May I get your opinion on potential ebook covers?

I like the eyechange path option, though I can't decide whether or not I like the boxed in "a faerie girl in..."

I agree with Caitie. First thing I thought when I saw them was: This is YA?

Both the images and fonts used aren't quite right.

JMVHO

Hope that helps!

Rue

Upper right, but maybe because dark green is my favorite color.

I like the top two best. I think the Natural Glade one is really striking. I will say, I don't pick up the "faerie" part at all though. Somehow need to ramp that up. Conspicuously pointier ears perhaps? Suggestion of wings? Not sure. But in general, I think a good start.

eye change is my preference, but none of them are quite doing it for me. while the top right is nice, it looks like a paranormal romance to me. i like the overall design of top right, but the girl is wrong, imo.

vrabinec said:

I like the eyechange path option, though I can't decide whether or not I like the boxed in "a faerie girl in..."

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^^^ This, word for word, except that I do NOT like the bracketed box.

I don't know why others aren't getting a YA vibe, when there is clearly a young YA-aged girl pictured. But it's all valid food for thought.

None of the covers say YA to me at all. And YA is that genre where the covers need to be very obviously recognisable. It's an extremely competitive genre and readers are actively looking for certain things that tell them immediately it's the book they want.

I have to agree with the others. None of those really say YA to me. Actually my first reaction was Urban Fantasy in a less urban setting--the kind Charles de Lint writes. The upper right one reminds me bit of the cover of Moonheart.

I also have to say that the girl somehow doesn't really fit. She looks obviously pasted into the image and doesn't really flow. Same btw with the other covers.

IMHO, the girl needs to be way less translucent.

The image isn't appearing for me?

Nothing showing up for me either

Morgan here. I'd like to thank all of you for offering your opinions on the four covers. Your comments have been great, and I agree with most of them. These are four starting points James offered me initially, and I'll be giving him feedback on them, tempered by what you've all said.

Yeah, the image has stopped displaying for me, too. The image link is to my public Dropbox folder, and I'm wondering if Dropbox is having some trouble right now. Perhaps that will clear up soon.

I like the natural glade cover option, and also, I want to read that book! I love the concept

#7 strikes me as foreboding, mystical, etc. I like it best...

#6 would be my second pick, but #7 seems far better.

#3 is happy, girly looking. If that's what you're going for, take it. But the title and the Faerie girl in a modern world paints me a dark, supernaturally picture that I wouldn't normally associate with most of the covers- and most definitely not with #3.

Personally, I find the lack of a face or character makes the covers a little bland.  I guess if I had to pick one, I'd go with #3 since the warm colors at least look a little magical. None of these really say YA fantasy to me. Sorry.

I'm also missing a girl on these covers. Even one small and off at a distance would be enough to make them more interesting.

If I had to pick one as is, I'd probably go with #8 as it has the strongest focal point.

JMVHO

Hope that helps!

Rue

I agree that you need to keep the girl. I'm assuming you're just looking for feedback on the background and are planning to add a girl once you figure out the background. It's YA -- you definitely need the heroine in there.

Anyway, Natural Glade was my favorite of the original options, and Otion 8 is my favorite of the new ones. But please add a girl, even if she's small and off in the distance.

Personally, I find the lack of a face or character makes the covers a little bland. I guess if I had to pick one, I'd go with #3 since the warm colors at least look a little magical. None of these really say YA fantasy to me. Sorry.

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No, no, don't apologize. I value everyone's opinions.

I agree with your sentiment regarding the lack of a portrayal of my MC on the cover. Putting her there would go a long way to selling 'YA contemporary fantasy'. The problem is that if I put her on the cover, she has to be accurately portrayed, and that's a challenge that pushes beyond the bounds of stock photos. I mean, she's a faerie, and not a traditional one.

Personally, #2 is my favorite from this round. However, I'm not really in love with the background art in any of them, yet.

What's your opinion on the typographic elements?