Book covers – If it’s not broke, don’t fix it!
24 June 2014 
This week over at The Broke and the Bookish the topic is:
Ten Book Cover Trends (or likes or dislikes)
I tend to focus on Fantasy for this regular Tuesday spot and this week I’ve picked covers with, let’s just say, a similar style and one that is a fairly recurring theme on fantasy covers. However, I will say, this is not a criticism, I like all of the covers below, the content of all of these books was excellent and I highly recommend (except for three which I haven’t read yet but are waiting on my tbr) and, on top of that, in spite of the fact that they may be similar in terms of using the ‘hooded figure’ I would undoubtedly be drawn to them again and again on the shelf. I guess there’s an argument for coming up with something different and I do love spectacular covers but that being said I would always be drawn to this type of cover and the list of books below is a perfect example of that fact. Plus, I think I could probably pick any number of different book genres and come up with 10 such books with a recurring cover theme. Don’t know whether that makes it right or not and frankly my dear I don’t give a damn. Simply put, I’m not going to get into an argument about the pros and cons of using a certain cover style but it seems that readers of certain genres are drawn to certain covers! Or, at least I am.
- The Printed Man by Peter Brett
- Seven Forges by James a Moore
- Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb
- Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence
- Thief’s Magic by Trudi Canavan
- The Lascar’s Dagger by Glenda Larke
- Three by Jay Posey
- The Black Prism by Brent Weeks
- A Dance of Cloaks by David Dalglish
- The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Books and travelling with Lynn 
Those are some mysterious hooded figures–makes you wonder who they are!
While I was making my list, I found some trends I couldn’t decide if I liked or not–like tons of covers with an extreme close up of an eye. There’s been a lot of those recently, it seems. (The book is watching you…)
Yeah, you’re right with the covers with huge eyes! Seem to remember I read a cover with a huge eye on it a few months ago – Before I go to sleep? Bit creepy as a cover.
Lynn 😀
I do like the Prince of Thorns (and that entire series) cover a lot. And i think there is something to be said for keeping books in a particular genre similar in theme. It allows the reader to make certain assumptions as to what they may like/dislike about the book, and what to expect. The style you’ve showcased here, on the whole, i could take or leave, to look at, but i know looking at them i would enjoy reading one.
I think that recurring themes in covers is probably something that annoys a lot of people but I’m not one of them. Don’t get me wrong, I do love interesting covers but with the covers here – I’m not going to avoid them because they have a hooded figure in fact it’s much more likely that I will pick them up!
Lynn 😀
I’m afraid I haven’t read any of these and if I’m honest I didn’t know there were so many covers with a hooded figure on. I think you’re probably right though you could look at other genres and I found similar trend in covers. Like historical fiction having a young woman looking out of the cover at you.
I think you could definitely find similar trends in other genres – what about YA and the woman wearing a ball gown – there are loads of those, or historical fiction with a woman in a long period dress? But, I suppose if you enjoy that genre the cover won’t bother you as it’s the content that counts.
Lynn 😀
Hey, I’m with you – I love hooded figures. Come on, admit it, that’s why you were drawn to The Shadow Master as well, weren’t you? I know that’s why I was 😉
It is why I was drawn to the Shadow Master and I can’t deny it. I love the hooded figures to be honest. Okay, not the most original but you definitely know what to expect!
Lynn 😀
People with hoods? Why aren’t you playing Assassin’s Creed?
For the record, I haven’t touched the game but a few of those covers reminded me of it.
I haven’t played Assassin’s Creed but I’m VERY familiar with it as everyone in this house seems to be gamers (this is why I’m a reader as i don’t stand a chance!).
Lynn 😀
I don’t know if I feel one way or the other about the “hooded figure.” But you do know more or less what type of book to expect, which I tend to think of as a good thing.
Yeah, I like unusual covers but sometimes you might overlook picking up a book because it doesn’t appear to fit into your normal style of book reading.
Lynn 😀
I agree – this style is the quintessential fantasy cover. It calls to us fantasy lovers and I think we’ll always find them appealing. Just like I noticed many posters who like YA say they actually LIKE the pretty dress covers. It just speaks to their tastes I guess.
Give me a cloak and a stabby stabby looking cover anyday!!
yep, stabby covers are the beeswax! It was funny this week’s topic because loads of people loved the pretty dress covers – like you said, certain covers work for certain readers. Everyone seemed to unanimously agree that covers with half naked men or the poor craze of erotica covers generated after Fifty Shades were the worst! Oh, and whitewashing!
Lynn 😀
Yeah whitewashing – yuck. I hate those smoldering faces of men or women on the covers you see a lot of those in YA as well. No half naked men please lol.
Well, you know, I’m not saying there’s no place for half naked men! ahem, however, not on my book covers please! They’re so cheesy!
Lynn 😀
I completely agree! Bring on the half named man…in the backyard…poolside…walking up my stairs *drool wait wait* uhhh ok carried away.
I agree on the covers it’s cheesy it screams PNR to me and normally I’m not really into PNR.
Haha!
Lynn 😀
What nice covers! *drools*
Those guys are pretty tasty I have to admit. Maybe we’re just weird, we don’t want pictures of half naked men, we want pictures of hooded warriors!
Lynn 😀