Not many people know about the awesome dystopian novel Birthmarked by Caragh M. O'Brien. It came out sometime last spring and its sequel Prized was just released earlier this month. I really think that this dystopian series deserves more recognition than its been getting so I decided to do a cover comparison for Birthmarked!
Original Cover Paperback Cover UK Cover
Original Cover: I'll be the first to say that I'm not a fan of this cover. It was actually the main reason I was hesitant to read this book in the first place. I know, I know, don't judge a book by its cover. You'd think I would have learned by now. :P But anyway I don't really like the color scheme and I definitely don't like the way the hair of the girl is awkwardly "blowing in the wind." It looks really unnatural. I feel like if that girl wasn't there the cover would be 100% better. Less would be going on and it wouldn't look as messy. There is one element that I do like and that's the font.
Paperback Cover: Wow talk about an improvement! I LOVE this cover. Everything about it. The earthy color scheme, the ribbon element, the gorgeous font! If this had been the original cover I would have picked up this book no questions asked.
UK Cover: While I like this cover I think that there's just too much going on. Why does a cover need to have flowers, a character profile, AND words all overlapping? Talk about a VISUAL OVERLOAD!!! And to top it off why does the girl look bald? I will give props to the good color choices though.
So who wins? In my opinion the clear winner is the paperback cover. Its gorgeous and intriguing without being over the top. The other covers just have too much going on for me to really love them. Not to mention the hair problem in the original cover, and the lack of hair problem in the UK cover. Hehe.
Which cover of Birthmarked do YOU like best? Be sure to vote in the poll below and sound off in the comments about why you made your decision!
Just a heads up for those suggesting covers: I normally like to do cover comparisons of books that have already been released that way I can gauge whether or not a cover accurately depicts what the book is about. So if you've suggested a book that isn't released yet I probably won't be doing it till I get a chance to read the book/the book is released.
I have to admit that I do judge pay attention on book cover :)
My favorite of those three is the paperback cover. To me, it looks simple, yet mysterious. I don't like how the hair covers the girl's face in the original cover while the UK one has too many words, it gives me headache LOL
My favorite cover is the paperback one. I love it! I actually don't care for the other two. The hardcover one is just not very good, and the UK one doesn't impress me.
i don't really like the hardback or the UK. they are both too busy, and you hit it right on the nose! i like the paperback cover a lot!! too bad i'm a hardcover girl...
I have to admit that I do judge pay attention on book cover :)
ReplyDeleteMy favorite of those three is the paperback cover. To me, it looks simple, yet mysterious. I don't like how the hair covers the girl's face in the original cover while the UK one has too many words, it gives me headache LOL
My favorite cover is the paperback one. I love it! I actually don't care for the other two. The hardcover one is just not very good, and the UK one doesn't impress me.
ReplyDeleteFor me the paperback made me want to pick up the book. Also, yay ! Team Katniss !
ReplyDeleteThe bookish part of me likes the PB cover and the artistic side of me likes the UK. I wish I could've designed it. So, a tie?
ReplyDeleteI actually quite like the first one, but I agree that the middle one is the best!
ReplyDeletei don't really like the hardback or the UK. they are both too busy, and you hit it right on the nose! i like the paperback cover a lot!! too bad i'm a hardcover girl...
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