u/beweenthebindings

I've been reorganising my shelves, and I noticed that some of my favourite covers are actually the trade covers over special editions (even though I almost always prefer SE edges than first print run edges).

So I was curious as to what people's favourite trade covers that feel like a SE are? And endpages and edges too but I know they're less commonly given the same attention!

Ones that inspired this post were the Legacy series indie covers (Rain of Shadows and Endings series - I hated the Arcane character art covers in comparison) and I also love the look of The Sweetest Fiend, Under the Iron Sky and Defy the Dusk trade editions. WTMH Alice Cao edition is to die for (I have the DJ on my Fairyloot copy). I'm obsessed with The Book of Azrael kensington edges and endpages (however I do not like the trade covers), I love the Half City trade cover as much as FL, and for romance/non-fantasy, I love the chestnut springs mirror covers and I like a lot of weird litfic covers because they're at least interesting (whereas I love dark romance but I read them on my kindle because a LOT of covers look nearly identical before actually reading them and I don't have the shelf space for covers I can't differentiate even if the story is great).

I don't know how to find out who designs covers if they aren't in the trad acknowledgements or copyright page, otherwise I would probably have a favourite designer/artist who doesn't do SEs! If there are any artists that are insta buys (Alice Cao obviously) I would love to know because I'm at the point where I don't have the room to keep covers I don't love physically instead of on kindle, but I also really like going to the bookstore...

Okay so I know how horrible static character art on the cover is. It sucks! Eg: Kindred’s Curse saga (that was abysmal). But I AM a sucker for good character art on dustjackets and i’m seriously missing that with FL this year!

I know it’s in response to feedback asking for less of it, but i feel like we wanted less static character art and not absolutely no character art (the direction they’re leaning in with sub books at least).

I certainly don’t want it for every book, that’s also not great, but I feel like we haven’t had any for the adult sub this year at all - with books like the winged game that is just such a missed opportunity!

I wanted to know if anyone else wanted more dynamic character art or if the feedback straight up was no more character art on dust jackets at all bc in that case i may drop my subs i love good character art 😭

Could FL october romantasy be blood & steel? Or would that be a no go because they did iron & embers first? The adult upcoming months are bangers but i’m hoping for more than one big hit in the romantasy box (we’ve got september).
I have a sneaking suspicion they’ll do it outside of the sub but i’m hoping i’m wrong.

Any other ideas for october romantasy?

Seasoned fairies,
I know many people are thinking about cancelling at the moment, so i thought this could be a good way to look back on our fav designs and see what direction the company is moving in: improving or worsening overall.

I thought we could share, across every book FL has done both in and outside subs, our answers for some or all of these questions:

Favourite artist:

Favourite dust jacket:

Favourite edges:

Favourite hardcover:

Favourite endpapers:

Favourite book (content):

Least favourite dust jacket:

Least favourite edges:

Least favourite hardcover:

Least favourite endpapers:

Least favourite book (content):

It could be interesting to see if everyone’s faves are recent!

I feel like these are stacking up? The crossword teaser was AGES ago so I’m wondering if they were gauging interest?

Please feel free to add any that I’ve missed!

- Bloodwing Academy

- Conform

- Part of Your World (mortal) (though maybe this was teasing the March romantasy theme ‘part of your world’ and not the series, part of your world)

- Daggermouth

- War of Lost Hearts

Hoping and praying these don’t all drop at the same time for my wallet’s sake (+ that we have more than one good sub pick across all boxes every month, and that we do better than May design wise…)