Welcome to Shelf Candy Saturday!
This is my weekly feature
showcasing beautiful covers!
It also provides information, if available,
on their very talented creators!
For more information
about Shelf Candy Saturday,
simply go HERE.
Here's my choice for this week!
Blackwatch
(Wintercraft, Book 2)
Jenna Burtenshaw
Hardcover, 320 pages
Greenwillow Books
(An imprint of HarperCollins Publishers)
June 26, 2012
(first published April 1, 2011)
Fantasy, Paranormal Fiction,
Young Adult Fiction
My Thoughts About This Cover
week's cover?
Would you buy this book?
Why or why not?
Jenna Burtenshaw
Hardcover, 320 pages
Greenwillow Books
(An imprint of HarperCollins Publishers)
June 26, 2012
(first published April 1, 2011)
Fantasy, Paranormal Fiction,
Young Adult Fiction
My Thoughts About This Cover
This stunning cover gives me an eerie, yet not unpleasant, feeling. I am absolutely in love with it! There's literally magic in the air, as well as an atmosphere of high anticipation. The cloaked figure is striding boldly forward, toward the castle in the distance, as snow softly falls around this person. It's not clear whether this person is male or female, either, but my feminist imagination is sure that it's a very determined female. The book synopsis, found at Goodreads, gives some support to this conclusion.
I love the whole scene -- the woman's billowing, hooded cloak, the way some of its folds are highlighted by the burst of brilliant light to the right of the cover, the fact that the figure is framed by meticulously depicted ruins, the ominous-looking birds flying in the distance, the snow falling...... This is truly a magical cover!
I also love the stylized font used for the title, as well as the frame around it, with its ornate details, and the bricks beneath, which could be part of a castle wall.
The brilliant cover artist is another of my favorite illustrators -- Larry Rostant, who was born in the Caribbean, and later moved to the UK to study graphic design. He's a photographer and digital artist. The dust jacket design is by Sylvie Le Floc'h (yes, this is the actual spelling of her last name), who has designed a lot of YA covers. I believe she's the one who designed the title, as well as the overall layout of the cover.
What do you think of this I love the whole scene -- the woman's billowing, hooded cloak, the way some of its folds are highlighted by the burst of brilliant light to the right of the cover, the fact that the figure is framed by meticulously depicted ruins, the ominous-looking birds flying in the distance, the snow falling...... This is truly a magical cover!
I also love the stylized font used for the title, as well as the frame around it, with its ornate details, and the bricks beneath, which could be part of a castle wall.
The brilliant cover artist is another of my favorite illustrators -- Larry Rostant, who was born in the Caribbean, and later moved to the UK to study graphic design. He's a photographer and digital artist. The dust jacket design is by Sylvie Le Floc'h (yes, this is the actual spelling of her last name), who has designed a lot of YA covers. I believe she's the one who designed the title, as well as the overall layout of the cover.
Online Links
Larry Rostant
Website
Bio
Portfolio
Interview: Fantasy Faction
Sylvie Le Floc'h
Interview: That Cover Girl
Greenwillow Books
Larry Rostant
Website
Bio
Portfolio
Interview: Fantasy Faction
Sylvie Le Floc'h
Interview: That Cover Girl
Greenwillow Books
week's cover?
Would you buy this book?
Why or why not?
This is a great cover Maria.
ReplyDeleteIt seems such dark covers, where black is the predominate color are a rare thing. This is not surprising as such dark colors have such negative connotations and are likely to turn people away.
With that said, this cover works really well. Perhaps part of the reason is that it appears that there is a lot of "brightness" coming through the tunnel plus the snow is bright. The contrast seems perfect.
Hey, Brian!
ReplyDeleteNormally, I, too, would not feel any attraction to a dark cover, but for some reason, as you say, this one works really well! I think you hit the nail right on the head -- the contrast of the dark cloak and right side of the cover, with the bright light the figure is walking toward -- this is what gives this cover such power. It's like the cloaked person (I'm pretty sure it's a young woman) is heading out of the oppressive darkness, and into the light. The birds look ominous, sure, but still, there's hope. Maybe that's why the image, though eerie, doesn't give me any unpleasant feelings. Great point you've made here!
Thanks so much for the thought-provoking comment!! : )