Discussion: Representation Matters on Covers, Too - And the UK Doesn't Always Get It Right

Last week, the UK cover for A Blade so Black by L. L. McKinney was released on The Book Smugglers. It's a gorgeous, gorgeous cover. I love the nods to Alice in Wonderland in it; the rabbit with the clock top-left, the club and spade symbols on the left among the roses. Though, if I'm honest, I'm not crazy about the placement of the Entertainment Weekly quote, but that's a conversation for another day. Despite how beautiful this cover is, it did remind of something that UK publishers don't seem to do brilliant at - representing marginalised people on covers.

Continue reading Discussion: Representation Matters on Covers, Too - And the UK Doesn't Always Get It Right

Discussion: Why Are US Covers Generally Better Than UK Covers?

Over my years as a book blogger, there is something I have found: 9 times out of 10, the US edition of a book will have a better cover than the UK cover. I also think there's a kind of style about covers from each, that without being told beforehand, I'd be able to pick out which cover was for the US or the UK edition. This is not to say that the UK covers are awful, just that I feel more often than not, the US covers are so much better. Take these covers for example.

This Savage Song by V.E. Schwab

UK cover & US cover

Continue reading Discussion: Why Are US Covers Generally Better Than UK Covers?