This meme was started by Books by Proxy, whose fabulous idea was to compare UK and US book covers and decide which is we prefer. This meme is now run by Lynn’s Book Blog and the subject this week featuring on any of our covers is HAIR. I’ve changed things around this week – I’ve selected the series of covers produced for The Iron Druid series by Kevin Hearn, which I’ve always thought were so very well done. I love the fact it’s the same model throughout and that his hair is fabulous…
Hounded, the first in the series, was produced by Del Rey in May 2011 – and set the tone and style for the rest of the series. I love the fact he’s in a t-shirt, featuring THE sword and not even looking at us. And the way the light plays through that adorable blond hair is just so effective… This is Atticus as I’ve imagined him throughout the books.
Published in June 2011 by Del Rey, that hair is now being blown across his face as he faces off against a foe we can’t see. Interesting to note that this series started off being released so quickly…
This, the third in the series was released in July 2011 by Del Rey. I’ll be honest, this is probably my least favourite of all the covers. I don’t like the fact that the lower half of the cover is so very dark, effectively chopping poor old Atticus off at the waist. Still think the hair is awesome, though😊.
The fourth book was released in April 2012 by Del Rey – and now we see Atticus use his magic. I love the drama of this one and the lurid lighting – I think it’s one of the most eye-catching and attractive of them all.
This fifth book, released in November 2012, is a real contender as my favourite for the series – and to be honest, was the cover that popped into my mind when I saw that HAIR was this week’s theme. Two wonderful heads of hair for the price of one…
This one, published in June 2013, has Atticus once more brandishing his sword as he battles lethal gods and goddesses that he’s annoyed, with those storm-tossed blond locks looking so fabulously disarranged.
And – this cover is my favourite. Released in June 2014, I love the determined expression on his face… the way the light plays around his sword… the runes in the air… and of course, that hair.
This, the eighth book in the series clearly took a bit longer to write as it wasn’t released until January 2016 – and hats off to them that they still managed to feature the same model they’ve used throughout. I just wish the title font wasn’t quite so large, so we could see more of those stakes.
The final book in the series manages to produce a cover that defines the series – poor old Atticus still swinging that sword of his, looking seriously worried. Revisiting these covers has brought back a raft of really happy reading memories.
While I loved them, the only niggle I have is while there is a fair amount of angst, there are a lot of laugh-aloud moments in all the books, courtesy of Atticus’s greyhound, who has a telepathic link to the druid and a penchant for attractive female poodles and sausages. And there isn’t a hint of that humour in any of the covers. Ah well, they feature a gorgeous blond bloke – I suppose you can’t have everything… Which is your favourite cover?
Brainfluff 
Love this, Sarah! What a great series to feature. I personally didn’t even consider any “male” hair when I was looking for a book, but how silly of me😁 Not sure I can pick a favorite, but I love the way they stuck with the same model and atmosphere throughout.
Thank you, Tammy – I’ve always loved the way his hair curls and moves as he is waving that sword around:).
I like the cover for Hexed best! And I didn’t know about the Greyhound, that sounds hilarious! I’ll have to check these out 😀
I look back on this series with great affection – and the fact that I read all 9 books says quite a lot. I’m not that good at keeping up with long, long-running series.
They are all effective.
Thank you, Rae:). Yes – even my least favourite works with well with the rest of the series, I think.
One of my favorite series. I listened to them and love the covers. It was nice seeing them and hearing your thoughts. I miss this world.
Thank you, Kimberly – I, too, miss this world. Although going onto Goodreads, there are a number of short stories and novellas that interleave these novels…
Oh yes, Atticus and his mop of sexy curls 😀 I like all these covers, to be honest!
Thank you, Mogsy – I love the description ‘mop of sexy curls’ nicely sums them up:))
Good hair is essential to a book cover. And of course the book itself 🙂
Ah well, that character does surely love some wind in his hair… 😀 😀
I think it’s swishing that sword about that does it:). I, for one, would spend my days tossing my hair about if it looked that gorgeous in mid-flick…
This series does have some solid covers and I like they sue the same model for all the covers. I think I agree with you with Tricked being my favorite cover of these. I still plan to check out this series eventually.
Thank you, Lola:). Yes – I highly recommend this series, looking at the covers reminded me of all the drama, mixed in with the hilarity.
I loved this series and I choose the same one you did because it shows Granuille and Atticus. They are both redheads and kick-ass Druids.
Absolutely! Long live kick-ass druids… though perhaps one that isn’t quite so good at stirring up all the other gods as dear old Atticus:)
I love all these – what a great choice, I feel quite bashful (as noted by Tammy) that I never even thought about male hair! How very wrong
Lynn 😀
Well, I didn’t even think seriously about female hair – Atticus and his blond locks immediately floated through my head. Not sure there’s anything too right about that!
LMAO! What a hair series! I that first cover is simply brilliant, esp with the light shining in his hair. The others don’t quite catch that shine. 🙂
No, but I still think he has amazingly cute hair:))
I think this is an interesting study not only of the hair 😉 but also of the series branding. Thanks to you we get to see how the font and general art style had changed over the course of years.
And as I agreed with you the last time, this time I disagree: the fourth book is the least favorite of mine, mostly because of the foreshortened arm and hand looking very unnatural. The problem with human body and foreshortening is that in some positions it looks very unnatural and unrealistic, especially when additional effects (magic/light effects) cover it, making it impossible for the eye to notice the flow of the limb. And though I have no doubt that the hand belongs to the model, it looks swapped, too small, and generally out of the place. A pet peeve perhaps, but once I see it, I can’t unsee it. 😉
And I didn’t even think of the foreshortening issue! Until you mentioned it – and now I can’t unsee it, either – lol… Too fixated on the cool spell-zapping appearing from his hand and those lovely curls blowing in the breeze:)). Looking through these covers again, does remind me how much I loved the series.