THE COVER GAMES is a feature here at the twirling pages! i’ll be discussing: miraculous cover changes, battles between the US cover/UK cover, heart-eye-emoji covers, and well all things book cover related!
(SHAMELESS FACT: i will judge a book based on its cover and i’m a total cover snob.)
if you’re active on bookTwitter or booklr (bookTumblr), you would know that people (including myself) were internally exploding yesterday morning/afternoon. why, you may ask? well, macmillan decided to announce some special news for THE WINNER’S TRILOGY. it was exciting for me since i love the first two books and the third/last is coming out soon. the company’s also been fairly quiet about this series, which i find strange (no ARCs, that i know of, and no crazy social media promo); afterall, the release for the last book is coming in a few months and the first two books were wildly popular. i dunno, i guess i was expecting more.
ANYWAY, an excerpt was released but that’s not what everyone was buzzing about. macmillan decided to change the entire series covers. you know, that would’ve been fine if it weren’t, you know, THE LAST BOOK IN THE SERIES. i don’t understand why they did this since they’d already had a perfectly fine cover released months ago. *exhales deeply* to say i’m “disappointed” is an extremely strong understatement. when is ever alright to change the cover mid-series? NEVER.
this is how i felt and currently feel and will continue to feel for the history of ever:
let’s inspect the damage. before vs. after.
i’m going to be honest here and say that the new cover aren’t all that bad. i’d think they’re fine if the original covers didn’t exist. if these were the new paperback versions, that’d be perfectly fine as well. however, i like the original covers SO MUCH MORE. i bought and read THE WINNER’S CURSE because of its cover. i saw it, and thought, “WOW I NEED THIS IN MY LIFE.” i don’t feel that with these new ones. and quite frankly, i find that the taglines are tacky. “some kisses come at a PRICE.” really?? REALLY??? *eye roll*
however, the worst thing is that they’re deciding to change it MID-SERIES. it may seem petty to you, but to me, that’s the difference between buying the book and borrowing it. i buy (physical) books based on their covers and overall aesthetic. if i don’t like the cover but want the content, i’d get the EBOOK so i don’t need to see it every time i go through my shelf. a cover, for me, is the difference between buying the book and not buying the book. that’s very important to the publishing company and the author, so this change is truly unfortunate for both sides of the case.
how does this reeeeeaally make us, readers, feel? (some of my favorite tweets from yesterday, as they sum up my thoughts pretty well.)
Changing the covers mid-series can be a crime too #TheWinnersKiss pic.twitter.com/UnJKIWVOHo
— Aila (@aila_1woaa) December 11, 2015
How to make cover changes: Keep hardcovers matching, repackage with the paperbacks. Readers who get hardcovers are PASSIONATE about matchy.
— Jodi Meadows (@jodimeadows) December 11, 2015
why do u change the cover on the last book :’)
— JINGLE JESS ♡ (@PrincessicaOB) December 11, 2015
RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU’VE EVER BEEN PERSONALLY VICTIMIZED BY A COVER REDESIGN
— Gillian Merry (@mizgillianberry) December 11, 2015
here’s more about the covers that maaaaay get you a bit annoyed:
- macmillan said they weren’t going to use the dress photos because kestrel, the main character, didn’t look “badass” enough. (tweet from macmillan was deleted so here’s a screenshot)
- here’s a rant relating to that
- the new covers also seem to be… not very original.
- that is all i guess
info about the books:
THE WINNER’S CURSE: review // goodreads // amazon // book depository
THE WINNER’S CRIME: review // goodreads // amazon // book depository
THE WINNER’S KISS: goodreads // amazon // book depository (scheduled release: march 1, 2016)
i want to point out that these are my personal opinions and i don’t mean to offend anyone. i think marie rutkoski’s work is fantastic and i will continue to read these books despite the cover change. i simply think the publishers made the wrong choice in changing them at this time. (seriously, ONE MORE BOOK LEFT.) anyway, what were your thoughts on the change?
I’m so annoyed. I got into the series a little late so I only have bought the second book. I was going to maybe complete the series and have all three hardcovers but now… Not. It’s really sad. If I buy the book it’ll just be as an ebook now. 🙁
i had always admired the winners series covers, because they proved that you could be badass and still wear a dress…but now…I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO SAY 🙁
I will still happily support Marie Rutkoski because I love her books, but I won’t lie, I almost cried when I saw that Macmillan was changing the covers mid-series. I would be TOTALLY fine if it was just a paperback recover, but now my hardcovers won’t match…*weeps* I am also kind of bothered by this movement of “powerful females” on covers, like a girl can ONLY be strong if she’s looking aggressive or holding a weapon on the cover. For some series (Sarah J. Maas), that works, but what was so great about Kestrel (and the dress covers) was that she was dressed in silk and frills while still looking cunning and like a survivor. I am all for empowering women, but girls can be just as fierce wearing dresses as a leather get-up.
Okay, now that I’ve ranted, I’m am going to go weep into my pillow.
OMG I didn’t know this!! Honestly, I’m very much dissapointed. I really don’t understand why they do this especially if the previous covers were pretty darn perfect and “badass.” This is just…so annoying! 🙁
My latest post Review: Saven: Deception by Siobhan Davis
I’m SO devastated about the cover change, I’m such a huge cover and hardcover snob. Seeing your post today was how I found out about the cover change, it makes us as a community furious not only because it’s the last book, but, because it wasn’t don’t as paperbacks. now, this pisses me off, I have to say. No matter what I buy hardbacks. I can’t stand paperbacks unless it’s the only format for some authors (Colleen Hoover). This design is really not that great, I was OBSESSED with the covers from before, and I hate that they’re changing it!!!
OH!!! Now I’m sad… those covers were beautiful and original and perfect, and now they’re just… the same old covers you’ find on any YA fantasy book. I kind of don’t want to involve myself in the series any more. (Is that a tad over dramatic?)
Beth x
I was definitely sad by the change too. You seemed to lay out all the important points as I did as well. It seems that most everyone is on the same page as far loving the original covers and not understanding the reason for the change. To be I feel if they were honest about why there is a cover change (money, artist thing, etc.) people would have respected the decision more. The similarities though are just bad.
Didn’t they say the new covers are just the new paperback edition? I hope so, because honestly these covers are hideous. Well, as long as I can still buy my hardcover fancy old edition I don’t mind it. Can someone please tell me if we can still get the old hardcover edition or they’re only going to sell the new ones from now on? I am desperate.
Unfortunately, they’ve officially stated The Winner’s Kiss hardcover is going to have the new cover, along with the paperbacks.
I’m so so soooo angry at this cover change and I can only hope that Australia does come out with the last book or else I’M GONNA BE DEVASTATED. I hate the new covers. I can’t even….gah, I just think they look cliche and kind of like some sappy adult romance? And I’m monstrously angry at that deleted Fierce Reads tweet. HOW DARE THEY SAY DRESSES ARE NOT BADASS. Also Kestrel doesn’t actually go around smacking people in the face. She’s not that kind of character. 0_0 She isn’t Katniss or Tris….so zomg, I don’t understand why they’ve done this. It feels sexist. And those original covers are some of my favourite of eeeever. OKAY I JUST GOTTA GO CRY NOW.
My heart is broken forever, and I don’t know if they’ve even seen the reaction to the covers where it’s being compared to the TOG covers. It wasn’t until I saw that did I get why I was so bothered by the covers to begin with. And I didn’t even know they tweeted that. God forbid a girl be badass while looking pretty in a dress.
I completely agree with you, I will not be buying the last book in the series because it completely throws off my entire cover collection! These new covers are really a let down. I found the dress covers very appropriate for Kestrel, because she was a privileged member of the upper class who mostly engages in the plot with cunning and tactical conversation, social politics, and plotting. Her dress is a status symbol of how she is able to be a protagonist AND not have to wield a physical weapon to be strong. I’m extremely disappointed with this choice. I feel like it’s mainly trying to piggyback on the success of series like “Throne of Glass.”
Okay wow the original covers are BEAUTIFUL, and I don’t like the new covers AT ALL. Whattt?? Not badass enough? Tessa Gray, Isabelle Lightwood, America Singer, and Genya Safin are badass. I personally think the now covers aren’t original, they have Throne of Glass vibes for me. THE NEW WINNER’S CURSE COVER IS BASICALLY CROWN OF MIDNIGHT GUYS. Winner’s Crime is Assassin’s Blade, and Winner’s Kiss is Throne of Glass. smh.
UGH I hate when publishers change covers mid series! I remember how mad I was when they did this for the last book in the Lux series >_> I haven’t read The Winners Curse series yet, but I do own the first book. I really don’t like these new covers, especially in comparing them to how beautiful the originals are 🙁
I was soooo disappointed to see the cover change! I absolutely adore the original covers and actually the covers are the reason why I was so drawn to the series in the first place.
I don’t like the cover changes of the first two books at all but I must say that I don’t really mind the last one, it could be worse, I guess.
And them saying that Kestrel didn’t look badass enough really pissed me off, I had to take a few calming breaths before scrolling on my twitter feed again. WOMEN IN DRESSES CAN BE BADASS.
I know right, having a book that isn’t matched with the others makes something in my brain itches too. That’s why I always buy them late. But it seems the UK version’s cover won’t change to the new ones. I hope it can help!
And haha yeah, to the 3rd book tagline. I found myself kind of speechless at first, too.
This makes me so angry. I absolutely adored the original covers for the series, but these just don’t feel like they match the series.
What I love about Kestrel is that she proves that intelligence and strategy are as powerful and dangerous as knives and swords (kind of like Annabeth Chase from the Percy Jackson series), which is why I’m disappointed that they’re trying to conform her to seem like a knife-wielding badass when that simply doesn’t match her personality.
I’m definitely going to still read it though. (I mean, after the cliffhanger at the end of Book 2, how could I not?!) Thanks for sharing though, and fabulous post! ♥
Okay, so I’ve been really behind in bookish news with my not blogging for a couple of weeks, but this is one piece of news I have heard about and I was shocked. I am pretty sure the covers aren’t changing in the UK so I am insanely excited about that (my covers need to match or I will hurt someone) but I hadn’t heard all the background you’ve put on and I am shocked at the reasoning behind it. I’ve heard of publishers changing covers because they want to relaunch a series and stuff like that, but because the dresses didn’t seem badass enough? That’s crazy. I don’t tend to hear as much about bookish things like this because I prefer to avoid the drama, but don’t you feel like sometimes there are a couple of idiots at a publishing house who shouldn’t be allowed to be let lose on things? I think it’s probably that they wanted to get on or off a cover bandwagon somewhere and they have just gone about it in completely the wrong way, but we shall see what happens I suppose
Why do they do stuff like this. !! My OCD just blows up if I have the entire set, but it still doesnt match!! Why!?! The Red lush gown cover reveal was good enough for me , and it MATCHED! *sobs*
Lmaoo I’m honored to be the first Tweet featured! 😀
But seriously, that news just upsetted my day! I’m also quite sorry that the author had to go through that. I’m sooo happy that Macmillan listened to readers though, and are still releasing the originally-planned cover for book 3 in hardcover. Hip hip hooray for this publisher!
I’m just happy they listened to the readers! The power of social media. haha
I haven’t read this series, but I still agree with everything you have said. The original covers are beautiful. And she’s badass BECAUSE she’s wearing a dress. Girl power! Why do girls have to look like boys to be tough? THEY DON’T.
And those taglines are gross.
Oh dear, I was mentally freaking out the whole time I was reading this post, and then I got to that list bit you added and I remembered to breathe again. Seriously, I am so obsessive about book covers, it isn’t funny, and changing a book cover scheme mid series, especially to something that’s just of lesser quality all over, is pure betrayal. And the girl in the redesigns looks, if anything, less badass.