Saw this yesterday and instantly loved it. Evocative colours, very atmospheric and moody scene. It attracts and holds my attention far more effectively than any of these 'bloke-in-a-cloak' covers do. I immediately feel attracted to the book, I feel inclined to pick it up and read the blurb. Overall, I think it's a terrific cover and very effective.
The cover for Sullivan's first book, The Crown Conspiracy, is good as well. On a side note, has anyone read either of these novels and, if so, what did you think?
22 comments:
Yep, I like this cover too, very atmospheric. I image it appealed to you because of the colour too, you obviously like green ;-)
I have the first 3 books but waiting until the last book is imminent before starting to read them - looking forward to that day.
Thanks for the comments. I create the covers of each book myself. When my first book, The Crown Conspiracy, was published an artist was hired to do a painting based on suggestions I made. When the publisher showed me the sketch, I was less than pleased and quickly created my own and sent it to them. To my great relief the publisher chose to go with my illustration.
Since then I have continued to do all the covers for this series. I have restricted them to the depictions of settings, rather than true scenes, as I refuse to allow illustrations of characters on the covers. Everyone envisions the characters differently and I don’t want to spoil that for anyone. Continuity for the covers is created by the subtle style, a hazy loose, watercolor approach I sort of borrowed (inadequately) from Alan Lee, whose depictions of Middle-Earth always appeared so mysterious and magically intriguing. Each book however is differentiated by hue. The first done in a gold color scheme, the second in blue, the third in green. Sadly, I’ve run out of colors—purple, orange and red just don’t maintain the landscape motif very well, so the remaining three books will repeat the first three colors.
And thank you KP for purchasing the books despite waiting to read them. This helps to ensure all the books reach the shelves. I hope that if others are waiting on the series completion they are doing likewise.
Once more, thanks for the compliments and the post. These books are released through a small publisher and there is no advertising beyond what little I am capable of, so every little bit helps.
Michael J. Sullivan
http://www.michaelsullivan-author.com/
I've been following your blog for a while and I have to say that I never really thought much about book covers before, until I saw your cover comments. While I'm aware that a book's cover does influence my initial interest in a book I never really thought about what specifically draws my attention to a cover. And so lately I've been finding myself paying special attention to book covers, though I'm still not sure why it is the certain ones appeal to me more then others
I've got reviews of all three books up at my site...they're great.
I read all 3 novels and I loved the first two which were both personal favorites; Crown Conspiracy is a standalone in many ways with hints of the bigger picture but with a definite theme and ending; volume 2 Avempartha is in consequence the real beginning of the series as the big picture goes - though of course events from volume 1 impinge on it - and while it ends with a big TBC it has a great story; this one Nyphron Rising is very much a transitional story and it stands less well on its own; still a page turner and advancing the plot, I felt less satisfied with it at least until the next book comes when I will start by rereading it.
Overall I would strongly recommend the series.
Thanks all for your comments and thoughts on the series, I may well have to check these books out. And thanks also to Mr Sullivan for dropping by and explaining the reasoning behind the book covers in more detail - interesting stuff! Not seen the cover for the second, so I will check it out...
I think the cover looks better on this site with the black background.Little bit too breazy for me ..and sorry but nothing at all like Alan Lees work.Pleasant as it is it wouldnt get me to double take at it.Looks like a cover to an anthology of ghost stories.
Little bit too pretentious for my liking - Your not Stephen King where he can have a pretty much generic cover to sell his books.It has to show something interesting on the cover - this cover is just similar to alot of covers where it could be anything - substitute the blacked robed figure for a ruin of a castle.No difference.A cover like this would always look non threatening - like black and white photography of a ruin and a bench.Just another symbolic type cover -Maybe the characters in the book arent strong enough to depict on the cover.99% of the market cannot be wrong Michael.And I would say this cover just doesnt hold enough magintude to sell the story.It doesnt jump out at you - it sits there like a nice photo in a frame on a wall of a gallery - with pretentious types drinking wine and nodding at it agreeing that it holds some value.:o)
I just wonder why the only people so far to say anything that may even remotely be construed as negative are always ANONYMOUS? If you feel that way great, awesome, to each their own. Why hide though? Makes me think it's just negative to be negative. Ooooh, I got him man. Look at that. I am so frickin' awesome. See what I said about that author. I really put him in his place. Imagine that writing a book and the artist too. Pretentious bastard. I'll let him know about it too. 'Cause I could do SOOO much better. Better not put my name though or somebody might know. Man, grow a pair guys.
On another note are the books available in the US? I've looked everywhere in B&N and Borders at least and nothing. A heads up would be great. I've heard nothing but good. So six books? Thanks all.
Okay. So I'm pretty sure it's out in the US as the author is. All the books are written and awaiting publication. That's great. Guess I'll check Amazon and the crown out.
I like the covers very much as well and they totally made me want to read the story. Will try to find the books.
Ryan may be your made up name.after all you dont put your full name down.. wonder why? maybe you get something to hide.;o)
yours faithfully
Mrs Niggerbater
Ryan I wouldnt put it past you being a certain author ....maybe just maybe ..with a green book cover.? Ahhh the sweet sound of victory.
Wow. Needless to say, and as I'm kinda new, I guess dat der be a reason to not acknowledge that type of people. So sorry guys for saying anything. Probably would've been one and done. My bad. On another note I know absolutely nothing about art and know nothing about the books, but the books sound interesting and the covers look cool. I'd like to give them a shot.
I have been reading each book as it is released and the stories are amazing. If you're not a lover of the fantasy genre, don't let the fact that these are classified as such prevent you from giving them a shot. They are just good stories that draw the reader in, take him on an adventure, but leave him wanting to know more about the characters.
I love the covers and disagree that they need to show the characters or depict plot lines. I prefer the shadowy, forboding settings which allow my imagination to run wild.
Our book club is scheduled to discuss Nyphron Rising in February, so I'll be finishing it before then... with just a couple more months to go after that until book 4 is release!
Never heard of the Author so want be bothering to read it looks boring .On a different note who won the X Factor?
By the way the Author has put this link on his facebook page.you have to love it.Thing is I really couldnt give a stuff about fantasy or sci fi or whats on the covers.I just passed by and to think that the Author saId this is causing quite a stir - isnt really as I am a complete bullshitter and youve just fallen into my trap.I love you people.Good luck to the guy he sounds bit touchy but hey ho its all fun.Just dont take your selves too serious children .By the way Mrs Niggerbater is a character from Monty python just incase Ryan needs EDUMACATING.;O).lOL@ the only fame is from a mad person causing a stir on a blog page about him.oh rightttttt!! im quite happy with my madness. I must read fantasy sometime but first I have to go and edumacate myself.by the way i was all those anonymous people.yes so no one really caused the stir apart from me- so many things to do now-(PICKS NOSE FIRST )
Danielle nice comment but for all I know you could be a strapping 6ft4 inch bearded lumbajack for all I know.You may have stolen that photo .And the slight cleavage ( if i may be so bold) doesnt fool anyone.Im going to leave now but hope in some way I sent you through various stages of emotions..probably all negative though so my bad but hey its christmas approaching.So get drunk get the brushes and paper out and write those stories people and you never know what could happen ..you could end up with a nutter causing a stir on some obscure site online that 4 people read ..you just never know..byeeeeeeeeee:o)
Just one last thing( cant keep me away apart from after this comment)we can all take a jibe and hope the Author doesnt think bad of it Good luck to you all and happy reading.Its just like a village tea fair with the odd scattering of book types passing through and nodding to eachother..almost like an episode out of The Archers here.The ever so faint clinking of tea spoons and the waft of cheese and guffaw of the old fat man in the corner...that last bit was abit off ..much like this blog..started well trailled off in middle and less said about end the better - Edmund BlackAdder.But I think I should get royalties for the promotional side of things.Its a coffe book cover though..finally. In my humble oppion it doesnt quite do to say you refuse to have charcters on your covers.But you have done on this cover lol and no matter how small the appearance it still depicts the character so I can imagine youve not had quite the say so in that regard :o).Happy Christmas all. dont fall down any manholes over the holidays.
Wow....
Fantastic series. I am just 14, so I have not really yet experienced the full scope (is that the right word) of the fantasy genre, but from what I have read, this is one of the best. For a while, I have been scrounging for whatever novel I could find. Everything good the world seems to be producing is just too dark and gritty (Wheel of Time, The Sword of Truth etc.). The world is messed up enough as it is, why experience it all over again in a book. Your (M Sullivan's) sereis was like a much needed breath of fresh air in the Fantast world.
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