Ohhhkay, it's been ages since we've had a Face Off, so...my bad. But whatever, it's back now, and the throwdowns must go on! This week I'm featuring a cover pairing I just came across a couple of days ago, when I was tweeting out a link to the book as a kindle daily deal. (I don't even have a kindle; I like to save you guys money, yo!) The book is Lauren DeStefano's Perfect Ruin, which I've seen around everywhere, and yet had never seen the UK edition in all of my internetsing. I was so startled by the contrast, actually (and the weird similarities), that I had to see what you guys thought.
So below you'll find the US and UK versions, respectively. Though both feature side profiles of a pensive-ish girl* with one arm crossed over the other, and both have pretty neat (though totally different) fonts, they have very little else in common. Though I like both, I have a definite favorite, which I want to pore over for all the little details - but which do you guys prefer? Which would catch your eye at the bookstore, and which would you rather have on your shelves? In short,
Which one did it better?
*Does anyone else see Lorde and Dianna Agron in these cover models? I swear, that's all I see...
Last, er...year on FFO: Three different versions of Kim Harrington's The Dead and Buried went head to head, but the votes really only came down to two: the special edition US Scholastic Bookclub version, and the UK's totally overhauled-and-renamed version. It was a close call, but in the end, the ominous special edition just barely won out.
Winner ---------->
I love them both, but the UK cover model's head is so weirdly huge, I don't like how it goes on FOREVER off the page. Like, how does she have so much hair?
ReplyDeleteNow that you say it, that IS a lot of hair.
DeleteThat's gotta be a wig! Or photoshopping. I mean, I have curly hair and a lot of it, but that hair is doing some bizarre things on the back of her head.
DeleteI love the US version and I agree with innocencewalker... UK = giant head lol
ReplyDeleteI love the US version too. And now that you've mentioned it all I see is Dianna Argon in the UK version, and for some reason it is freaking me out.
ReplyDeleteYeeeeeaaah! The model looks so much like Diana Argon! I like the US version better. It looks really mysterious (?) and I absolutly love colours and the drawings.
ReplyDeleteI prefer the US cover. I love the blue background with the silver tree outline and the red dress is the perfect shade against that blue.
ReplyDeleteLove the cover for the UK version!
ReplyDeleteI actually like the UK version better. From a sales standpoint, it's so much more readable. If you see it on a shelf, you can read every word, whereas I can only see the word "Ruin" on the US cover. I love the crisp lines of the UK cover and the turbulent sea in the background. It's very atmospheric.
ReplyDeleteThe cover on the right looks prettier (as an aside, I'm reassured I'm not the only one who insta-saw that actress), but the one on the left looks more... special. Unique. Makes me less suspicious that the images may have little/nothing to do with the story inside. So my vote's for Cover #1.
ReplyDeleteUS, all the way. The color contrast is striking, the font is spider-like ominous, and the line detail around the edges draws me in. The UK cover looks....middle grade. And super Celtic fantasy-esque (redhead with a castle alert!). I haven't read this one, so maybe it is, but the US cover draws my eye and interest much, much more than the UK cover.
ReplyDeleteI think they're both gorgeous... but I would be more likely to pick up the US cover, I think!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely the US one this time around!
ReplyDeleteUS! so much prettier. Love how the red pops with the dark background.
ReplyDeleteThey're both pretty, but I prefer the US edition by far. It is simply intriguing and gorgeous to me, while also being somewhat unique. In contrast, I think the UK cover is too cheesy and generic.
ReplyDelete