New Paperback Covers: Throne of Glass, Beneath a Meth Moon, Anna and the French Kiss and more

THRONE OF GLASS

(US hardcover, US paperback, UK paperback)

So much better than the first cover! I'm so glad they went with the UK cover. Although I still prefer the way the UK cover looks. I'm not fond of all that purple. 

VENOM

I loved the hardcover, so this is a bit sad. I think I would love the new cover if the couple on the front was gone or incorporated better.

SERAPHINA

The font is wicked (seriously, look at the "S" and the last "a"!). I love that it has color, but wish it wasn't purple. 

GILT (revised, thanks to Katie's comment!)

(Hardcover / Original paperback design / Actual paperback design)

Whoa. The original paperback cover is one of those book covers that would make me feel very awkward in public. I like that it doesn't have the same pale-as-death skin tone as the original cover. As for the new paperback cover (and the one that will be printed), I like it. The warm colors, the background...it looks great! 

RIPPER

I prefer the old cover. It's sleek, attention-getting. The new one is a bit too chaotic for me. 

RIFT

This is actually really close to the original cover...I kind of like the bright blue. I think I like both equally. Does her hair look less red? 

BENEATH A METH MOON

I like the change. The new cover makes me very curious about the story, while the first cover didn't capture my interest at all. 

DEVILISH

I'm not really fond of either cover, but I can't stand the original, so I'm glad they're changing it. The new cover captures the darker side of the story in a more obvious way. But the original captures the bursts of humor, too. Darn. 

CRANK

Definitely the original. It's simple, and it makes me curious. The new one makes me want to look away, the font is so distracting. 

Just revealed on SHELF LIFE

ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS 

I used to hate the original Anna cover (and probably never would have read that book if I hadn't received an ARC), but the adorableness has grown on me. The new cover is less embarrassing to read in public, but it wouldn't catch my eye if I was wandering around in a bookstore. 

 LOLA AND THE BOY NEXT DOOR

Yet again, the original cover has grown on me, so I prefer it more. I like the new LOLA cover better than the new ANNA. I love the warm colors. 

Bonus: ISLA AND THE HAPPILY EVER AFTER

It's okay. I'm not a big fan of font that takes over the cover, unless it's integrated in a unique way. I hope that they at least do something fun with the font for all three books (emboss, engrave, foil, something)! 

All in all, while I love some of the new covers, I'm starting to think that I'm not really a cover-change fan. Sometimes they are absolutely incredible, but other times...not so much. 

What are your thoughts? 

Review: Venom by Fiona Paul

Venom
Fiona Paul
October 30th, 2012
432 pages (hardcover)
Philomel
Source: Publisher (unsolicited)

"Cassandra Caravello is one of Renaissance Venice’s lucky elite: with elegant gowns, sparkling jewels, her own lady’s maid, and a wealthy fiancé, she has everything a girl could desire. Yet ever since her parents’ death, Cassandra has felt trapped, alone in a city of water, where the dark and labyrinthine canals whisper of escape.

When Cass stumbles upon a murdered woman—practically in her own backyard—she’s drawn into a dangerous world of courtesans, killers, and secret societies. Soon, she finds herself falling for Falco, a mysterious artist with a mischievous grin... and a spectacular skill for trouble. Can Cassandra find the murderer, before he finds her? And will she stay true to her fiancé, or succumb to her uncontrollable feelings for Falco?"

Prepare yourself for a story with vivid descriptions and a tantalizing mystery, because Venom delivers that and so much more. From luxurious masked balls to an eerie graveyard behind Cass's home, Fiona Paul's descriptions excelled using the third person POV to intricately depict each new locale. While it could have been easy to let the scenery outshine the characters or the plot, everything remains nicely balanced and equally well-written throughout the novel.

The deeper Cass digs into the mystery of a murdered courtesan, the more danger she finds herself in. With a killer that may be targeting her, not to mention her conflicting feelings for Falco (a mysterious and amusing artist) and Luca (her kind fiancé, who has a few secrets of his own) Cass's normal life spirals out of control. While at times it may feel like you've seen it all before¹, Venom takes each element and creates a story that is undeniably difficult to set aside. Mysterious, passionate, and surprising, Venom doesn't disappoint.

Highlights: Fiona Paul kept the mystery alive throughout the entire story by withholding the last final clues for the end. Despite the two love interests, it never felt like a love triangle since Cass only has eyes for one young man. Each love interest is more complicated than I expected – both are flawed, so it's challenging to choose a side. Description was lovely and so very vivid. 

Lowlights: Originally, I was going to give this book five stars based on pure enjoyment of the story. But, there were some issues. Multiple clichés, and the secret society in the summary was barely mentioned in the novel. Cass could be a bit too reckless sometimes, but I understand why she was (the story wouldn't have went anywhere if she wasn't a bit reckless). 

1 There's one section that seemed exactly like a scene in Titanic, if only a more PG-13 version. Not a bad thing, but it did make me want to watch Titanic again...

The Queen's Library (12)

For Review - UnsolicitedVenom by Fiona PaulThe Innocents by Lili PeloquinBlack City by Elizabeth RichardsFalling Kingdoms by Morgan RhodesCounting Backwards by Laura Lascarso

Freebies - AudiobooksCleopatra's Moon by Vicky Alvear ShectorAntony & Cleopatra by William Shakespeare
I have so much love for Penguin right now, especially since Venom and Falling Kingdoms were seriously high on my wishlist...and I was pleasantly surprised to find Counting Backwards in the mail too!
Thanks to Penguin Teen, S&S + Courtney S., and Sync! 


What did you get this week?


Credit/Inspiration