a critique site for book lovers, hosted by author Jude Hardin
Thursday, November 24, 2011
The Swan Cove Murders by Donna Shields
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.
Love this cover! With the great looking couple romance is brewing, but the stormy background makes me think it is not going to be an easy go of it. Mystery/suspense/paranormal are the genres that come to mind. One I would buy from the cover.
My biggest problem is the text itself. VERY, VERY hard to read. Between the choice of font and having white letters on a white background it just makes it impossible to read.
Honestly I could not read the words "Swan Cove" at all. When I first saw it, I thought that it said "savage cave"
My personal suggestion if the author/publisher doesn't want to change too much is to change all the text to look like the "Murders" text. I think that it would be more effective.
I love the idea for this cover. Very nice composition and all the elements work well together. I think it's the quality of the art itself that's in question, at least for me. The models are quite blurry, as are the waves. The water looks more like clouds instead of the frothy surf i think the artist was trying for. I do love how the water flows around the couple's feet and would like to see that better. The font choice for the author's name is excellent. The title font could be cleaner. I like the idea of a handwritten font, but this one is too hard to read.
My guess is romantic suspense as to genre. I think if this cover was cleaned up and the images more crisp, it would be far a more effective cover.
Awesome cover! I'd definitely grab it just based on the cover alone. I love the gorgeous, untamed, foreboding background. Looks hot, sexy, and tumultuous!
Well the title says mystery and the cover says romance, which seems like a complete disconnect to me. I do read mysteries sometimes. I never read romances. So personally the cover would put me off. Romance readers might or might not mind mystery elements, but shouldn't the cover at least hint that there's a mystery? If there is? Also the font is a little difficult to read.
I seem to be an outlier here but I think the cover should clearly show the genre and I can't tell for sure whether this one does or not. If it really is just a romance, then it's fine. If it's not, then it's a problem
The couple looks a little shortened to me and I agree that the sea looks a little odd. I'd actually be okay with it; I like the angles and the position of the models on one side.
However. I'm with Eric. The typefaces are very, very difficult to read. I never got Swan Cove. I did finally get Swan Cave (from Swan Come, or even "what the heck is that word??). Pretty sure this is Scriptina, which is very popular right now but you have to be super careful with it; sometimes it works but some letter combinations are just unreadable.
I also agree with J.R. that the title (hinting murder mystery) simply does not go with the cover (which looks like romance).
Oh wow. I reeeeally need glasses as I thought it said Swan Cat. Plus, at first glance, I thought it was fog or mist rolling in. Ooops. I really like the composition, and the way the lightning curves over the man's shoulder is way cool. I agree with Robin that the red font is very difficult to read in this case--it'd be almost impossible as a thumbnail of the cover. As for the genre, the cover almost suggests romantic suspense to me. (I'm not a reader of mysteries, so I'm not able to comment on that genre and whether the title fits with the cover.)
Love this cover!
ReplyDeleteWith the great looking couple romance is brewing, but the stormy background makes me think it is not going to be an easy go of it. Mystery/suspense/paranormal are the genres that come to mind. One I would buy from the cover.
BJ SCOTT
This cover is totally hot. I'd pick this book up just based on the cover.
ReplyDeleteWow. Hot. Definately Romantic suspense. This cover would make me buy the book.
ReplyDeleteSusan M
This cover draws me in. Totally love it!
ReplyDeleteA very intresting cover but could be much better.
ReplyDeleteMy biggest problem is the text itself. VERY, VERY hard to read. Between the choice of font and having white letters on a white background it just makes it impossible to read.
Honestly I could not read the words "Swan Cove" at all. When I first saw it, I thought that it said "savage cave"
My personal suggestion if the author/publisher doesn't want to change too much is to change all the text to look like the "Murders" text. I think that it would be more effective.
Great cover. Very sexy. I think it depicts an interesting romance.
ReplyDeleteI love this cover! The storm in the background and the thrashing sea = passion, to me. Full of suspense and intrigue.
ReplyDeleteI'd totally buy this just based on what I can see.
I love the idea for this cover. Very nice composition and all the elements work well together. I think it's the quality of the art itself that's in question, at least for me. The models are quite blurry, as are the waves. The water looks more like clouds instead of the frothy surf i think the artist was trying for. I do love how the water flows around the couple's feet and would like to see that better. The font choice for the author's name is excellent. The title font could be cleaner. I like the idea of a handwritten font, but this one is too hard to read.
ReplyDeleteMy guess is romantic suspense as to genre. I think if this cover was cleaned up and the images more crisp, it would be far a more effective cover.
Awesome cover! I'd definitely grab it just based on the cover alone. I love the gorgeous, untamed, foreboding background. Looks hot, sexy, and tumultuous!
ReplyDeleteSexy & romantic cover--very appealing.
ReplyDeleteWell the title says mystery and the cover says romance, which seems like a complete disconnect to me. I do read mysteries sometimes. I never read romances. So personally the cover would put me off. Romance readers might or might not mind mystery elements, but shouldn't the cover at least hint that there's a mystery? If there is? Also the font is a little difficult to read.
ReplyDeleteI seem to be an outlier here but I think the cover should clearly show the genre and I can't tell for sure whether this one does or not. If it really is just a romance, then it's fine. If it's not, then it's a problem
The couple looks a little shortened to me and I agree that the sea looks a little odd. I'd actually be okay with it; I like the angles and the position of the models on one side.
ReplyDeleteHowever. I'm with Eric. The typefaces are very, very difficult to read. I never got Swan Cove. I did finally get Swan Cave (from Swan Come, or even "what the heck is that word??). Pretty sure this is Scriptina, which is very popular right now but you have to be super careful with it; sometimes it works but some letter combinations are just unreadable.
I also agree with J.R. that the title (hinting murder mystery) simply does not go with the cover (which looks like romance).
Oh wow. I reeeeally need glasses as I thought it said Swan Cat. Plus, at first glance, I thought it was fog or mist rolling in. Ooops. I really like the composition, and the way the lightning curves over the man's shoulder is way cool. I agree with Robin that the red font is very difficult to read in this case--it'd be almost impossible as a thumbnail of the cover. As for the genre, the cover almost suggests romantic suspense to me. (I'm not a reader of mysteries, so I'm not able to comment on that genre and whether the title fits with the cover.)
ReplyDelete