fantasy and science fiction book reviewsSome cover art does a remarkably good job of describing the story. For example, take a look at the cover for A. Lee Martinez‘s Divine Misfortune. You take one look at that cover, and what do you think?  This is a story about a poor mortal getting punched by a god. Judging from the synopsis, that sounds like it is exactly what happens in the story. I also think I am going to have to read this book, because any story featuring a raccoon god of prosperity who enjoys couch surfing sounds like an interesting premise to me.fantasy and science fiction book reviews

Other cover art doesn’t do nearly as good of a job at conveying important information. Lilith Saintcrow‘s Steelflower has a cover which makes you think it’s another entry in the urban fantasy parade of butt-kicking females. Wrong. It is classic sword and sorcery fun, with elves and barbarians. This is a book that I wouldn’t have picked up on my own, because I typically don’t read urban fantasy. I would have missed a great fun read if I hadn’t volunteered to read it to help out one of the other reviewers.

And then you have the covers that are so bizarre or bad that we have contests to rename them. Like this lovely cover for Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson‘s The Gathering Storm. (Warning, put down your drink before you click on that link or you may snort beverage out your nose and all over your keyboard when you read the suggested titles.)

fantasy and science fiction book reviewsSo, dear readers, the challenge I put to you is threefold: Link to the best cover art for describing a story, the worst cover art for describing the story, or the most bizarre cover art you would like to fantasy and science fiction book reviewssee us re-title in a future post. Those first two you may have to describe why it is particularly good or bad. The third option should speak for itself.  And feel free to do all three if the mood moves you.

You have a week to make your suggestions, and then we’ll pick a winner who will receive a copy of Misty Massey‘s Mad Kestrel, a fun piratical fantasy with cover art to match. Or, if that doesn’t float your boat, we’ll let you pick one out of our stacks.

Author

  • Ruth Arnell

    RUTH ARNELL (on FanLit's staff January 2009 — August 2013) earned a Ph.D. in political science and is a college professor in Idaho. From a young age she has maxed out her library card the way some people do credit cards. Ruth started reading fantasy with A Wrinkle in Time and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe — books that still occupy an honored spot on her bookshelf today. Ruth and her husband have a young son, but their house is actually presided over by a flame-point Siamese who answers, sometimes, to the name of Griffon.

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