More musings on cover art

[redchild]

I'll admit that I'm not quite sure what to make of that last cover. And those GRRM covers... they're quite nice, but it does really suit the grim and gritty tale within?

Yes it does give off an entirely different "feel." Much more like a classic fairy tale than an accurate representation of the story so in this case it could be misleading to a first time reader. They do lend an air of "timelessness," though, which I think can also be appreciated. On the other hand, many book covers don't convey what the book is about anyway.

In this case the generic, emblematic covers can be a strength as while they do not convey the grittiness of the story, neither do they promise you anything nor cater to any expectations. So you pretty much dive in blindly with very few preconceptions.