Lost in Pages

Today we’ve decided to pick some books and compare the US and UK covers! Sometimes, one country will have a cover that’s far better than the other, so let’s see which we prefer!

Katie’s (A Cup of Cyanide) Picks:

1. Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson

Katie (Lost in Pages): I haven’t personally read this series, but I’ve always heard great things! Just from a purely cover judge, I’d pick the UK edition. I really love the colors, and I’m typically not one to love people on book covers.

2. Vicious by V.E. Schwab

Katie (Lost in Pages): I seriously love all of these covers. I’m partial to the original US edition because that’s the one I read, but I really love both the US and UK new covers! I think they make the book seem even more dark and twisty.

Katie (A Cup of Cyanide): There’s four covers being given for Vicious because throughout of the recent cover redesign that comes with the release of it’s sequel. The order here go US old, US new, UK old, UK new. I personally have a soft spot for the old US cover, so that’s going to be my top pick. After that, I really like the new UK cover, since the bonds and black bars represent a thing that Victor Vale does in-book. Next is the new US cover. Honestly, I’m disappointed that this series is getting new covers period because I loved the old one so I suppose I’m biased against it. It’s not a bad cover, but I’m emotionally attached to the old one. Finally, the old UK cover is just ugly and generic looking in my opinion. It’s very unrepresentative of what the actual book is about.

3. Red Sister by Mark Lawrence

Katie (Lost in Pages): I haven’t read this one either, but based on just covers alone, I really like the UK one. The ice looks menacing, and the title stands out with the bright red font. The girl on the US cover does look pretty fierce, but I’m more intrigued by the girl on the UK one.

Katie (A Cup of Cyanide): I’m really torn on these covers! I like them equally. On one hand, the US cover has Nona in all her vicious beauty and I love the pose the artist drew her in. On the other hand, I love the use of icicles for (once again) a white-ish cover, with Nona hiding in the background in the UK cover. This is one of the few times when I think both regions have really pretty covers. My personal copy has the UK cover, but I’d be fine owning either!

Katie’s (Lost in Pages) Picks:

1. Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik

Katie (Lost in Pages): Because the covers of Uprooted always get pitted against each other, I thought it’d be fun to compare Naomi’s recent release. The UK cover is really pretty and matches the UK Uprooted, but I think the US cover is better on this one.

Katie (A Cup of Cyanide): Both of these covers are gorgeous in different ways! I think I prefer the UK cover because it gives off a more fairy tale vibe and feels kinda whimsical. The US version (ft. Miryam?) feels more fierce. I also really like the spinning wheel literally spinning a spool of silver in the UK cover.

2. An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

Katie (Lost in Pages): This series has gone through major cover changes in both countries! As far as the US covers go, I’m partial to the original because I love the silhouettes of Laia and Elias. Don’t get me wrong, I really love representation on the updated covers though! The UK covers have me torn because I really enjoy them both! If I must pick, I’ll have to go with the original — the embers are too beautiful, and I’m sad I don’t own this copy. Between the two? I’ll have to go with the UK.

Katie (A Cup of Cyanide): I haven’t read this series but I’ve seen the US covers everywhere! I know this isn’t one of the options, but I really liked the old US cover with the light shining through a window in the top left corner, but I understand the author wanted to show brown characters more prominently on the covers and I can respect that change. On the other hand, the UK cover features a cat, and I am a shameless cat person. Overall I think I like the UK cover more because I like the art and I think US version is too simple.

3. Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor

Katie (Lost in Pages): Hands down, easily the best book I’ve read this year. These two covers are both beautiful, but I’ve got to give it to the UK one. I also have the edition with the blue sprayed edges, so I’m a little biased there.

Katie (A Cup of Cyanide): Another series I haven’t read, but I have the same opinion here. I like the US version better because the UK version to me feels too simple. I’m also not generally a fan where covers are just a symbol overlaid a plain background. I’m really liking the drastic color difference in the US cover and I think it works really well.

Until next time,

Which covers do you usually prefer? Let me know in the comments below!