a critique site for book lovers, hosted by author Jude Hardin
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Connected by Jolyn Palliata
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.
Thank you, Jo!! And I totally agree with you about the "novella" part. To make sure people were aware of what they are buying, I put a note in the book description that it was a novella and exactly how long it is. :) Thanks for the feedback!
Several things I like about this cover. It is soft but eye-catching colors, there is a supernatural feel to both the artwork and the fonts and I appreciate that it states right up front that it is a novella. With that one statement, "in death, he found the love of his life," it shows that there will be a romance and some serious obstacles to overcome. I give it a thumbs up!
Hi Stephanie! He's a spirit, so it's supposed to look...spiritual? (without the religious aspect) :) The glow is his aura in the afterlife, but I suppose it does look sorta like sci-fi, doesn't it? Hmmm...
Thank you, Elysa! I was hoping the colors would grab readers attention, especially when they may be seeing it as a itty-bitty thumbnail on their computer screen. :)
I love this cover. There's a supernatural feel to it. The choice of colors and the otherworldly-ness of the image is very eye-catching. Definitely intrigues me and makes me want to read the book.
Hmmmmm. I am going to differ a bit. I think this cover has some good points but could be improved.
I like the artwork and color scheme, and it looks like a Sci-fi book. Yet the blurb of "in death he found the love of his life" seems romancey; and the cover art does not portray romance at all.
The typefaces do not match the artwork. One looks like my overused friend Papyrus, the other is a traditional looking serif; perhaps not the dreaded Times Roman, but not futuristic at all. And the text treatment is kind of amateur looking. I also don't like the placement of the blurb, it throws the entire cover off weight and balance.
I think with different typeface treatment and more clarity of genre this could be a nice cover.
Wow, Robin...you're good! (I can't believe you knew all the fonts!) A sincere thank you for your feedback. I can see all of your points. You definitely gave me something to think about.
I think the colors are beautiful and eye-catching, but from the artwork, I would guess this book is Sci-Fi, perhaps with religious overtones - a man with outstretched arms, surrounded by glowing light, is rather Christ-like.
If I hadn't read the tag line, I wouldn't know this was PNR romance. I love PNR romance, but I wouldn't have clicked on a thumbnail of this cover, because it doesn't look like a romance.
Keep the burst of light, but shift it out of the dead center. Find a stock image of a hot guy and fade him out so he looks ghostly, and center him on the light. Then use the tag line to balance the cover... but don't use Papyrus. Or, if you have Photoshop, it would be relatively easy (and I think it would look cool) to use a picture of a couple, isolate the man and fade him out.
I think you've got a really nice base here, but it's not reading as the intended genre.
This cover catches my eye. The dark/light contrast and the colour scheme are attention-getters.
The title and byline are easy to read.
One aspect which doesn't quite work for me is the quantity of text. If this is a print book, to be sold mostly in brick&mortar stores where potential customers view it in full size, it's fine.
But if it's an e-book, or a print book sold online where potential customers see it in thumbnail size, the tagline 'In death...' isn't readable. And anything which can't be read at thumbnail size is best left out.
The tagline might be better in the book's blurb than on the cover. This would make room to make the other elements bigger, and would increase their effectiveness.
I'd guess spiritual SF, or metaphysical. Futuristic most definitely. I like the colors and aura and rings of light, but the Papyrus font is off the mark. Fix that and i think this cover will work. :)
Overall, this is a very good cover! I like the balance of everything. The fonts don't bother me because they don't distract me, personally.
My initial reaction, and what still turns me off is the Christlike image of the man and the strand of light which ends up looking like it's attached to his crotch! Oh, no! LOL I think a better guy image would work for you. Also, the image seems small in relationship to the whole.
Without your note, I wouldn't see this as a romance, but a SF novel. Good that you identify it as a novella.
I really like this cover and it makes me want to know more about the story. I would guess supernatural or scifi. It suggests "going into the light."
ReplyDeleteI think the author's name should always be larger than the title, however, because he/she's branding herself, not the book.
Some folks might be put off by missing the teeny tiny "novella" and assume they're getting a full-blown novel.
Thank you, Jo!! And I totally agree with you about the "novella" part. To make sure people were aware of what they are buying, I put a note in the book description that it was a novella and exactly how long it is. :) Thanks for the feedback!
ReplyDeleteSeveral things I like about this cover. It is soft but eye-catching colors, there is a supernatural feel to both the artwork and the fonts and I appreciate that it states right up front that it is a novella. With that one statement, "in death, he found the love of his life," it shows that there will be a romance and some serious obstacles to overcome. I give it a thumbs up!
ReplyDeleteI'm assuming this is a paranormal, futuristic book - I like the cover. I love the colors.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your input, PJ and Renee. :) *whispers* And it's PNR...so everyone has been right on the money. :)
ReplyDeleteDramatic and eye-catching with that fiery glow--Love it! Is it supposed to look sci-fi?
ReplyDeleteHi Stephanie! He's a spirit, so it's supposed to look...spiritual? (without the religious aspect) :) The glow is his aura in the afterlife, but I suppose it does look sorta like sci-fi, doesn't it? Hmmm...
ReplyDeleteGreat cover! I like the colors and otherworldly look. I'm not familiar with The Twists of Fate series, but this cover interests me.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Elysa! I was hoping the colors would grab readers attention, especially when they may be seeing it as a itty-bitty thumbnail on their computer screen. :)
ReplyDeleteI love this cover. There's a supernatural feel to it. The choice of colors and the otherworldly-ness of the image is very eye-catching. Definitely intrigues me and makes me want to read the book.
ReplyDeletePerfect!! Thanks, K.E.! :)
ReplyDeleteHmmmmm. I am going to differ a bit. I think this cover has some good points but could be improved.
ReplyDeleteI like the artwork and color scheme, and it looks like a Sci-fi book. Yet the blurb of "in death he found the love of his life" seems romancey; and the cover art does not portray romance at all.
The typefaces do not match the artwork. One looks like my overused friend Papyrus, the other is a traditional looking serif; perhaps not the dreaded Times Roman, but not futuristic at all. And the text treatment is kind of amateur looking. I also don't like the placement of the blurb, it throws the entire cover off weight and balance.
I think with different typeface treatment and more clarity of genre this could be a nice cover.
Wow, Robin...you're good! (I can't believe you knew all the fonts!) A sincere thank you for your feedback. I can see all of your points. You definitely gave me something to think about.
ReplyDeleteI think the colors are beautiful and eye-catching, but from the artwork, I would guess this book is Sci-Fi, perhaps with religious overtones - a man with outstretched arms, surrounded by glowing light, is rather Christ-like.
ReplyDeleteIf I hadn't read the tag line, I wouldn't know this was PNR romance. I love PNR romance, but I wouldn't have clicked on a thumbnail of this cover, because it doesn't look like a romance.
Keep the burst of light, but shift it out of the dead center. Find a stock image of a hot guy and fade him out so he looks ghostly, and center him on the light. Then use the tag line to balance the cover... but don't use Papyrus. Or, if you have Photoshop, it would be relatively easy (and I think it would look cool) to use a picture of a couple, isolate the man and fade him out.
I think you've got a really nice base here, but it's not reading as the intended genre.
Thank you, Sara! I LOVE your suggestions...and it's all stuff I think I can do (from a skill-level perspective). Thanks for the feedback!!
ReplyDeleteThis cover catches my eye. The dark/light contrast and the colour scheme are attention-getters.
ReplyDeleteThe title and byline are easy to read.
One aspect which doesn't quite work for me is the quantity of text. If this is a print book, to be sold mostly in brick&mortar stores where potential customers view it in full size, it's fine.
But if it's an e-book, or a print book sold online where potential customers see it in thumbnail size, the tagline 'In death...' isn't readable. And anything which can't be read at thumbnail size is best left out.
The tagline might be better in the book's blurb than on the cover. This would make room to make the other elements bigger, and would increase their effectiveness.
Just my opinion. Rayne
I thought this was very well done. I have it on my Kindle. So the cover, along with an excerpt, worked for me!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the feedback, Rayne! I appreciate you taking the time. And yes...it is hard to read as a thumbnail - I agree. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Edie!! I'm glad you liked it so much. I does look better on an eReader rather than a little bitty thumbnail. :) Thanks for the feedback!
ReplyDeleteI'd guess spiritual SF, or metaphysical. Futuristic most definitely. I like the colors and aura and rings of light, but the Papyrus font is off the mark. Fix that and i think this cover will work. :)
ReplyDeleteOverall, this is a very good cover! I like the balance of everything. The fonts don't bother me because they don't distract me, personally.
ReplyDeleteMy initial reaction, and what still turns me off is the Christlike image of the man and the strand of light which ends up looking like it's attached to his crotch! Oh, no! LOL
I think a better guy image would work for you. Also, the image seems small in relationship to the whole.
Without your note, I wouldn't see this as a romance, but a SF novel. Good that you identify it as a novella.
@Deb, come to think of it, that does indeed look like a magical fart...
ReplyDeleteI get busy for the holidays and can't check in... so what is the first thing I see is "Magical Fart". This is such a high class blog ;-)
ReplyDeleteOverall I think that the cover is very eye catching. I would guess that it's more paranormal than SF.
I also like the fact that it says "novella" on the cover so people know what they are buying.
@Eric, I strive to impress at all times. Highbrow. That's me. :)
ReplyDelete