Are you ready for a low-effort blog post? Time to judge some book covers from SPFBOX.
First, lets layout my qualifications: none. I don't have an art degree. I am not a visual artist. I don't even have particularly good taste. All I am is a reader and an author who likes looking at pretty pictures on book covers.
For those of you who don't know what SPFBOX is, the Self-Published Fantasy Blog Off is a competition started by the illustrious author, Mark Lawrence. This year marks the tenth annual competition. 300 books enter, 10 go to finals, one wins. But the real question on everyone's mind is, which cover does James Dulin like the best.
For the purposes of this highly scientific process, we must have a method. I am using Zack Argyle's website in which he layouts out all the covers by blog team they are assigned to. I will go through the 30 books assigned to each blog, then pick one from each. There may or may not be a method to my choices.
Don't judge a book by it's cover...blah, blah, blah. We all know it's bullshit. Otherwise we wouldn't spend so much effort on them. The artists who create these wonderful works are a celebrated part of the indie community.
Without any further adieu.
Fantasy Faction
This first selection has a few standout covers, but one told a complete story with beautiful elements. Every time I look at this cover, I find more details, which makes the art more interesting.
Selection
The Elements of Time by Sam Paisley
Cover Design by Jeff Brown
Fantasy Book Critic
When you look through indie books, especially indie books in the same genre, they can start to look very similar because those elements are foundational to the genre. Some books take a swing against the conventions. It’s risky, but when it lands, you get beautiful art.
Selection
Mercy by Ian Haramaki
Art by Soren Haxen
Lynn's Books + The Critiquing Chemist
A character on a cover with a background is fairly standard in fantasy books. It’s hard to give personality and movement to characters in a static image. When an artist can capture that, the cover will capture readers.
Selection
Under an Azure Sky by Wil Chan
Art by Razafindrazaha Mijoro Teddy
The Weatherwax Report
Many artists and authors pull from anime. It can come off looking cartoonish, which works for some books. However, this book has one foot firmly in anime perfectly balanced with the other in a painterly fantasy feel. It's beautiful.
Selection
Hyperborea by E.M. Zolotor
Art by Rodrigo Rizo
Before We Go Blog
Scale can be hard to communicate in a cover. This book manages to create atmosphere and scale that screams dark and epic.
Selection
Way of the Wizard by Michael Michel
Art by Nino
Queen’s Book Asylum
Sometimes you have to say fuck the analysis and go with the warrior bear.
Selection
Primal Fury by Noel Traver
Art by MiblArt
Philip Chase
I love detailed illustrations. They have they’re place. So do more minimalist designs. This cover communicates so much with the silhouette of a few trees in wonderful composition. The small details tell an even deeper story.
Selection
When Shadows Fall by Lindy Enns
Art by MiblArt
Cover with Cassidy
There is a reason why some designs stand the test of time. They have the feel and the mood of a genre. This book feels like dark Tolkien, and I’m into it.
Selection
Haelend’s Ballad by Ian V. Conrey
Art by Jeni Hudson
Kitty G Books
Covers tell a story, and this one tells me this book is going to be hilarious. We could all use some more of that in our lives.
Selection
Death and the Taxman by David Hankins
Art by Sarah Morrison
Captured in Words
The silhouette cutout graphic with an illustration inside can get a bit played out. But I love it when it works. It works for me here.
Selection
Dragon Thief by Blake and Raven Penn
Art by Rylee Witbeck
There are many beautiful covers that didn't end up on my list. They may have ended up on yours. Again, I remind you, I am not good at this.
"But ten winners? That's no fun. We want the best on," say the tens of readers who made it this far.
I agree. Here are my top three before I announce my favorite and therefore the objectively best cover.
Disclaimer: I have not read any of these books. I am simply looking at pretty pictures.
Mercy by Ian Haramaki
Art by Soren Haxen
Hyperborea by E.M. Zolotor
Art by Rodrigo Rizo
Way of the Wizard by Michael Michel
Art by Nino
And the winning author/artist, who for legal reasons I am obliged to note win absolutely nothing, is...
Hyperborea by E.M. Zolotor
Art by Rodrigo Rizo
Please check out all of these books, and to the 300 authors competing, good luck!
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