a critique site for book lovers, hosted by author Jude Hardin
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Hand of Glory by Deanna Knippling
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'm scratching my head on this one. The font and x-ray gives me a gritty horror feel and yet the coloful modern technology icons have a happy feel too them.
I do not have a clue what the genre or topic of the book is about. I should point out that this is not a good thing. The cover art is the first form of promotion that the book normally has, it must get the audiance attention and tell them what it is about.
I think that everyone will agree that confusing your audiance will reslut in lower book sales.
I hope that the author and graphic desinger don't take this personally, but this misses the mark and needs to be rethought and reworked.
Well, I like that it's attention getting and has a different look to it. It looks like horror (maybe techno-horror?). The dark background and skeletal hand certainly give a dark look.
I didn't get a happy feel from the "runny" font of the title at all. I have to completely disagree with Eric on this one. If I were a horror fan (I admit I'm not) I would definitely take a look at this one.
Oh, sorry Eric. Not enough coffee, I see you were talking about the icons rather than the font. My bad. I think those are meant to tie into a techno-type feel. I didn't really feel they came off as happy.
I like the grunge font for the title a lot. It's eye-catching, bold, and easy to read, and it strongly suggests the genre - contemporary urban thriller.
I'm less keen on the illustration, which doesn't quite go with it. The skeleton suggests horror - either traditional horror, or (because of the X-ray look) medical horror.
What are those coloured bits balanced on the fingertips? I can't work them out. Out-sized plastic models of precious stones? Wrapped chocolates?
The Hand of Glory in witchcraft is a candle made from a human hand that belonged to a person who committed a crime and was executed. That's the literal definition. So what it has to do with old fashioned television sets with antennaes, cell phones, laptops, computer games from the 90s and headphones is considerably disparate. I have no idea what this genre is. Retro Techno Horror perhaps? Interesting, but too confusing to compel me to read the book.
I do like the font. It's big and bold and eye-catching.
Now I've read the other comments and know what those coloured things are meant to be. When the cover is viewed at full size, it's quite clear. But when viewed at thumbnail size (especially on my netbook monitor) they really look like wrapped chocolates. :-D
Okay everybody prepare to faint; I am not going to be as negative about the cover as some, because I actually think it looks really cool. I got the hand of glory reference at once. I like the title typeface. I don't think the tech icons look "happy" because of their colors.
Techno-horror genre maybe?
Anyway, I think that visually this cover is quite strong and I would absolutely pick it up to read the blurb based on the cover.
I like the cover very much. It looks like a thriller/suspense novel to me. Also looks like a techno-thriller. I hope it's a murder suspense... What I like most about it is the large, dripping name of the book. The small media images might have been made a bit larger; it took me a minute to figure them out. But, without any further knowledge of the book's "glory hand" meaning, it would make me turn the book over to read what it's about. I agree that it's a strong cover with likeablity. Deborah/TheBookishDame
Thanks for all the comments, both positive and critical--useful, all.
The story behind it is this: I like to bug artists/graphic designers for cover material to inspire me on a short story project now and then. The artist, Zachary Lin, had never done an ebook cover before. He provided the hand, and I riffed off it: the story is a crime/modern noir story about a MMORPG player who apparently kills himself, as investigated by his younger sister.
After I wrote the story, Zachary turned the image into a cover for a truly collaborative effort.
Suggestions on how to make that more clear are welcome :)
I'm scratching my head on this one. The font and x-ray gives me a gritty horror feel and yet the coloful modern technology icons have a happy feel too them.
ReplyDeleteI do not have a clue what the genre or topic of the book is about. I should point out that this is not a good thing. The cover art is the first form of promotion that the book normally has, it must get the audiance attention and tell them what it is about.
I think that everyone will agree that confusing your audiance will reslut in lower book sales.
I hope that the author and graphic desinger don't take this personally, but this misses the mark and needs to be rethought and reworked.
Well, I like that it's attention getting and has a different look to it. It looks like horror (maybe techno-horror?). The dark background and skeletal hand certainly give a dark look.
ReplyDeleteI didn't get a happy feel from the "runny" font of the title at all. I have to completely disagree with Eric on this one. If I were a horror fan (I admit I'm not) I would definitely take a look at this one.
Oh, sorry Eric. Not enough coffee, I see you were talking about the icons rather than the font. My bad. I think those are meant to tie into a techno-type feel. I didn't really feel they came off as happy.
ReplyDeleteI like the grunge font for the title a lot. It's eye-catching, bold, and easy to read, and it strongly suggests the genre - contemporary urban thriller.
ReplyDeleteI'm less keen on the illustration, which doesn't quite go with it. The skeleton suggests horror - either traditional horror, or (because of the X-ray look) medical horror.
What are those coloured bits balanced on the fingertips? I can't work them out. Out-sized plastic models of precious stones? Wrapped chocolates?
I confess I'm at a loss.
The Hand of Glory in witchcraft is a candle made from a human hand that belonged to a person who committed a crime and was executed. That's the literal definition. So what it has to do with old fashioned television sets with antennaes, cell phones, laptops, computer games from the 90s and headphones is considerably disparate. I have no idea what this genre is. Retro Techno Horror perhaps? Interesting, but too confusing to compel me to read the book.
ReplyDeleteI do like the font. It's big and bold and eye-catching.
Now I've read the other comments and know what those coloured things are meant to be. When the cover is viewed at full size, it's quite clear. But when viewed at thumbnail size (especially on my netbook monitor) they really look like wrapped chocolates. :-D
ReplyDeleteOkay everybody prepare to faint; I am not going to be as negative about the cover as some, because I actually think it looks really cool. I got the hand of glory reference at once. I like the title typeface. I don't think the tech icons look "happy" because of their colors.
ReplyDeleteTechno-horror genre maybe?
Anyway, I think that visually this cover is quite strong and I would absolutely pick it up to read the blurb based on the cover.
I agree with Robin. One of the coolest looking covers I've seen in a while.
ReplyDeleteI like the cover very much. It looks like a thriller/suspense novel to me. Also looks like a techno-thriller. I hope it's a murder suspense... What I like most about it is the large, dripping name of the book. The small media images might have been made a bit larger; it took me a minute to figure them out. But, without any further knowledge of the book's "glory hand" meaning, it would make me turn the book over to read what it's about.
ReplyDeleteI agree that it's a strong cover with likeablity.
Deborah/TheBookishDame
Thanks for all the comments, both positive and critical--useful, all.
ReplyDeleteThe story behind it is this: I like to bug artists/graphic designers for cover material to inspire me on a short story project now and then. The artist, Zachary Lin, had never done an ebook cover before. He provided the hand, and I riffed off it: the story is a crime/modern noir story about a MMORPG player who apparently kills himself, as investigated by his younger sister.
After I wrote the story, Zachary turned the image into a cover for a truly collaborative effort.
Suggestions on how to make that more clear are welcome :)
Place one techno image muted in the background behind the skeleton hand and curl the hand up on its side? Otherwise, I love the cover.
ReplyDelete