I Always Judge a Book by Its Cover

666 Park Avenue by Gabriella Pierce. A fun design for a fun title, I always say. (Not really, but it makes sense.) I love the simple color scheme of the cover: black, white, shades of grey, and splashes of yellow-green. The fancy and glamorous gate in the background channels Park Avenue to perfection. The title sits in a black bar, as though a sign on the gate, which is also clever. The title typography is gothic and sophisticated, just like the supposed subject matter of the book. What I most enjoy about the design is the spray of leaves and vines falling into the illustration from the upper left corner, both black and colored. If you look closely, you can see that some of the black leaves are in fact bats—hinting at witches, perhaps?

Readers’ Average Rating: B

The Girl With the Glass Feet by Ali Shaw. Since the weather outside doesn’t seem to be letting up, I thought I’d share a beautiful wintery book cover. This design is gorgeous on several different levels. Let’s start with the foreground: No one ever expects to see a white silhouette of something, which is why the buck and crow figures are so jarring—but it a strangely bewitching way. The delicate white orbs of falling snow sprinkle the cover to create a winter wonderland feel. The two trees closest to the foreground are very realistic and compelling next to animal silhouettes. Finally, the misty forest spreading in the background completes the perfectly magical landscape. The subtle blues and browns of the design only enhance the setting for this fantastical romance. To see another beautiful cover design of this book, click here.

Readers’ Average Rating: B

Among Others by Jo Walton. The starswept, child-like magic of this cover brings out the best of fantasy, coming-of-age stories. The design is tinted in a surreal orange glow, though if you look closer you can see that it in fact fades from yellow to red. In the background stand blurry, towering objects—whether trees or some sprawling castle-like structure is up to viewers to decide. The blurred image of a teenage girl dancing, or perhaps casting spells, barefoot in the grass clues readers in on the tale’s dreamy protagonist. The only clear visual element of the design is the stream of sparkling stars, apparently shooting from the girl’s hand in a spiral of magic. The blurred photography of the background and the stark, digital stream of stars dazzle together, creating a design that displays both real-world depth and fantastic elements.

Readers’ Average Rating: A-