Cover VS Cover: ZOM-B Underground

So it's been a little while since I've done a Cover VS Cover post! The last one is in August... Earlier this year, I did one for Zom-B by Darren Shan, and in honour of the second book in the series, Zom-B Underground, which is out 3rd January, I thought it only fair that it got the same treatment... So off we go!

UK // US

So, the UK cover, obviously it is eye-catching... and I suppose as it's the one I shall own I love it straight away. The colouring, the image, the FIRE! But then we have the US cover. I was kind of lukewarm to the US cover for Zom-B and it actually gave me the chills, too scary, but there is something I quite like about the US cover for Underground. Again, as with the UK cover, I like the colouring, the yellow verging on green, and I like the image. There does seem to be more going on here, the image seems to speak more action than its UK counterpart...

So this time, a rather rare occurrence, I think I have to go with the US cover! I adore the UK one, and of course it's the one that I'll have on my bookshelf, but there's something about the American artwork that just clinches it for me!

Which one do you prefer?

Cover VS Cover: Gods and Warriors by Michelle Paver

If you are a regular reader of the blog, or follow me on Twitter (@empireofbooks), then you'll no doubt of heard me rant and rave about the amazingness of this book, Gods and Warriors by Michelle Paver. Well, the book is out in just a few weeks, both in the UK (28th August), and in America (4th September), as well as being released internationally around the world in the coming months. There are a few covers for the book floating around, so today, it's a three-way Cover VS Cover, as I've found 3 covers that I really like...

I have to make them small so they'll all fit in, so please do click on them to make them bigger to get a closer look... Now...

From left to right we have, the UK cover. The Swedish cover, and the US cover. All three, I'm sure you'll agree, completely different and yet enticing covers. I'll start with the UK one, which I adore. I love the colouring of it, the crows - It'd definitely make me want to pick it up if I saw it in a book shop, for sure. The boy and the girl (Hylas and Pirra) silhouette, the eeriness of it all, I quite like.

The Swedish cover, I also like. It shows the dolphin, Spirit, as well as our hero, Hylas and his new friend Pirra. I'll be honest, I'm not a massive fan of covers that show the characters face so vividly. It does annoy me slightly as I want to imagine them, it's part of the fun. Also, Hylas does not really look how I imagined him when reading. I like the dagger in the background (very important in the story), and the Black Warriors in the background looking ominous. Lovely. 

And finally, the US cover. Now, I'll start by saying when I first saw it I simply said "No." Just no. Awful. But I have come to actually like the cover. I think what startled me is that it shows perhaps on of my favourite scenes in the book and it just didn't look right. Now however, I do quite like the cover. The colouring, and getting to see the scene in a new light is great.

Over all, I think I prefer the UK cover. Biased? Maybe. I just think it's the one that I'd rather own out of the three, although all three are brilliant covers!

So, which one do you prefer! And be sure to get your copy when it's out on 28th August here in Blighty, and on 4th September in America.

Cover VS Cover: Zom-B by Darren Shan

I am a massive Darren Shan fan, so when he announced a year or so ago that he had a new series starting Autumn 2012 I could not of been more excited. Fast forward, and there are just 2 and a bit months to go until the book is out. We know now that it's called Zom-B, and there are going to be 12, yes 12!!!, books in the series! It's also being published in America around the same time, and both cover looks are pretty different...

UK / / US

Now, both covers are pretty grisly. That is for sure. The UK one always makes me shudder whenever I see it. The way the guy looks... UGH! I like the colouring on the cover and the way the text is written. And with the US cover... I'm sorry but that is just scary. The expression on that guys face! Seriously. He looks terrible - quite literally! I like the subtelty of it, and yet it's all over the top gore. Love it! I love both of them. It's kind of hard for me to choose, but I know if I was to walk into a book shop now, I'd choose the UK cover. The American cover just freaks me out way too much.

So which do you prefer? UK, or US?!

Zom-B will be published on 27th September!!!

Cover VS Cover: Scopia Rising

US // UK

Today I pit the US and the UK covers for Scorpia Rising against one another. The final book in  Anthony Horowitz' incredibly successful, addictive and epic Alex Rider series, it came out last week and while both covers are pretty eye catching, they are very different from one another!

I really like the colouring on the US one, how the scorpion looks like it's red hot. And I like the background image too of the sniper. 

And on to the UK cover... wow. What can I say?! Certainly makes you look again doesn't it? And the effect is even more so when you see the actual book in the flesh. I love the simplicity of it. Just a black cover with the red scorpion. And you'll see that there's no title, but there is a lacquer layer on the actual book that you can read when the light hits it. Pretty cool! The onlt downside to this cover is the scorpion. We've already had a scorpion on one of the covers and this one is pretty much identical apart from the actual stinger is positioned slightly different. But that's by the by. The whole cover itself is just so brilliant it doesn't even matter. It's just something I noticed a bit.

This week I have to go with the UK cover. It's just so plain to see why. The US one is good, but just doesn't compare to the UK one.

So which one do you guys prefer?

Cover VS Cover:

UK // US

Changeling by Steve Feasey was re-branded Wereling for the US, so for a starteRs I already prefer the UK edition because the title just fits so so well!

I read the book a few months ago on my Kindle, and have since purchased the second book, which I am currently waiting to get around to. A review is soon to follow, it's on the to do list! But in the meantime...

I think it's a given which one is the winner this time. The colouring. The overall image. The effects on the cover. The feeling it evokes. The UK just has to win. The US cover lacks something. It's dark and brooding, which fits the feel of the book, but it just doesn't give that urge to read which the UK one gave me!

So there we go, Steve should be very proud of his UK team for creating such beautiful work.

Cover VS Cover: Lex Trent

LEX TRENT VERSUS THE GODS / LEX TRENT FIGHTING WITH FIRE

Normally, Cover VS Cover takes one book and compares the UK cover art against the US, or the hardback vs the paperback should they differ. Well this week, it's taking two books! The first two Lex Trent books by Alex Bell. Lex Trent Versus The Gods published earlier this year, and the sequel, Lex Trent Fighting With Fire out early next year which I cannot wait for!

The cover for Fighting With Fire was revealed earlier today over on Alex's blog (http://www.alex-bell.co.uk/blog/) and is amazing. Look at it. So cool. Orange. And the actual image in the disc. The dragon, and EVIL RABBITS! It's just awesome. I love it.

I love the UK cover. Blue is my favourite cover but the winner this week has to be Fighting With Fire. However, I like the way the title is written on Versus The Gods more. It looks like stone, giving it the feel of epic legendaryness (is that even a word?). I love both covers but Fighting With Fire is immense and I cannot wait to read it. Roll on February! :D

Which one do you prefer?

Cover VS Cover:

US // UK

This is on my reading pile and I can't wait to get to it, and today the US cover art is going to battle it out with the UK cover!

I might be biased considering I own the UK edition, but the British cover art is beautiful. The image is just so cool and powerful. It has a matte finish while the black is glossy. Everything about it is just brilliant!

As for the US cover, it's nice but there's something un-definable that I don't like about it. I've seen a few other people say that it reminds them of Christopher Paolini's Inheritance cycle books. So perhaps it's that. It just doesn't look as nice or enticing as the UK cover. 

This week, it just has to be the UK. I'm sorry, but in my opinion there is no competition!

So which do you guys prefer?

Cover VS: Cover: Birth of a Killer by Darren Shan

US // UK

Birth of a Killer is the first book in The Saga of Larten Crepsley by horror extra-ordinare, Darren Shan! It came out on 30th September and is the subject of this weeks Cover VS Cover as I pit the US cover against the UK one!

There are different elements that I like in each cover! In the US I like the background as I think it's symbolic of what Larten will receive in his life as a vampire. Kind of like it's a gift. I lso like the kind of soft, pastel feel to the colours. But the actual cover as a whole, I'm not really a fan of. I don't like any of the fonts used. They just don't fit well with the themes of the book and almost look a bit showbiz...

What I really like about the UK cover is that it's dark. I like the colours used, the setting in the graveyard. The fonts used, in particular the one for Darren's name, which actually looks like it's been carved into a gravestone, is very cool! I feel the UK cover is more representative of the feel of the book. It's the one that, if I saw it in a bookshop, I would be more inclined to buy.

So this week, the UK wins! What about you, which do you prefer?

Cover VS: Cover: Trash by Andy Mulligan

US // UK

This week, there isn't much competition at all.

I am currently reading this book and loving it. Trash by Andy Milligan. You'll be able to see my review sometime next week I believe, but for now, here is the synopsis: 

Raphael is a dumpsite boy. He spends his days wading through mountains of steaming trash, sifting it, sorting it, breathing it, sleeping next to it. Then one unlucky-lucky day, Raphael's world turns upside down. A small leather bag falls into his hands. It's a bag of clues. It's a bag of hope. It's a bag that will change everything. Soon Raphael and his friends Gardo and Rat are running for their lives. Wanted by the police, it takes all their quick-thinking, fast-talking to stay ahead. As the net tightens, they uncover a dead man's mission to put right a terrible wrong. It's three street-boys against the world...

Sounds good, doesn't it? Now, back to the covers! I don't like the colour or the style of the US cover. It just doesnt appeal. But the UK cover. Perfection. It's a stunning image, the way the title is written, the different layers of the art really give the feel of looking into the distance. In person, you appreciate the bits in the foreground that are shiny while the rest is matte which only adds to this effect. The colour. Everything is beautiful. Check it out below in it's full wrap around beauty!

(Click to Enlarge)

So this week, the UK wins hands down! Which do you prefer?

Cover VS Cover: Angel by Cliff McNish

Hardback//Paperback

I reviewed this book back when I started up this blog, and thought that it was about time that it featured in a Cover VS Cover war. This week it's not the UK vs the US. It's the hardback edition, versus the paperback edition.

I adore the hardback cover. It's the one that I own and it just looks amazing. The colour. The angel itself. The font used for the title. The mystery and eeriness of it. It's just perfect. It kind of makes me think of a cold winter night, the colour of it. Dusk on a misty December day. I know it sounds weird but that's the image it conjures.

The paperback, it just as nice. But there's just something about it that doesn't appeal to me and I can't put my finger on why. It's got the same font which I love. But the angel just doesn't feel right. I know the story is dark, and it's referring to the dark angel, but for me it makes it too clear, while the hardback cover is somewhat misleading which I like.

So this week, I have to go with the hardback! What about you? Which do you prefer?

Cover VS Cover: The Familiars

US // UK

This week I've chosen the cover for up-coming action/adventure/fantasy hybrid, The Familiars: Animal Wizardry, already out in the US of A and published in the UK on 30th September. I have this on my reading pile and am hoping to read and review it this week.

Personally, I like both covers. They're very eye-catching and appealing. I like the shades of blue used. On the UK cover, I really like the whole looking glass image, the way the animals are silhouetted., and the way the font is placed. 

On the US cover, I really like the magical feeling it has. It looks more mysterious than the UK cover. I like the look of the animals and I love the font. However, it looks a little younger than the UK cover.

This week it's really hard for me, but I think the UK one just slightly pips the US cover to the post. It would be the one that I'd be more inclined to pick up in the book shop!

What about you? Which do you prefer?

Cover VS Cover: Numbers

US//UK

Earlier this week I posted my review of Numbers 2: The Chaos, the sequel to Rachel Wards fantastic Numbers, and so this week, it features in Cover VS Cover.

I only recently discovered the US cover art and I have to say that it is every part as striking and brilliant as the UK cover. I love the numbers used in the background and the placement of the eye. Also I think the 8 is clever in the place of the B in the title - little things like that always seem to amuse me...

But there's just something about the UK cover. The placement of the title, how it's so simplistic and yet effective. The use of numbers in the place of letters is even more clever and I love that the image appears in the title. I think that it makes for a more striking image.

So this week, I'm afraid I have to go with the UK. I love the cover and it looks amazing on my bookshelf.

What do you think?

Cover VS Cover: Mockingjay

US//UK

As you will know if you are a regular reader of Empire of Books, I am a massive Hunger Games fan (although only recently!) and adored Mockingjay. And so what better way to kickstart Cover VS Cover as a weekly segment here on EoB than this amazing book?!

I have to say that I'm torn. I love both covers. I own the UK covers and so am more biased towards them as they're the ones I've loved and read. However, the US covers are just as brilliant. I love the blue, and the actual mockingjay. The US cover gives a sense of hope. 

I love the firey colours on the UK edition. It symbolises so many things in the trilogy, Katniss is the girl on fire after all.I love the fonts used on both editions but I like the UK one more. I think it's clever how they incorporate Katniss and Peeta into the title.And I really like the HG logo. However, sometimes I feel the UK covers are a little too cluttered. If they got rid of the quote from S. Meyer on the front, it'd be better. It's really the only thing they can cut from the cover, as it doesn't really do anything for it.

This isn't a major complaint, but one thing that annoys me is the Stephenie Meyer quotes. On the front and on the spine! The spine! That annoys me just a teeny weeny bit. I think it spoils the artwork to see a quote on the spine AND on the front. That's one reason I really like the US cover. It's so simple and yet effective.

But if it comes down to it, I just have to choose the UK cover. It's what I know and love. And it looks so amazing in the flesh.

Which do you prefer?

Cover VS Cover: The Radleys

I'm currently reading this, The Radleys by Matt Haig. It's being published next month (July 2010) under two publishers in a joint publication deal. Cannongate will be publishing the adult edition, which you can see on the right, and Walker Books will be publishing the children's edition, on the left.

I really like both of these covers. I think they're both quite quirky. The blood running down the fence post on the adult edition. The red house standing out on the children's edition. The sin city feel of the children's edition is brilliant.

For me, I have to go with the children's edition. Not just because that's the one I own, but because it's the best of the two, or at least the one I prefer. It's a lot more intriguing and artistic.

Cover VS Cover - The Vampirates Series

US Covers up top, UK covers on the bottom. Please click to enlarge!

I intended to do this, and Jenny over at Wondrous Reads said she saw a Cover VS Cover coming up, and here is is! :D

As regular readers of EoB's will know, I am a big fan of Justin and his Vampirates series. I think they are brilliant for readers of all ages and can't recommend them enough, but I don't want to talk too much about the content of the books in this post, for fear of repeating myself. This is merely a commentary on the cover art.

I loved the original UK covers, and was sad when S&S made the decision to change them. But in hindsight, it's the best decision they could of made. These new covers stand out on the bookshelves. They're bright, but dark at the same time. And shiny too!

I was also a big fan of the US covers, but I never felt that they had the same drawing quality that the UK covers. And then Little Brown also made the decision to re-jacket the books. And goodness what a job they have done!

These new US covers which you see before you are absolutely stunning. Yes, they are kind of scary. But they are just so enticing, so intriguing. The use of the skull, the font used for the VAMPIRATES logo. The shining lights out of the eye sockets. Just simply amazing! Created by Justin Gerard, these are true works of art. One very proud Vampirate fan here!

This Cover VS Cover has to go the US, I'm afraid. That's a very rare occurrence as I'm not normally a fan of US covers, but these covers are possibly my favourite so far of 2010! Well done Little Brown! Big thumbs up.

Cover VS Cover - Empire of Night

UK//US

Now, being a big fan of Justin and his Vampirates series, (and of course running the fansite, TheNocturn), I take a big interest in the international covers for the books aswell as my native UK covers.

When S&S changed the covers of the series, launching Black Heart as the first with the new style, I have to say I was mighty annoyed. Why fix something if it isn't broke? But I have since fallen in love with them, and the design of Empire of Night is just perfect. The comic book/manga style reverse on the front cover is brilliant.

On the other side of the pond in the US, I've never really been a fan of the UK covers as they've generally been a little bit of a re-hash of the UK covers, just in a different style. But now Little Brown are also re-launching the series with a stunning new look. A look for the series that makes me want to emigrate I love it that much!

The cover for Empire of Night, as you can see about is completely and utterly stunning. My favourite book cover of the year so far, I hasten to add. I am seriously going to have to import a copy of this. It's perfect. The colours. The skull. It really fits the horror side of the story.

Bravo Little Brown. So for this one, the US cover gets my vote. A very rare occurrence as normally I prefer the UK art for most books!

Cover VS Cover - Dark Life

US//UK

Okay, so while I'm waiting to do my review for Dark Life by Kat Falls, I thought I'd do a quick cover vs cover. UK vs US.

This for me is majorly easy. The UK cover is my favourite. It's stunning. It stands out, the colours are brilliant. The sharks. The sub. The divers. The font and the tagline. Everything about this cover is just brilliant. It'll look great in the shops, and as I have already said, it'll stand out.

However, there's something I like about the US cover. It's so simple, elegant and the meaning is there. How Gemma thinks that the houses are jellyfish and how Ty says that they are designed to be like jellies. A very good idea there. I like the blues used but when it's next to the UK cover, it doesn't really have any appeal.