Today I’m going to post some US book covers and foreign versions. More pics, less words!

 

Above you see the new UK cover for Charlaine Harris’s Dead and Gone, which mentions the HBO series, but not that this book is part of Harris’s Southern Vampire books. The cover has none of the charm, whimsy, or mood of the old book covers.

The US cover on the right is marred by the tacky red medallion that says more about the HBO show than Harris’s books. The book is referred to as “A Sookie Stackhouse Novel,” when they were always known as part of the “Southern Vampire series.”

  

The US cover for Carrie Vaughn’s Kitty and the Dead Man’s Hand is that yellow “I’m a paranormal because yellow is not normal!” tint and features a model’s backside a moon and a tiger. The girl has a braid and a kickass hands on hips stance.

The UK version is all moody and blue and features a more pensive girl with a bun and a back tat, the moon, and the Transamerica Pyramid. This is more, “I’d like to go out with the pack, but I’ve got a lot of laundry to do, and maybe I can watch my Hugh Grant dvds.”

Kim Harrison’s US cover of White Witch, Black Curse is very Christmas greeny, a daring departure from the usual orange-yellow-red paranormal spectrum.

There’s the chick wearing the standard huntress ensemble: thigh-high black boots, barely covering her ass minidress, honking huge gun, standing so that her assets show in a way.

  The UK cover of White Witch, Black Curse just says “to hell with the conventions.” The bold typeface is a brilliant orchid color, the model facing full-on in a way not seen in US covers very often, the sense of wild times. I look at this cover and guess that there’s some fun inside, not the broodiness of the green cover.

In the immortal words of Kermit the Frog, it’s not easy being green.

The US cover of Richelle Mead’s Succubus Heat goes for the traditional paranormal red theme, albeit more of a burgundy.

The succubus in question has her face in a three-quarters shot and wears a silver armband, orangey frosted lipgloss and far too much eye shadow that is appropriate for anyone but a succubus.

I think her expression is saying, “I’m pretty sure I recognize you, and if you give me a minute I’ll remember.” Her style is, uhm, a little more trash than class.

 The UK cover of Succubus Heat also has a three-quarters face shot, but the succubus has a hip, Anna Wintours bob, and know she looks fabulous in her black-on-black ensemble. She’s ready to hit the parties, ready to conquer a hot guy. The font is fun, as is the tag line, “It doesn’t get any hotter than this…”

Check out this awesome blog here.

I am loving these covers…SO Girl Power! I especially love the Succubus Heat cover…that chick looks super FIERCE!

If you could re-design one of your fave books covers, what would you do?