Saturday, August 18, 2018

Shelf Candy Saturday No. 258: Suitors and Sabotage, by Cindy Astey



Welcome to Shelf Candy Saturday!



This is my weekly feature
showcasing beautiful covers!
It also provides information, 
if available, on their 
very talented creators!



Here's my choice for this week!



Suitors and Sabotage
Cindy Anstey
Hardcover, 336  pages
Swoon Reads
April 17, 2018
Art, Historical Fiction, Mystery,
Romance, Suspense,
Young Adult Fiction

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34499243-suitors-and-sabotage?ac=1&from_search=true





My Thoughts About This Cover

Here is another GORGEOUS cover in which typography is one of the important design elements, although not the only one, of course. And I LOVE everything about this cover! It's obviously a Regency romance, in the vein of Jane Austen's novels, although mystery and suspense are also included in the plot. What I think is most noticeable, though, is the romance element, due to the beautiful silhouettes. 

I ADORE all of that ornamental scrollwork all over this cover! Those swirls lead the eye everywhere, and one takes in not only the couple at the bottom of the cover, but also the nicely framed title, done in a typical, and very lovely, 19th-century font, as well as the horse and carriage at the top left, and the mansion at the very top and center. 

I would never have imagined that I would actually love a cover done in such muted colors, as I usually gravitate to those with bright ones. However, these work very well here! And I especially like how the title stands out, because it's been done in white, with the caps in light gray. Such a nice touch!

Another design element I like is how the author's name, as well as the light "cover chatter", have been so well incorporated into the overall design. In no way do they distract from it! 

The creator of this AWESOME cover design is Eileen Savage, the Senior Designer at Penguin Random House, for the Young Readers division. She is, of course, based in NYC, as that's where this publisher is located.

Savage obtained her B.F.A. (Bachelor of Fine Arts) in Communications Design in 2011, from Syracuse University, located in the city of Syracuse, in the state of New York, USA. 

She has previously worked with the Penguin Group USA, Viking Children's Books, and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, all based in NYC.

I think that, lately, I've begun to notice more covers that highlight typography in their designs. So I will definitely be featuring more of them!




Online Links




What do you think of 
this week's cover?
Please leave a comment
and let me know!








8 comments:

  1. I agree that this is a super cover. I like be the background color. I have also come to really like scrollwork. There is something old fashioned about it. But it adds a sense of grace and dignity to a picture. Gold is of course the perfect color for it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Brian!

      I'm glad you love this cover, too!! :)

      I like the background color, as well as the gold. They work very well together, even though they are rather somber. And the light gray in the title is silvery. What a nice contrast!

      Oh, I TOTALLY LOVE scrollwork on covers!! I didn't use to notice it that much in the past, but I think that might be because it's become much more prevalent in recent years. However, I also think I've developed a real taste for it.

      Thanks for the interesting comment! Hope you're having a nice Sunday!! <3 :)

      Delete
  2. I love this cover so much, Maria! I feel like these kind of colors, especially the gold doesn't get used much in cover design. I definitely want to see more of that in future covers. Also, the other covers in this series (although it's not really a series but more like the same kind of books xD) are also really nice. I haven't read this book or the others yet but I obviously want to. I don't come across YA historical books much so :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Steph!

      I'm SO glad you love this cover, too!! <3 <3

      You're right -- these colors are not that common on book covers. They sure look great on this one! And, like you, I would really enjoy seeing these colors used much more frequently on covers. They have such an elegant feel!

      I'll be checking out the other books you've mentioned. And I will probably be featuring them here on "Shelf Candy Saturday", too! Thanks for mentioning them!! :) :)

      You're right -- historical YA fiction is not that common. I do wish there were more of it! So of course we can't pass it up, when it does show up on the literary horizon! :)

      Thanks for the lovely comment!! Hope you're having a nice evening! I think it's almost bedtime in Belgium now, right? :) HUGS!!! <3 <3 <3 :) :) :)

      Delete
  3. It is a rather stately cover. And you know what, I've actually read the first one in this series - imagine that! Hope all is well on your end and I just dropped you an email via Goodreads!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Barb!

      Yes, it's very much in keeping with the time period of the plot -- the Regency period, which I totally ADORE!! :)

      Oh, you've read the first one? Yeah, imagine that! LOL. Wish I could the same..... :(

      All is well in this SWELTERING little corner of the world! SO HAPPY that someone invented air conditioning! Gotta google who it was! Lol.

      Oh, you sent me an email on Goodreads? I'll go over and check it out!

      Thanks for the comment!! HUGS TO YOU AND THE BOYS, AND "WOOF, WOOF" TO THEM!! <3 <3 <3 :) :) :)

      Delete
  4. I really love this cover, Maria! You're right, the typography is particularly striking - how refreshing that time and attention was lavished over the title and author. And the rest of the design works beautifully - it's all of a piece:).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Sarah!

      I'm so glad you love this cover, too!! :) :)

      Yes, the typography is, as you say, particularly striking! And I agree about the attention given to the title and author's name. The whole design is just AWESOME, and very eye catching! Plus, you're right -- the whole thing is very harmoniously put together!

      Thanks for the lovely comment!! HUGS!! <3 <3 <3 :) :) :)

      Delete

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