A lesson in what not to do for brand recognition

[telophase]

Okay, it's, at first glance, obviously a Peter V. Brett book, but when you stick it next to the other three, it seriously jumps out in a bad way.

I haven't read the books (tried the sample of the first one, didn't like it) so I have no idea if there's a reason for the difference: if the first three completed an arc and The Skull Throne were starting a second series in the same world, I could see changing the design up a bit to make it look thematically similar while keeping the new series distinct, but I gather from reading the Tor post on the new cover that it's all part of the same series.

(The question is: will reprints of books 1-3 be redesigned versions that match book ?)

edit Looking at Amazon US, the Kindle covers appear to have the original cover designs--for books 1 and 2, it's the same art, but with the title much bigger and Brett's name much smaller. I expect the covers above are redesigns put out after it became a bestselling series and they wanted to capitalize on Brett's name.

Books 3 and 4 are showing as different than the above, but different in design from the original and the above designs of books 1 and 2.

Looking at Amazon UK, it appears that the above covers are actually the UK versions, and they have been redesigned with the new font (which makes it harder to read his name in the thumbnail!), although they can't quite seem to settle on a positioning and size for the book's title. Book 4 will still stick out, if it remains the same as above, as they've moved the novel's tag line down and moved the figure's head up.

In conclusion: guys, pick a design and stick with it!

Comments

[weirdquark]

They can't stick to one design, actually, at least as far as US v. UK (or any non-US) editions are concerned; the marketing and cover design in different countries are different departments and they don't have permission to use the same covers. (Also because marketing is different in other countries, they wouldn't want to, because different covers sell in different places.)

[telophase.livejournal.com]

Between countries, I understand totally. But within one country is different: it's looking like, if I wanted a set of books that looked alike, I couldn't get them.

To be completely off topic

[wyrdness.livejournal.com]

I have such a visceral reaction to the mention of this series and it's not full of love and warm fluffy things. I didn't notice it so much in the first one, but the second book just seemed to consist of horribly sexist male characters sucking up all the "on page" time and doing awful, selfish things. At the same time the only previous example of an intelligent and independent woman goes in to an "I need babies and a man!" hormonal meltdown, which was a complete 180 from her prior personality and ambitions.

Most of the the details are foggy with time now, but I do know that it's left me with a complete aversion to this author's future work unless it gets glowing recommendations from multiple trusted friends.

RE: To be completely off topic

[telophase.livejournal.com]

Ah, the Heinlein Effect: all strong, capable women really want babies, babies, babies!

I don't even remember which extruded fantasy product sample this one was, because it was one of a string of samples I read from fantasy books with either evocative covers or evocative titles that just utterly failed to captivate me. So, yeah.