I’ve done several pale/light covers, so it’s time for some darker ones. This one is very dark, very chthulic, with a hint of the ridiculous. The black/green color scheme works fine, though the red scarf seems a bit amorphous, the…
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Cover Art Critique
Tagged with: amreading, art, author, authorlife, book cover, books, bookstagram, booktok, cover art, critique, dark fantasy, fantasy, illustration, loathsome voyages, mustread, skullgate
Posted in Art, Writing
Posted in Art, Writing
Cover Art Critique
This cover has an intriguing mix of figurative illustration, graphic effect, and a very strong iconography. The bar on the right reminds me of some of the classic novels from the 1960s, as does the font. The upward slant of…
Tagged with: amreading, art, author, authorlife, book cover, books, bookstagram, booktok, cover art, critique, dark fantasy, fantasy, hummingbird salamander, illustration, jeff vandermeer, mustread
Posted in Art, Writing
Posted in Art, Writing
Cover Art Critiques
Normally, this would be way too many colors for me. However, this totally works for this cover. The overall night theme and dark blue ties it together, and since this is a fairy tell retelling based on a Chinese story,…
Tagged with: amreading, art, author, authorlife, book cover, books, bookstagram, booktok, cover art, critique, dark fantasy, daughter of the moon goddess, fairy tale, fantasy, illustration, mustread, sue lynn tan
Posted in Art, Writing
Posted in Art, Writing
Cover Art Critique
A Rorschach test blob wouldn’t be my first choice for a cover. However, this one is rather intriguing, and I can see the possibilities. After all, why settle for just one, precise image, when you could effectively have dozens of…
Tagged with: a history of wild places, amreading, art, author, authorlife, book cover, books, bookstagram, booktok, cover art, critique, dark fantasy, fantasy, illustration, mustread, shea enrshaw
Posted in Art, Writing
Posted in Art, Writing
Cover Art Critique
This one has a lot going on but it does so without being obtrusive. The limited color scheme and the mix between illustrative and pictorial aspects works. The upside down blood building is a little confusing, but I think it…
Tagged with: amreading, art, author, book cover, books, bookstagram, booktok, cover art, critique, crossing acheron, fantasy, illustration, k r wolfe, mustread
Posted in Art, Writing
Posted in Art, Writing
Cover Art Critique
This is an unusual color scheme for a figured cover, but it works. The cool blue informs something creepy and mysterious, even though it’s bright and easy to see. The Victorian house in the background tells me it might be…
Tagged with: amreading, art, author, authorlife, book cover, books, bookstagram, booktok, cover art, critique, dark fantasy, fantasy, finding emmaline, illustration, j r byers, mustread
Posted in Art, Writing
Posted in Art, Writing
Cover Art Critique
This is an amazing cover. I adore the illustration, and the subtle puzzle pattern adds questions and intrigue. The color scheme is soft and pleasing, and the unique font, while still perfectly legible, is amazing. I’m a huge fan of…
Tagged with: amreading, art, author, authorlife, book cover, books, bookstagram, booktok, cover art, critique, dark fantasy, fantasy, illustration, mustread, red shoes, satyros phil brucato, urban fantasy
Posted in Art, Writing
Posted in Art, Writing
Book Cover Critique
Limited color scheme? Check. Strong imagery? Check. Atmosphere in the artwork? Check. The only thing I don’t really care for is the red spider symbol. I think it could be better integrated with the background cover art, or placed somewhere…
Tagged with: amreading, art, author, authorlife, book cover, books, bookstagram, booktok, cover art, critique, dark fantasy, fantasy, illustration, mary flint, mustread, red star
Posted in Art, Writing
Posted in Art, Writing
Book Cover Critique
With any fantasy cover, there’s always the urge to put too much on the cover. You’re trying to define an entire world, after all. However, with just a few iconic images, you can offer a hint of the world-building without…
Tagged with: amreading, art, author, authorlife, book cover, books, bookstagram, booktok, cover art, critique, dark fantasy, fantasy, illustration, mustread, richard swan, the justice of kings
Posted in Art, Writing
Posted in Art, Writing
Come vote for Taming of the Few!
The cover art for my urban fantasy novel, Taming of the Few, is in the Crème de la Cover Contest at InD’Tale Magazine! CLICK HERE TO VOTE TODAY!!! The contest runs all week until Saturday, July 30th at 5pm PST. You…
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Cover art critique
Sometimes dragons, magical lights, and fantasy iconography aren’t the right choice. But visual drama always works. This book is simple, almost non-fiction in it’s feel. But it does spell out (literally) that it’s a novel. The simple white figurines with…
Tagged with: amreading, art, author, authorlife, book cover, books, bookstagram, booktok, cover art, critique, fantasy, illustration, john scalzi, lock in, mustread, thriller
Posted in Art, Writing
Posted in Art, Writing
Cover Art Critique
This is another haunting cover. I am loving this simple, evocative image. While the overall color scheme is pale, bright, it’s still obviously a dark and poignant story. The hint of handwriting in the background implies letters, correspondence, something nostalgic,…
Tagged with: amreading, art, author, authorlife, book cover, books, bookstagram, booktok, cover art, critique, dark fantasy, fantasy, illustration, mason sabre, mustread, watch over you
Posted in Art, Writing
Posted in Art, Writing
Cover Art Critique
This is some amazingly strong work. And while her armor isn’t quite practical, at least it’s better than a lot of ‘women’s armor’ you see in illustrations, made only for the male gaze and not actually any protective qualities. The…
Tagged with: amreading, art, author, authorlife, book cover, books, bookstagram, booktok, cover art, critique, dark fantasy, daylights damnation, fantasy, illustration, julian soriano, mustread
Posted in Art, Writing
Posted in Art, Writing
JUNE BOOKBUBGIVEAWAY
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Tagged with: amazon gift card, author, bookbub, books, contest, enter, fantasy, free, giveaway, new author, new read, summer reads, urban fantasy, writing
Posted in Writing
Posted in Writing
Cover Art Critiques
This doesn’t look like your typical ‘hard science fiction’ cover, but I love it. It has that lovely limited color palette, and while the silhouettes don’t offer much detail, we don’t need much detail. We know there’s an ensemble cast,…
Tagged with: amreading, art, author, authorlife, book cover, books, bookstagram, booktok, cover art, critique, dark fantasy, fantasy, illustration, mary robinette kowal, mustread, science fiction, the calculating stars, ya adventure
Posted in Art, Writing
Posted in Art, Writing
Book cover critique
This book cover is outside my normal area of genre, but it’s intriguing and well-crafted. I normally go for fantasy, historical fiction, or some adjacent genre, and this is cozy historical mystery. So, sort of adjacent, I suppose. The image…
Tagged with: amreading, art, author, authorlife, book cover, books, bookstagram, booktok, cover art, critique, dark fantasy, fantasy, illustration, mustread, the grain merchant, zara altair
Posted in Art, Writing
Posted in Art, Writing
Cover Art Critiques
Simple doesn’t have to mean boring. This cover uses that famous limited color pallete and an intriguing icon symbol with appropriate fonts to create an intriguing, strong cover. Now, I think the gilt on the edge frame and the title…
Tagged with: amreading, art, author, authorlife, book cover, books, bookstagram, booktok, cover art, critique, dark fantasy, fantasy, illustration, m h woodscourt, mustread, prince of the fallen
Posted in Art, Writing
Posted in Art, Writing
Cover art critiques
This book cover has all sorts of information without being overwhelming. At immediate glance, it screams time travel and steampunk, but the dark street and the two shadowy figures speak of danger, thrill, and maybe a hint of romance. The…
Tagged with: amreading, art, author, authorlife, book cover, books, bookstagram, booktok, Cheree alsop, cover art, critique, dark fantasy, fantasy, illustration, mustread, steampunk, the 13th hour, time travel
Posted in Art, Writing
Posted in Art, Writing
Historical fantasy, time travel adventure, and urban fantasy 