The Friday Face-Off was created by Books by Proxy, where each week bloggers can showcase books with covers centered around a weekly theme. You can visit Lynn’s Books for a list of upcoming themes. Join in the fun each Friday by finding a book whose cover is based on the theme!
This week’s theme: Fae or Fairy?
I can’t believe I have’t used this book yet for a Friday Face-Off prompt, which is a good thing because it fits perfectly with today’s theme. You Let Me In by Camilla Bruce is one of my favorite books of 2020 (don’t worry, you’ll see it again on my “best of” list!), and it’s a very dark story about fae. I found five covers, so let’s take a look:
UK hardcover 2020. I love this cover! I was lucky enough to receive a UK ARC of this book, and this is the cover I have. So maybe that’s why I love it so much. I love the simplicity of the cover, and the dead bird points to the ominous themes in the story. This is probably my second favorite cover.
U.S. hardcover 2020. I really don’t like this cover much. The looming face that takes up most of the cover doesn’t give you an idea AT ALL of what this book is about. I do like the creepy tree branches, however.
U.S. Paperback (comes out in 2021). Another looming face, although I do like this much better than the U.S. hardcover. The design team has shifted the face up so you don’t see the girl’s eyes, and changed the overall color of the background. I also like the title and author font better than the hardcover.
German edition 2020. I really like this one as well. It definitely gives you a creepy, dreamy vibe that reflects the story. This is a tough book to nail down, so I think all of these designs do a pretty good job.
UK paperback 2020. Despite the real-looking dead bird on the cover, I have to say this is my favorite. The starkness of the design and the in your face dead bird say “dark and ominous” to me! Although it is slightly ruined by all the author blurbs around the edges, I’m giving that a pass because it works so well otherwise.
The dead bird image is certainly a powerful one and I could not choose between the first and last cover, although I must say that the stylized format of the first one is less… intimidating 😉
maddalena@spaceandsorcery recently posted…NOPHEK GLOSS (The Graven #1), by Essa Hansen
I agree, I also love that first, stylized bird cover.
I think of all of these covers are pretty nice actually. To pick a favorite I’d choose the UK hardcover 2020. Also yet another reminder I need to read this book. 😛
UK definitely wins this contest:-)
The UK hardcover is so disturbing and yet artistic. I love it. I was able to read an ARC of Bruce’s In the Garden of Spite that’s coming out in January. Goodness gracious, she’s a good writer!
Priscilla Bettis recently posted…2020 Nano Snippet
Oh you’ve already read In the Garden of Spite?? I might try to fit it in this month, I can hardly wait!
It has to be the top cover for me… though the German cover comes a close second. I don’t like the cover with the robin – for me all those blobby comments strewn around the main image ruin it! I thoroughly agree that You Let Me In was one of the reading highlights of the year! While it wasn’t my absolute favourites – it comes very, very close…
I knew you wouldn’t like the last one because of the blurbs, lol!
I really like the German edition, and find it interesting the change of title, too. Does “pepper-man” appear in the story?
Pepper Man is the “fae” character in the story, he’s pretty important!
I think I like 3 and 4 best. Great pick!
I love those too:-)
I love UK covers, I like aspects of both the illustrated and real bird. The paperback one would definitely be improved without all the author blurbs. And thank you for reminding me that I need to read this book!
Oh you should! It’s sooo good!
When I was getting ideas for the topic, this was one of the books I considered. I thought the dead bird covers were too disturbing though, but very fitting for the story!
I really love the UK hardcover for this, it’s just so striking and I love that it’s like a print carving.
Ooh this sounds like a trip. that dead bird is creepy for sure! I actually do kinda like the US hardcover one it seems way spooky!
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I totally agree with your choice Tammy!
Such stunning and horrifying covers! Wow! Thanks for sharing. 😮
Lashaan Balasingam recently posted…The Question: The Deaths of Vic Sage by Jeff Lemire
I haven’t read this book but it’s on my TBR! I like the original cover best – I like the bird motif, but I prefer this over the paperback because I like the style of illustration and the blue tones.
Jenna @ Falling Letters recently posted…15 Middle Grade Releases from 2020 Still on my TBR
It is a bit disturbing but even so I think the bird cover wins this week for me. It just feels so spot on for the book