Cover Wars: For The Sake Of Comparision

For this week’s Cover Wars I’ve picked contemporary titles that have seen cover changes (for whatever reasons- repacking, republishing, transition from hardbound-to-paperback etc.), and we’ll talk about which editions work for us and which of these covers are better left forgotten!

As always, feel free to leave us comments with your own opinion on the covers!

When my first party ends in jail, I think things can’t possibly get worse. But then my parents send me to my grandmother in Cairo, and I’m sure my life is over. My sittu is Darth Vader’s evil sister, and I’m sure the only sites I’ll get to see in Egypt are the rooms in her apartment.

Turns out she’s not so bad. We ride camels by the pyramids and ice skate at a mall.

As Sittu says, “Sometimes a moment can change your life.” But it can change the life of a country too. When a girl named Asmaa calls the people of Egypt to protest, I find myself in the middle of a revolution, running from tear gas and guns.

Oh yeah, and I meet the cutest guy I’ve ever seen. Fall in love for the first time. And have my first kiss. – [X]

Yash: Yes, yes, I know I complain about the lack of POCs on covers that feature models, but I so love the tension in the cover to the right! The straining paper clip, literally “the weakest link”, holding to unyielding sides together is pretty damn eye-catching. And once you read the summary, you see how well it corresponds to the story. I also really like the idea of using the voice of the protagonist to give us the summary. I just wish there was a way to work in Egypt into the cover on the right– otherwise, it sounds a bit like speculative fiction instead of a story rooted in reality.

Nafiza: The first cover doesn’t do anything for me. The second one is intriguing for exactly the reasons Yash said. I don’t like the synopsis at all. In fact, it sort of makes me angry. It doesn’t sound authentic. I know why it sounds the way it does, of course, but it confuses me. If this is a story about the Egyptian revolution, then yes, I want to read about it but the phrasing almost trivializes the revolution–juxtaposing the protagonist’s party with yet another “party” aka the revolution where in the midst of running for her life, the protag can somehow find the emotional wherewithal to fall in love and share a kiss with a boy because what else is important? A sentence or two about why she is in the midst of this revolution; what her thoughts are about her identity as an Egyptian would have gone a long way. Instead we get a whole lot of *nudge *nudge* *snort* revolution *whisper* *partay!* I wouldn’t go for this.

In this inventive romantic thriller, Del has the power to navigate between alternate realities, and the power to save multiple worlds.

Every time someone makes a choice, a new, parallel world is spun off the existing one. Eating breakfast or skipping it, turning left instead of right, sneaking out instead of staying in bed; all of these choices create alternate universes in which echo selves take the roads not traveled. Del knows this because she’s a Walker, someone who can navigate between the worlds, and whose job is to keep the dimensions in harmony.

But Del’s decisions have consequences too. Even though she’s forbidden from Walking after a training session goes horribly wrong, she secretly starts to investigate other dissonant worlds. She’s particularly intrigued by the echo versions of Simon Lane, a guy who won’t give her the time of day in the main world, but whose alternate selves are uniquely interested. But falling for Simon draws Del closer to a truth that the Council of Walkers is trying to hide a secret that threatens the fate of the entire multiverse. – [X]

Yash: I’m really not happy with any of these covers. I suppose the one without any people would draw me in but origami would seem to have very little to do with the title “Dissonance” … though I do like this title. If I did pick it up, I think one of two things would have happened depending on my day– I’d either roll my eyes at the “romantic thriller” description or be genuinely intrigued by the same phrase. Having read the summary though, I can see how the cover and title work together. I love the idea of a universe jumper, and I kinda appreciate that though this starts as a search for love, she definitely has bigger fish to fry. I’d read it if I had a good review from any of the other three Book Warriors.

Nafiza: I just read this a week or so ago (and have since written a review to go up soon) and from what I’ve read, the first cover matches the contents within. I really liked the book and though it seems to focus a lot on the romance, the multiverse is pretty well set up and the worldbuilding is spot on. So Yash, you should read (or listen to) it.

Her throne awaits … if she can live long enough to take it.

It was on her nineteenth birthday that the soldiers came for Kelsea Glynn. They’d come to escort her back to the place of her birth– and to ensure she survives long enough to be able to take possession of what is rightfully hers.

But like many nineteen-year-olds, Kelsea is unruly, has high principles and believes she knows better than her elders. Unlike many nineteen-year-olds, she is about to inherit a kingdom that is on its knees– corrupt, debauched and dangerous.

Kelsea will either become the most fearsome ruler the kingdom has ever known … or be dead within the week. – [X]

Yash: The middle one for sure! I love the trap sitting on a velvet cushion. Like it refers to Cinderella and yes, you are looking for the Chosen One, but it is meant to a painful trap instead. I kinda like it. I really love the idea behind the story as well. I wonder if we are going to see the makings of a fierce queen, an anti-hero, or a super-villain! FUN! :D

Nafiza: This book, whoa. Okay for starters, I dislike all the covers. None of them do anything for me. The book on the other hand as this wonderful evil queen who seems all powerful until…well, no spoilers. The book has wretched romance (I’m trademarking that) and the worldbuilding is nonexistent. However, it did have a peculiar readability that kept me reading. I will probably check out the sequel from the library at some point in the future.

730. That’s how many days I’ve been trapped.
18. That’s how many days I have left to find a way out.

DAI, trying to escape a haunting past, traffics drugs for the most ruthless kingpin in the Walled City. But in order to find the key to his freedom, he needs help from someone with the power to be invisible …

JIN hides under the radar, afraid the wild street gangs will discover her biggest secret: Jin passes as a boy to stay safe. Still, every chance she gets, she searches for her lost sister …

MEI YEE has been trapped in a brothel for the past two years, dreaming of getting out while watching the girls who try fail one by one. She’s about to give up, when one day she sees an unexpected face at her window … – [X]

Yash: Hmm. The one on the left is the one that appeals to me. (I guess the thing I don’t like about the cover on the right is the choice of including taglines that aren’t very catchy.) I love the illustrated face on the top of the first cover, I love the font, the title, and DRAGON!!! However, reading the summary I can see how a lot of the details could go wrong unless properly researched. (I am assuming that they are talking about that walled city, so …) Yeah, I’d need a lot of reassuring before I read this one, despite the incredibly pretty cover.

Nafiza: Once again, both of these fail to move me. What is this ennui? I don’t know. I’ve also read this book and written down my thoughts about it here somewhere. So…next.

Sixteen-year-old Austin Szerba interweaves the story of his Polish legacy with the story of how he and his best friend , Robby, brought about the end of humanity and the rise of an army of unstoppable, six-foot tall praying mantises in small-town Iowa.

To make matters worse, Austin’s hormones are totally oblivious; they don’t care that the world is in utter chaos: Austin is in love with his girlfriend, Shann, but remains confused about his sexual orientation. He’s stewing in a self-professed constant state of maximum horniness, directed at both Robby and Shann. Ultimately, it’s up to Austin to save the world and propagate the species in this sci-fright journey of survival, sex, and the complex realities of the human condition. – [X]

Yash: Bleh. Grasshoppers. *shudders* I know people love this book, which is why I included it. But I also know what my reaction was when I saw it Kidsbooks. *backs away slowly* However, I do have to say that while the one on the left suits the summary (bright, quirky) the one on the right may be the better cover. I also like the title, despite you know … *more shuddering* I might borrow this one from VPL. For something that’s post-apocalyptic I do like how funny the summary sounds. I am also incredibly aware that if it were a female character instead of Austin, I … can’t see it going down well. Shame.

Nafiza: I’m conflicted. I mean, the green is too bright but on the other hand, the other one has bugs on it. I don’t think I like either of them? Plus…the synopsis marks it as totally not my thing.

Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil’s supply of human teeth grows dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real, she’s prone to disappearing on mysterious “errands”, she speaks many languages – not all of them human – and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she’s about to find out.

When beautiful, haunted Akiva fixes fiery eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself? – [X]

Yash: I just started listening o the audiobook for this one! It is quite good! I had no choice on the cover though, and if I had to pick, I’d pick the one on the right. It is an excellent photograph (with some manipulation, I guess). I love the dead center doorway (no choice but to go in), the hand print, and the yellowing book and pages. And it all looks oddly like, I don’t know, a Paulo Coehlo book, hahaha! Except then you pay attention to the title and WOW I REALLY LIKE THAT TITLE! And I promise you, you’ll like it more and more as you read (or listen to) the story.

Nafiza: This is probably the only book that attracted me due to its trailer. It’s a grand thing, the trailer. Anyway, the covers, I prefer the UK edition though I own the US/Canada version. As for the book, the romance in the first one overwhelmed me with its mush but the second book won me back with its sheer badassery. The third one is waiting patiently on my shelves…I’m rambling. But eh. My thoughts.