here.
I agree with your comment about more control for indie authors, not only in regards to the cover, but for every aspect of the process.
But regardless of whether the work is traditionally pubbed or indie, I think it is vital to step back every once in a while and get a more objective viewpoint. That's why I like this site, where you can "strip back" the promo to just show the cover, and really get an understanding of what it is people see when they look at it.
I don't like that the title is almost unreadable; I had to concentrate hard on deciphering it. It's just too fancy (clever rather than legible). If I was casually browsing a bookseller's website, I wouldn't be able to red the title. That's a shame, since it's an interesting title.
Regarding the genre, it's hard to pin down. I expect a novel with a lot of action, but not an action novel. The guy on the cover is probably the point of view character. I expect this novel to have strong outer and inner conflicts. It's definitely not a romance, but I expect there's a strong love story element.
Rather dramatic and attention grabbing cover, but I can't say it shows a genre to me which is always a bad thing. Still, there is a good chance I'd take a closer look; the problem with that is that I might not be the target audience. I really don't have a clue what genre it is. Some kind of adventure but science fiction? Thriller? Fantasy? The font seems fantasy-ish to me. I kind of like it in spite of it being hard to read.
ReplyDeleteSo I kind of have mixed feelings on this cover. Need some of our experts to come along and give an opinion. :-)
J.R., who says you aren't an expert! He's a little...greasy... for my taste. The oil and the wife beater aren't that personally appealing for me.
ReplyDeleteThe typeface is too busy for an already busy cover, and it's really difficult to read. The author name gets totally lost on the left and right side.
I do like the color of the cover and the impact of the head on one-eyed gaze (and we get to see his face! Or at least part of it!)
I'm a little confused on genre too. Sci-Fi? But then the typeface is distressed in an "antiqued" kind of way to look like parchment?
Love the wet look! lol Actually, I love dark hair men, and I think he has sexy eyes. Yeah, I'd buy the book on the cover alone!
ReplyDelete~Phyllis~
This is one of the best covers I've seen--it's eye-catching, vibrant, and tells a story in and of itself. The lower titling could have a bit more pop, but otherwise, for me, this rocks.
ReplyDeleteHe has the dark and dangerous bad boy hero look. Sexy and mysterious!
ReplyDeleteLisa Mondello
Http://www.lisamondello.blogspot.com
I do like this cover a lot! I like the hot sweaty look, very sexy, and this says paranormal romance to me loud and clear. Knowing it's a Red Sage book gives it away anyway. :) I really like the grungy font, but it's kinda hard to read. Colors are great, model pose is great, and overall win for fussy me. Yay!
ReplyDeleteThat shirt is not a 'wife-beater' as the construction is too sophisticated on the shoulder,,,it reminds me more of something that might be worn under armor/breastplate. With the typeface of the title, it might be first century.
ReplyDeleteIt's a 'hot' book because of the publisher's name.
The author's name is hard to read, but the colors are vibrant and very distinctive.
Thanks to everyone who has commented thus far. Even though this is one of my traditionally published works and therefore the cover cannot be tweaked/changed, I feel it is extremely valuable to get an understanding of what people see when they look at a cover without all the promotional tools that usually accompany it (blurb etc). I made an assumption that the genre would be obvious, but this hasn't been the case. Definitely food for thought. This experience has taught me that when developing covers for my upcoming indie-pubbed works, the cover needs to stand alone as a promotional tool. Common sense? Yeah, but sometimes you need it spelt out anyway!
ReplyDeleteP.S. I confess to having palpitations when I read the "wife beater" comment, but then realised it was in reference to the top and not necessarily my hero!
Cheers
Jennifer Lynne
I love this cover. Screams hot sexy Alpha male. Certainly makes me want to read the story.
ReplyDelete@Jennifer Lynne, sorry, didn't mean to imply the hero was a wife beater, but the origin name of the shirt is very well known (and @Pepper, you're wrong, sorry) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleeveless_shirt
ReplyDeleteOverall it's not a bad cover, I just nit pick. :) I also think that going indie gives authors a chance to work with artists directly and get much better control over their covers, and thus better market their work. That's a good thing!
I like this cover. It has a dark, dangerous, sexy feel. Actually, I'd like it better if the hero was bare chested. I think the white t-shirt jumps out too much against the red-orange background.
ReplyDeleteI am late to the party on this cover. Over all I think that the artwork is good. However, I can't tell what genre it belongs to. It give me the sort of "fight club" vibe.
ReplyDeleteI hate to be the one that always harps on this, but again I find some of the text a bit hard to read. There is a nice red outline with all the letters, I would have suggested to make the outlinie a bit bigger.
Personally, I think the cover is pretty hot and intense. I read the book, so I think it conveys the same feel of the story. My thumbs are up on this book cover!
ReplyDeleteLove the hot, sweaty look. The author's name is a little lost, but love the colors on the cover.
ReplyDeleteHi Robin, that's fine about the comment re his shirt! I'm from Australia and as far as I'm aware it isn't a term used here.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your comment about more control for indie authors, not only in regards to the cover, but for every aspect of the process.
But regardless of whether the work is traditionally pubbed or indie, I think it is vital to step back every once in a while and get a more objective viewpoint. That's why I like this site, where you can "strip back" the promo to just show the cover, and really get an understanding of what it is people see when they look at it.
Cheers
Jen
I like the intensity of his facial expression.
ReplyDeleteI don't like that the title is almost unreadable; I had to concentrate hard on deciphering it. It's just too fancy (clever rather than legible). If I was casually browsing a bookseller's website, I wouldn't be able to red the title. That's a shame, since it's an interesting title.
Regarding the genre, it's hard to pin down. I expect a novel with a lot of action, but not an action novel. The guy on the cover is probably the point of view character. I expect this novel to have strong outer and inner conflicts.
It's definitely not a romance, but I expect there's a strong love story element.