Friday, July 20, 2012

Friday Face Off: This Dark Endeavor

Well, from one redesign to another - and this time, I go against the grain (for me, anyway) and say I lurve the redesign. I actually want to buy these books now, which is why they do this in the first place. Still think they can wait for reprints, though...
Anywho, I present to you: Kenneth Oppel's Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein series, This Dark Endeavor and Such Wicked Intent. Though I will say, I do like the original cover on close-up, for the longest time I had no desire to know what this was about, based purely on the thumbnail I kept seeing on Goodreads. Did.not.appeal.  [Even if it does have a keyhole.] But the new covers - I saw those thumbnails and my breath stopped. What is this glorious thing? I asked myself. My inner-Smeagol came out and I had to have it (my precioussss). Everything, from the muted colors to the heightened, almost cartoony-but-not style to the fantastic font, everything has me wanting these on pure cover appeal. I haven't read a lot of reviews on these, but I have a feeling I will be buying them at some point...
But what do you think of them? Are you a fan of the old or new, or neither? Which would you reach for on shelves?
Which one did it better?
The Original

The Redesign


Last Week on FFO: The various incarnations of US versions of the Across the Universe series by Beth Revis went head to head, with the original, glossy/galactic hardcovers easily coming out the winner. Though there were aspects of the other covers  that some of you liked (and though there were a few of you who preferred another cover), the love of the originals and hatred of the rest was almost universal.Two other points were agreed-upon as well: 1 -We're all pretty certain that at least one of the redesigns was to attract a wider audience (aka boys), which we get, but 2 - We're all sick of covers changing mid-series, and wish this would be confined to reprints.
Winnahs ------> 

10 comments:

  1. Definitely the redesign :)
    The hottie on the cover helps ;)

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  2. The redesign definitely, it looks more sinister than the original one.

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  3. I read and reviewd This Dark Endeavor and really liked it! The original cover really goes well with the story, don't worry, I won't spoil ;) But I did end up buying the finished copy with the new cover since it is prettier to look at and matches the next book, hee hee!

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  4. +JMJ+

    I'm voting for the redesign. It's just classier. =)

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  5. I like the original cover better. I don't know - I feel it's more original and mysterious. I do like the architecture in the redesigned cover for The Dark Endeavour, and the overall gothic look of the new covers.

    This series is supposed to be a retelling of Frankenstein, right? I have the feeling the new covers are trying to be more appealing to female readers, while the original cover looks more like it could be a book for boys, too.

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  6. Though I agree with outRageous pages that the redesign looks more sinister (which is a big part of why I like it), I do think you're right that the redesign is to pull in female readers, Alessandra. They are a big part of the market, and purchasing power often dictates design.

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  7. I think the redesign just looks more eye catching. If I was to see it in a book store I would look twice at it and I think I would just walk byt the original!

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  8. I CAN'T DECIDE!!!! I think they're all brilliant. I was so captivated with the first, and so captivated with the redesign. CAN'T DECIDE. ;)

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  9. I like the redesign! The original feels too...heavy. Like a giant steel door is suffocating me. Also, the redesign is just nicer in my opinion :)

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  10. I like the redesign. My favorite part is the font, but I think it looks a bit better done too.

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