a critique site for book lovers, hosted by author Jude Hardin
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Self's Blossom by David Russell
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 really like the beautiful golden light on this cover even if it defies the laws of physics; the sun is setting behind them yet shining full on their bodies from the other side? Um, I don't think so. But the colors are so beautiful I'm actually willing to forgive it. I also like the oversaturated water blue green, it offsets the gold light well.
I'm actually okay with the title. I can read it fine. I'd worry about it just a bit in thumbnail size, especially the right side of his name and the m in "blossom." But the positioning, typface and style is very nice.
Except for one thing, one of my huge pet peeves. The artist used a tic mark (foot mark) instead of a curly quote for the apostrophe. It's a dead give away of an amateur, and the only one I found on the cover. Fix that, and I have very little I can pick at this cover for.
Gorgeous cover art! I love all the elements and how they work together, and the colors are extremely effective. I also noticed how the light source is coming from more than one sun, but this story could be happening on a different planet. I'd guess romance.
Regarding the title, it doesn't really go with the image on the cover. When i see "blossom" i think flower, not beach. It's just a weird juxtaposition of Self + Blossom. I don't get it. And like Robin, I think the foot mark in place of a typographic apostrophe is unprofessional. The kerning is bad, too. The small possessive "s" stands so far apart from "Self" it's like a word all by itself. Fix the typesetting errors and this could be a winning cover.
Erotica/romance. You know, I have finally figured out what makes me so queasy about romance covers. It is the very passive way in which women are invariably shown in them. If the "self" who will "blossom" is the female, there is a very huge disconnect between the title and the art. However, since passive-woman covers apparently sell, take that with a grain of salt.
The weirdness with the shadows being in the wrong places for the light, such as the dark shadow from her leg, rather bugged me. No way that shadow should be there. Not a big deal probably.
Yeah, fix the title and it wouldn't be that bad, probably. I just am not the ideal person to look at this kind of cover because I invariably dislike them. LOL
@J.R., I do not see her as passive. I see her as enjoying herself. It's not like he's tying her down. He's kind of worshiping at her alter the way I look at it.
I'm guessing erotic romance.
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking romance or erotic romance.
ReplyDeleteI really like the beautiful golden light on this cover even if it defies the laws of physics; the sun is setting behind them yet shining full on their bodies from the other side? Um, I don't think so. But the colors are so beautiful I'm actually willing to forgive it. I also like the oversaturated water blue green, it offsets the gold light well.
I'm actually okay with the title. I can read it fine. I'd worry about it just a bit in thumbnail size, especially the right side of his name and the m in "blossom." But the positioning, typface and style is very nice.
Except for one thing, one of my huge pet peeves. The artist used a tic mark (foot mark) instead of a curly quote for the apostrophe. It's a dead give away of an amateur, and the only one I found on the cover. Fix that, and I have very little I can pick at this cover for.
Over all a very good cover. The art work says erotic romance and the text is clean and easy to read.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous cover art! I love all the elements and how they work together, and the colors are extremely effective. I also noticed how the light source is coming from more than one sun, but this story could be happening on a different planet. I'd guess romance.
ReplyDeleteRegarding the title, it doesn't really go with the image on the cover. When i see "blossom" i think flower, not beach. It's just a weird juxtaposition of Self + Blossom. I don't get it. And like Robin, I think the foot mark in place of a typographic apostrophe is unprofessional. The kerning is bad, too. The small possessive "s" stands so far apart from "Self" it's like a word all by itself. Fix the typesetting errors and this could be a winning cover.
@Karen, I so totally missed the kerning error! You are right. It's bad.
ReplyDeleteErotica/romance. You know, I have finally figured out what makes me so queasy about romance covers. It is the very passive way in which women are invariably shown in them. If the "self" who will "blossom" is the female, there is a very huge disconnect between the title and the art. However, since passive-woman covers apparently sell, take that with a grain of salt.
ReplyDeleteThe weirdness with the shadows being in the wrong places for the light, such as the dark shadow from her leg, rather bugged me. No way that shadow should be there. Not a big deal probably.
Yeah, fix the title and it wouldn't be that bad, probably. I just am not the ideal person to look at this kind of cover because I invariably dislike them. LOL
@J.R., I do not see her as passive. I see her as enjoying herself. It's not like he's tying her down. He's kind of worshiping at her alter the way I look at it.
ReplyDelete