You all likely know me well enough to know how often I feel compelled to buy books based on their cover. You're not supposed to judge a book by its cover and all that, yeah, yeah, but I have to say, in my case, it works out in the publishing industry's favor... Josin McQuien's Arclight is one of those books that I had to have because of its packaging, and when I finally saw it in person*, I didn't regret it a bit. It really is a dynamic thing of beauty. Which brings me to this week's Face Off, as I recently came across a different (clearly German) version of the book, with a totally different approach to the cover. Take a look at both below, and then let us know in the comments which you prefer. Which piques your interest? Which would you reach for on the shelves?
Which one did it better?
*Seriously. Take a look at this book in person, because all those little lines are made of MAGIC. Truly gorgeous in the book-flesh.
Last Week on FFO: Three different versions of Sara Grant's Dark Parties went head to head, with the more recently released US paperback coming out a clear winner — though in a (prescient?) show of unity with this week's post, we did have a write-in vote for the German version!
Winner -------->
I would have to go with the US version because it is so pretty and colorful. With the two of them side by side the German cover looks a bit boring.
ReplyDeleteThe Deutsche cover would grab me first. The US cover strikes me as a bit amateurish, especially in the rendering of the girl's face, and the colored lines don't do anything for me. The Deutsche cover makes me want to know more about the person seen in silhouette, and about why that person is on the edge of an oncoming storm.
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ReplyDeleteIn this case I would also go with the German version, I find its "gathering darkness" approach speaks more to my overall reading taste (in this case Horror) than the US one which doesn't really transport a clear concept for me.
ReplyDeleteI've never been a fan of the U.S. cover but the German cover is fabulous. I am in love with it. The Germans know how to do it.
ReplyDeleteI love them both! This one is on my TBR pile right now, and I'll admit to picking it up because of the US cover (a veil of prismatic light? cool!). But that inky darkness trail of the German one is equally cool. Hrmmm.....arbitrarily, I'm going to go with the German cover, because the creepiness factor is intensified to the power of 4 in that one.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a HUGE fan of either, but I like texture of the German one and I also find it a little more mysterious. Maybe I would like the US one more in person.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy the bright colors in the US cover, however I prefer the GERMAN version as a whole. Although I don't think either of them is great.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a big fan of either, but I'd choose the German cover. It looks creepier.
ReplyDeleteI like the US cover. Pictures online really don't do it justice. It's so shiny and colorful when you actually hold it in your hands.
ReplyDeleteYes! It is mesmerizing in person.
DeleteThis one is hard. I really enjoy the colors in the American one... but I enjoy the overall atmosphere in the German one... but lately I've been very into colors so I give the American one my vote... but it's like a 60/40 kind of thing.
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