Anywho, I present to you: Kenneth Oppel's Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein series, This Dark Endeavor and Such Wicked Intent. Though I will say, I do like the original cover on close-up, for the longest time I had no desire to know what this was about, based purely on the thumbnail I kept seeing on Goodreads. Did.not.appeal. [Even if it does have a keyhole.] But the new covers - I saw those thumbnails and my breath stopped. What is this glorious thing? I asked myself. My inner-Smeagol came out and I had to have it (my precioussss). Everything, from the muted colors to the heightened, almost cartoony-but-not style to the fantastic font, everything has me wanting these on pure cover appeal. I haven't read a lot of reviews on these, but I have a feeling I will be buying them at some point...
But what do you think of them? Are you a fan of the old or new, or neither? Which would you reach for on shelves?
Which one did it better?
The Original
The Redesign
Last Week on FFO: The various incarnations of US versions of the Across the Universe series by Beth Revis went head to head, with the original, glossy/galactic hardcovers easily coming out the winner. Though there were aspects of the other covers that some of you liked (and though there were a few of you who preferred another cover), the love of the originals and hatred of the rest was almost universal.Two other points were agreed-upon as well: 1 -We're all pretty certain that at least one of the redesigns was to attract a wider audience (aka boys), which we get, but 2 - We're all sick of covers changing mid-series, and wish this would be confined to reprints.
Winnahs ------> 
Definitely the redesign :)
ReplyDeleteThe hottie on the cover helps ;)
The redesign definitely, it looks more sinister than the original one.
ReplyDeleteI read and reviewd This Dark Endeavor and really liked it! The original cover really goes well with the story, don't worry, I won't spoil ;) But I did end up buying the finished copy with the new cover since it is prettier to look at and matches the next book, hee hee!
ReplyDelete+JMJ+
ReplyDeleteI'm voting for the redesign. It's just classier. =)
I like the original cover better. I don't know - I feel it's more original and mysterious. I do like the architecture in the redesigned cover for The Dark Endeavour, and the overall gothic look of the new covers.
ReplyDeleteThis series is supposed to be a retelling of Frankenstein, right? I have the feeling the new covers are trying to be more appealing to female readers, while the original cover looks more like it could be a book for boys, too.
Though I agree with outRageous pages that the redesign looks more sinister (which is a big part of why I like it), I do think you're right that the redesign is to pull in female readers, Alessandra. They are a big part of the market, and purchasing power often dictates design.
ReplyDeleteI think the redesign just looks more eye catching. If I was to see it in a book store I would look twice at it and I think I would just walk byt the original!
ReplyDeleteI CAN'T DECIDE!!!! I think they're all brilliant. I was so captivated with the first, and so captivated with the redesign. CAN'T DECIDE. ;)
ReplyDeleteI like the redesign! The original feels too...heavy. Like a giant steel door is suffocating me. Also, the redesign is just nicer in my opinion :)
ReplyDeleteI like the redesign. My favorite part is the font, but I think it looks a bit better done too.
ReplyDelete