Welcome to Shelf Candy Saturday!
***Late Edition***
This is my weekly feature
showcasing beautiful covers!
It also provides information,
if available, on their
very talented creators!
This week, I'm also linking up
to Sci-Fi Month!!
This is an exciting event, hosted by
if available, on their
very talented creators!
This week, I'm also linking up
to Sci-Fi Month!!
This is an exciting event, hosted by
Lisa @ Dear Geek Place
and imyril @ onemore.org!!
For more information, and to
join in, please refer
to my Announcement Post
for this event!!
For more information, and to
join in, please refer
to my Announcement Post
for this event!!
Here's my choice for this week!
Electric Gardens
(Electric World, Book 1)
M. Black
Trade Paperback, 277 pages
Creativia
March 24, 2018
Dystopia, Fantasy,
Science Fiction
Young Adult Fiction
(Electric World, Book 1)
M. Black
Trade Paperback, 277 pages
Creativia
March 24, 2018
Dystopia, Fantasy,
Science Fiction
Young Adult Fiction
My Thoughts About This Cover
This cover totally fits the theme of its title! The entire image is full of crackling energy, not only from the sharp, ice-blue patterns of light that are reflected in the cracked glass, but also from the young woman's defiant stare.
Even if I had not known beforehand, I would have guessed that this is a dystopian novel. The young woman seems to be a prisoner who has managed to break free, but apparently, has been caught in the act. Either that, or she is being observed by someone whom she is trying to put into the category of friend or foe.
I love how the pattern of light on the cracked glass effectively frames the young woman's figure, how the cover artist has made the viewer focus on her, to the exclusion of all else.
I also love how her weapon, which is some sort of crossbow rifle, is pointed upward, thus leading the eye to the title, which is done in an appropriately "electric" font. The illusion of metal on what would otherwise have been a very boring font is quite effective!
Additionally, it seems to me that the cracked glass is a metaphor for a futuristic society that has started to fall apart; the facade of a perfect state of affairs has, in fact, cracked. So, this young woman is quite possibly one of the first rebels. Oh, I LOVE that!!
When I opened the Amazon preview for this book and went to the Copyright page, the only name I saw for the cover art was "Cover Mint". I then went to Google and searched, coming up with a website for an e-book design company -- Cover Mint Design. The cover artist is also the owner of this company. He is Dan Van Oss, a graphic designer based in Solon, Iowa, USA. He specializes in covers for science fiction, fantasy, and thrillers, and is also an author himself. This cover is absolutely brilliant, and Mr. Van Oss has a very impressive portfolio. How interesting that he's also an author!
Even if I had not known beforehand, I would have guessed that this is a dystopian novel. The young woman seems to be a prisoner who has managed to break free, but apparently, has been caught in the act. Either that, or she is being observed by someone whom she is trying to put into the category of friend or foe.
I love how the pattern of light on the cracked glass effectively frames the young woman's figure, how the cover artist has made the viewer focus on her, to the exclusion of all else.
I also love how her weapon, which is some sort of crossbow rifle, is pointed upward, thus leading the eye to the title, which is done in an appropriately "electric" font. The illusion of metal on what would otherwise have been a very boring font is quite effective!
Additionally, it seems to me that the cracked glass is a metaphor for a futuristic society that has started to fall apart; the facade of a perfect state of affairs has, in fact, cracked. So, this young woman is quite possibly one of the first rebels. Oh, I LOVE that!!
When I opened the Amazon preview for this book and went to the Copyright page, the only name I saw for the cover art was "Cover Mint". I then went to Google and searched, coming up with a website for an e-book design company -- Cover Mint Design. The cover artist is also the owner of this company. He is Dan Van Oss, a graphic designer based in Solon, Iowa, USA. He specializes in covers for science fiction, fantasy, and thrillers, and is also an author himself. This cover is absolutely brilliant, and Mr. Van Oss has a very impressive portfolio. How interesting that he's also an author!
Online Links
What do you think of
this week's cover?
Please leave a comment
and let me know!
this week's cover?
Please leave a comment
and let me know!
She doesn't look like the sort of person you'd want to mess around with, does she? ;-)
ReplyDeleteHi, Sue!
DeleteOh, most definitely NOT! Especially with that wicked looking weapon!! Lol.
I'm really looking forward to reading this novel!
Thanks for commenting!! <3 :)
I think that this is a very good cover for the reasons that you mentioned Maria. You raise a good point about the cracking perhaps symbolizing what is happening in society within the plot. I also like the way blue is used here. The only thing is that I wish that the end of the weapon looked a little clearer. The blackground in that part of the picture obscures it. For me, this detracts from the entire picture a bit.
ReplyDeleteHi, Brian!
ReplyDeleteGlad you agree! :)
I do think that the cracking is definitely symbolic of what's going on in this novel. This world sounds like a nightmare, with machines controlling everything. So I think that, if the artist's intention was to allude to that, it was very astute of him!
Now that you've mentioned the blue, OMG, I LOVE the shade of this color used on the cover!! It goes quite well with my blog, don't you think? Lol.
I think you've made a good observation about the tip of the weapon. It does look a bit unclear. Not sure why Van Oss didn't define it more clearly. However, in my opinion, it doesn't really detract from the total look of the cover. Those cracks have my eyes roving all over the image! Plus, the girl's defiant glare also makes me focus on her. I'm already rooting for her!
Thanks for the great observations! <3 :)
I'm always a sucker for great sci fi covers and I really like this one. Thank you for sharing this one - I love the protagonist's gutsy attitude on the cover:))
ReplyDelete