My Favourite Book Covers: I Always Judge a Book by Its Cover
Well, that’s not entirely true. But I do buy books if the cover artwork appeals to me. I’m always browsing amazon for my next ebook read, and if I do a search for ‘paranormal romance’ I find thousands of possibilities. How do I narrow down the search? It’s not the reviews or the popularity of the book I look at first, it’s the cover. If the thumbnail floats my boat, I click buy, and I’m good to go. I follow numerous book blogs and again the artwork of a new book is what I first pay attention to. Show me a hot man on a book cover, a kick-ass woman ready to take out her next vamp, the glowing eyes of a werewolf, a fancy font, or a stormy sky, and I’m sold.
In real-life bookshops, I like to run my hand along the covers as I stroll through aisles and aisles of books. Raised font always gives me a thrill (yes, I’m a bit sad). That’s what led me to buy Waking the Witch, among others. I didn’t even look at the blurb on that one before I settled up at the cash register. So, without further ado, I have included below some of my favourite book covers ever.
and some more
and a few more
What do you think of the above? Feel free to include a link to your own favourite book covers in the comment section.
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L.J. Kentowski, author of Guardian of Fate has posted an excerpt from my YA novel, Under the Desert Moon. Check it out here on her blog if you get the chance.
Enjoy the weekend & TGIF!!
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Emma's Ramblings on Supernatural Fiction 
Understand all of that, my own particular thing is delight in having a book in the original cover, the one BEFORE the film determines the cover for ever after, I love that symbol of being ahead of the posse!!!
I have a friend who always refuses to buy books with the film cover. Even if she hasn’t heard of the book until after the film comes out, she will hunt out the original book cover and buy that.
Ooh, thanks for including Dark Relic in your favorite covers! I had a squeeee! moment when I saw that. 🙂
I really like the covers you chose to feature here. I love a good cover. But, as I posted the other day on my blog, I love a good title, too. With a good cover/title combo, readers are sure to take a look.
You’re welcome. I think it’s a gorgeous, sultry cover.
Title definitely contributes to my decision whether or not to buy. I bought Generation Dead just for that reason.
Great post! Yes, I too love a great cover, and that is the first thing that grabs my eye, when looking for a good book:) Thanks for sharing…
Thanks for stopping by, Michelle. You did a photo shoot for your book covers didn’t you? That’s pretty cool.
Great covers there, Emma! I love a good cover too. I’ve read a few of these myself.
And I’m squeeeeing along with Lauralynn that you liked the cover to her book since I did that one! 😉
I know you did, and you did an amazing job, Anya!
Which ones have you read? I loved the artwork for the Point Horror series.
Emma, why is one of the Point Horror books by L. J. Smith, and the other one by Caroline Cooney? I was a little confused by that because they had the same Point Horror logo. I just noticed that because you mentioned how much you like the artwork.
Point Horror was a series of YA books back in the early 90s I guess it was (can’t believe how long again I used to read them). Lots of authors contributed to the series. I grew up reading them.
I’ve read of course, Dark Relic, Red & Full Moon Rising. Great books!
The cover for Full Moon Rising grabbed me straight away. I love Red, such a good book.
I’ve read a few of these and have a few more in my TBR pile (today, I was happy to discover and include your own UNDER THE DESERT MOON). You are so right about book covers! I’m a visual person and frequently do graphic and design work on my day job. I know the importance of something that is eye-catching and that relays a message through visual impression. To me, book covers are artwork, and my first impression of the work within.
Thanks Mae. The designer for Under the Desert Moon did a fantastic job. I’m so happy with it.
I’d love to have some graphic design skills. Do you create your own book covers? The visual aspect of books is very important to me. I guess not so much for ebooks but even for them, the thumbnail of the cover gives you the first impression.
You’ve picked some great ones! I love all the Kelley Armstrong covers, and the Discovery of Witches one too. Interesting that you picked the Queen of the Slayers. Have you read it yet? What did you think? I was kinda really disappointed by it, but then I think that is because I expected too much. I almost wanted the book to conclude everything, and I had so many ideas in my head about what should happen and it didn’t really fit that…
Hi Becky, I read that book about 5 years ago and I loved it. Thought it was so cool the way the action began on the yellow school bus at the end of season 7 and told us the next chapter of Buffy’s life.
Do you know the Buffy series continued in comic form? Hope uni is going well for you. Settling in yet?
Haha ohh right. I think I was somehow hoping that her and Spike would be able to get together in the end, wishful thinking. 😛 I’ve read a lot of other Buffy books too, I have a whole mini bookshelf with about 50 on them. Some of them are really great and others just fall a little flat.
I was aware of that yes, but I’ve never attempted to read one or get hold of one, I’ve heard quite a few weird stories about strange directions the story takes and stuff. Have you tried any of them?
It’s all very overwhelming, but I’ve survived so far, although I haven’t had any lectures yet! In the first few days I just wanted to quit every minute of the day, but it’s getting a little better I think. Thanks for asking. 🙂
Yeah, Spike was the one disappointment for me. I haven’t read the graphic novels.
Hang in there. You’re going to love university life. My college years were my happiest.
I really like The Forbidden Game cover–it’s very striking. Covers are HUGE with me. Particularly when it comes to multiple editions. For example, I hate the original cartoony covers of the Sookie Stackhouse novels, but I really like the ones of Sookie’s face superimposed over the Louisiana landscape: http://www.goodreads.com/book/photo/6362691-club-dead
My favorite book cover this year: Third Grave Dead Ahead by Darynda Jones: http://www.goodreads.com/book/photo/12043770-third-grave-dead-ahead
Yeah, all three books of The Forbidden Game trilogy have similar covers with those piercing eyes. Covers are Huge to me too.
I’ve never seen that cover of the Sookie books before. Over here we have different covers for that series: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4602032-dead-until-dark
Third Grave Dead Ahead has a great cover. That book has been on my TBR list for a while. Must hop to it!
Emma, I LOVE Keri Arthur’s Riley Jensen series. So great to see her cover honored here.
I found that one in a second hand book shop when I was away for a weekend earlier this year. It looked so moody I just had to pick it up!
My Discovery of Witches cover is completely different! I think I like the one you have better. . . Have you seen the new cover for The Forever Girl?
The American cover version isn’t great. I saw the new cover for The Forever Girl on Goodreads. I prefer the old one.
I’m pretty much the same, Emma. I sometimes have to force myself not to buy any more books (I have a huge TBR pile as is) just because of the cover. There are times where I will look at the blurb, but not always. I, too, loved the Forever Girl cover, and had said as much a while ago. I’ve seen the new cover and although it’s also gorgeous, I still love the one you have up here. I really like the cover for Grave Minder. Hope you’re having a fab weekend 😀
Hi, Sandra. I really have to stop myself buying anymore books right now. My Kindle is overflowing.
Enjoy your Sunday afternoon.
So many pretty covers! I completely agree with you though. Even though I follow a ton of blogs and read some awesome reviews, it’s always the cover that pulls me in first! Great post 🙂
Thanks. Cover grabs people first, then I guess it’s the title and blurb.
I absolutely love the Red cover by Kait Nolan.. so much so, I bought a paperback copy and had her sign it! 🙂
I have the ebook but it’s so pretty, I want the paperback for my bookshelf!
I do like your choice of covers to make a decision of what to buy next. I too like to look at the coverws and mull around recommendations of what to read next. My kindle is in black and white so I see a title author and dig around in Amazon mainly on the comments.. I do like to have a mull around on the free books new authors etc similarities I guess hey Emma Oh and congratulations
Hi Debs. I guess I browse on my computer first so I do see the covers in all their colourful glory before I buy them for my Kindle. Thanks for stopping by.
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