This cover is from the American printing of one of my very favorite books (the first in a trilogy). Sorry, it's a bit dark, but you can see a bigger brighter image on Amazon at (http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/055327211X/ref=sib_dp_pop_fc?ie=UTF8&p=S001#reader-link).
Generally, I think this is a well-done cover depicting a scene from the first chapter of the book. What's the problem, then, you ask? First I'll give you the less obvious, and then move on to the reason this is perfect for Phriday. The woman kneeling is the main character, ready to reject the world and devote herself to temple life. Yet, for some reason, even as she prepares to take her vows and turn her back on the pleasures of the flesh, she feels the need to coat her face in cosmetics? And do her hair up all gorgeous? And apply a fresh coat of nail polish? Um... no. Second, the soldier behind her is the Commander of her father's army. He's in his late 50s or early 60s in the book -- not his 20s. Would it really be so hard to make him older? Readers aren't THAT shallow, are they? Are they? Also, he has just come from a furious battle in which his army was decimated and he, himself, was injured, yet is depicted wearing ceremonial armor without a speck of blood to be seen. Huh??
Ok, now to the obvious. You all know where I'm going, don't you? What is going on with the front of his armor? I'm sure this guy is a strapping young soldier, but not even HE could need protection that far down, could he? And why is it shaped like that? It's like a neon sign, pointing to ... well, actually to the ground, but it is obviously a subliminal message meant to make women swoon. And we might, if only we weren't so distracted with the purple feathers on his head.
9 comments:
LOL this dude has me laughin. His "protection" is soooo hilarious. Why is that girl's face so weird?
That's supposed to be Keyoke? In Roman armour? And that is not what Mara looks like, either, I'm sorry. This is really bad.
Bettina
I'm assuming it's Keyoke, because he came to Lashima's temple to get her. I have the Australian printing of this book and the cover shows Mara in the contemplation grove with blonde hair.
lol, The purple feathers! Actually, though, you have made me want to read the book, where the cover would have put me off.
I only wish *my* copy of Daughter of the Empire had a titillating cover like that - it is mostly words, and a small picture of Mara on a boat with servants and guards, but heck, you can't see any detail!
Buzzfloyd, I can't recommend the book highly enough. I've read it many, many times.
Just in case her raising an eyebrow and looking sidelong at his amorous armor doesn't get the message across . . . let's put a big fat candlestick in between the two of them.
I wouldn't quite call those danglers phallic... near neighbours, maybe
Janny wurts sound painful and undignified.
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