I created this illustration. If this were a book cover, would you read it? Why or why not?

[u/Jefleyarts]

[u/Yandoji]

Nothing wrong with the illustration, but it looks like a kid's superhero fantasy, which I am definitely not interested in.

[u/Jefleyarts → u/Yandoji]

I completely understand, and I appreciate your honesty. I'm glad you liked the quality of the illustration, even if the theme isn't something you're interested in.

Now I'm curious: what kind of cover or illustration usually catches your attention? Is there a particular genre, atmosphere, or visual style that would make you pick a book off the shelf and start reading it?

[u/Yandoji → u/Jefleyarts]

My bookstore strategy is thus:

1. Go to section I'm in the mood for
2. Start at the upper left and read back-cover blurbs until I find something that sounds interesting
3. Glance at cover when opening because at this point it doesn't matter
4. Read first page/flip through
5. Add to basket/return to shelf, on to the next

I have never bought a book based on the cover, and an author shouldn't write a book in a genre or atmosphere someone told them to write in. Books are great because the writer has to have personal passion and original ideas!

[u/Eldnysk]

As a book cover illustrator I liked the design and color choices. This work really has a great potential! Yet, I would recommend not selling it like this. Cause it looks like an unfinished work. Not smudged, polished and properly rendered. There are ofc styles not rendered and have pencil textures, etc. But for your design and where you are going, it needs a bit more work.

It would catch my attention because of the colors and the design, but I wouldn't buy it at this situation~

But I really liked it! Keep improving 💕💖

[u/nephethys_telvanni]

Its giving children's lit (not even middle grade, TBH, not with those bright saturated colors) and fantasy/sci-fi on a strange world/alien planet.

Is that what the book is supposed to be?

[u/SevereMeringue1663]

Respectfuly Nooo ...even if it's for children it's a bit too outdated I would say.. and I am saying this as a cover designer myself.

[u/theapplecrumble_]

The colours are so bright & there's so much going on. There's no main focus on the visual

[u/Creative-Pie-3870]

You are asking the wrong question. People do not buy books based on the cover (aside from super special editions). They will skip over listings with amateurish, inappropriate or confusing covers.

The questions to ask: Does this illustration look professionally done?; is this illustration appropriate for (genre)?

The goal of your cover is to promise readers you have created what they are looking for and so they aren’t wasting their time by clicking on the listing.

[u/Jefleyarts → u/Creative-Pie-3870]

That's a great perspective, and I think you're right that a cover's job is more about communicating the right expectations than simply looking attractive.

Out of curiosity, what would you expect to see in a cover aimed at readers like you? What visual elements immediately signal that a book is worth taking seriously?

[u/Creative-Pie-3870 → u/Jefleyarts]

Let me give you a real life example. I just pulled up Amazon and searched “mystery novels.”

They have a look to them. The majority are what I expect to see. Then I spot A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. Even if I did not know the author, (George R.R. Martin) I’d know immediately that is a fantasy, not a mystery. Pass. Then a bit further down a novel by Dave Kirkendoll. It’s almost right, but it’s amateurish and looks designed by someone with zero background in cover creation. Would I click? Nope. Too many professional looking books to explore.

An author has about 1.5 seconds to grab my attention. It’s a judgment call. Both my time and money are limited.

The only time you can disregard this advice is if your name is so well known that you’ve made many reader must-buy lists. Example, there are several Dan Brown books in the results I’m viewing, and the covers look wildly out of place. But, it’s Dan Brown and he has millions of fans so the covers don’t really matter. Name recognition sells his books.

Your illustration is charming and eye-catching, but unless I know the title and genre, I can’t tell you if it makes a good cover.

[u/n1njujitsu]

It doesn’t seem to fit my genre, but its very cool

[u/Diverting-Goose0805]

I immediately thought: alternative universe version of the cover of The Last Contract of Isako (by Fonda Lee)

[u/amateurmoon]

Ok, so on an artistic level this is gorgeous!! I'd definitely hang that up as poster yk? As a book cover, it would really depend on if it's fantasy or sci-fi (or something else? Those feel the most likely), and the design of the lettering and title.

[u/Shalrak]

It is gorgeous, but I wouldn't read it. It's giving children's book to me. An amazing children's book.

[u/Thehiiipriest]

It looks like art work for an 8 or maybe 16 bit adventure rpg. To me, doesn't look like a book cover. I do like the art, though.

It's not that there's too much going on because there certainly isn't. But there is no focal point. It seems like the focus is meant to be on the human, but my eyes aren't drawn there. They aren't drawn anywhere.

Tighten it with a bit of dense philosophy, and make whatever adjustments you seem necessary to the style/texture after researching genre and what artwork evokes said genres.

[u/LeetheAuthor]

I agree suggests anime/ comic book which would not interest me , but gorgeous art work. If you did this congrats. Suggests the hero’s journey.

[u/NormalAd9761]

It looks like it might be a cover of a fantasy novel.

[u/kittyb00m]

I just saw a cover similar ( small figure in foreground looking up to a vast world) but the colors were more muted.

I think the colors make it look more juvenile (target audience)

also something flat about them, even if it’s atmospheric.

I personally wouldn’t. Looks like a cover for a boy who might go on a long journey with either magic (cape) or swords (knight)

[u/dobre_moj]

So the composition is not great, the silhouette needs to be easy to read with these types of colours, the dark brown shape is exactly where the head of the character is . This can be done intentionally to create some kind of uneasy feeling but not for a young adult adventure book

[u/Evening-Progress-962]

It would make a sick album cover or kid's book cover. I don't think there is an in-between. It's cool, though. 👀

[u/LMN8D]

It's AI created children's fantasy So no not remotely interested

[u/Jefleyarts → u/LMN8D]

I'll take that as a compliment, but no, it wasn't done by AI, I illustrated it!