You may have seen the redesign for Tahereh Mafi's Shatter Me already, but if not, allow me to present to you: this Face Off. The first is the original hardcover copy, and the second graces the to-be-released paperback edition. Personally, I'm a little torn on which I like more. On the one hand, the hardback cover is a "typical pretty girl in dress" cover, but at the same time it's sort of fierce and somehow suits the storyline (I think. I haven't read it, so who knows.) The paperback cover is striking, to be sure, but maybe a little more... abstract? I don't know that it necessarily tells me all that much about the story, neat as the image is.
So I'm torn, but I'm curious what you guys think. Judging solely on the cover (and tagline therein) - whether you've read the story or not - which would you reach for? Which works for you?
Which one did it better?
(as always, click for more detail)
Last Week on FFO: The strikingly different covers for the US and UK versions of Rachel Hartman's Seraphina went head to head in a surprising cover-reversal battle - the US turned out an art cover and the UK, a pretty-girl cover... The gloriously detailed woodcut of the US version won the day by a longshot, to which I give an exultant AMEN. Such a fantastic cover. And such a fantastic book... =DWinnah ----->
Although I'm not usually one for model covers, in this case I think the original cover fits the story better and gives an immediate impression of what the book is about, whereas the newer cover, although interesting, leaves me wondering.
ReplyDeleteAs a side note, have you faced off The Vespertine and the UK cover of The Goddess Test?
i love the one with the eye but the model one fits better for the story
ReplyDeleteFrom what I understand about the book, neither cover makes any sense, so sweeping applicability to the book off the table, I'm going to go solely on the would I want to read it factor.
ReplyDeleteThat's the original cover by a LONGSHOT. The pretty dress, the model who looks ready to take someone out even though her dress is getting in her way, and the shiny silver background is fab. The new cover is creepy and confusing. Why are some of the eyelashes white? Why is Shatter in white and Me in blue? Honestly, I think the new one is incredibly ugly.
I like the original better.
ReplyDeleteThe new one is striking but sort of confusing.
This is tough, I like both covers, so choosing one over the other is harder. I have the book on my want list,so I have to go with the cover I first saw. The model cover that is why I wanted to read the book in the first place.
ReplyDeleteI really like the new paperback cover a lot better. The colors, the filigree-looking detail, very nice. I'd buy that as a work of art on its own.
ReplyDeleteThe first cover definitely fits the story better. If I was picking just on awesome covers alone I'd go with cover 2.
ReplyDeleteI actually prefer the newer cover. The whole model/dress thing is ridiculously overdone in YA. The eye is visually interesting and highly detailed and I just prefer detail over simplicity.
ReplyDeleteOH MY GOSH. I have actually HATED the hardcover cover forEVER. I have no idea. I just do. But my goodness graciousness that paperback cover is BRILLIANT! I would totally buy it and am thinking about reading the book just because of that cover (I don't REALLY have an interest...)... LOL great FFO! :D
ReplyDeleteSierra @ Yearning to Read
I would so pick the abstract one my eyes immediately went to that one
ReplyDeleteI actually surpisingly enjoyed Shatter Me but found the cover completely bland (no matter how fitting is it, because she actually wears a fluffy white ball gown in the book, so props for that). So I'm going with the new cover design - it's more eye cathing, hehe.
ReplyDeleteby FAR i love the one on the right more!
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