The art isn’t amateurish… but it’s bad nonetheless. (Also, chicklit writers give suspense awards? Â Isn’t that like SFWA awarding “Best Western of the Year?”) (h/t L.)
Something is disturbingly off about the two people. Maybe it is the lighting or the size of their huge heads, or maybe because he is staring into the distance like a mindless zombie.
Also, does her body go off-kilter below her sparkly bosom? That waistline seems very high.
Besides their pseudohuman vibe, I think the creep-factor is that she looks 16 while he looks 40. He also looks like he just kidnapped her from her prom and is escorting her to his wilderness cabin.
“… That waistline seems very high.”
That’s what’s called an Empire Waistline where the skirt falls from a band just below the bosom, rather than from the natural waistline between the thorax and abdomen. It was more popular in times past.
On the other hand … er, arm … the guy’s forearm appears short to me and I don’t think perspective explains that.
It’s actually a fairly common style to have the dress waist immediately below the bust. It’s called an empire waist. But something about the thickness of her arm compared to the with of her body seems off to me…unless that’s foreshortening? I agree that something is not quite right, but it’s not the high dress waist. And yes. The huge heads are weird, too, and on first glance, I actually thought they were pseudohumans.
James F. Brown
9 years ago
Whenever I see a testimonial on the front cover, I automatically assume the books is basura.
L.
9 years ago
So many body parts, so many different dimensions.
L-Plate Pen
9 years ago
Bit off-topic here, but WHY do some authors put ‘A Novel’ on their covers? Isn’t that, like, obvious? What exactly do they think we’re going to mistake their masterpiece for – a DVD made of pieces of paper stapled together?
![cover[1]](https://lousybookcovers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/cover153.jpg)
Something is disturbingly off about the two people. Maybe it is the lighting or the size of their huge heads, or maybe because he is staring into the distance like a mindless zombie.
Also, does her body go off-kilter below her sparkly bosom? That waistline seems very high.
Besides their pseudohuman vibe, I think the creep-factor is that she looks 16 while he looks 40. He also looks like he just kidnapped her from her prom and is escorting her to his wilderness cabin.
“… That waistline seems very high.”
That’s what’s called an Empire Waistline where the skirt falls from a band just below the bosom, rather than from the natural waistline between the thorax and abdomen. It was more popular in times past.
On the other hand … er, arm … the guy’s forearm appears short to me and I don’t think perspective explains that.
You ninja’d me on the empire waist thing. 🙂 It’s actually making a comeback in fashion now.
as for the “and I don’t think perspective explains that.”
Perspective does explain it – but only if you realize the guy is standing on an alternate plane of reality.
It’s actually a fairly common style to have the dress waist immediately below the bust. It’s called an empire waist. But something about the thickness of her arm compared to the with of her body seems off to me…unless that’s foreshortening? I agree that something is not quite right, but it’s not the high dress waist. And yes. The huge heads are weird, too, and on first glance, I actually thought they were pseudohumans.
Whenever I see a testimonial on the front cover, I automatically assume the books is basura.
So many body parts, so many different dimensions.
Bit off-topic here, but WHY do some authors put ‘A Novel’ on their covers? Isn’t that, like, obvious? What exactly do they think we’re going to mistake their masterpiece for – a DVD made of pieces of paper stapled together?
A couple of (legitimate) reasons.
1) To distinguish it from nonfiction.
2) To connote that it transcends genre.
Perhaps bad taste, but…
(Best singing voice) He’s got Warwick Davis arms!