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 being nurtured by Lynn’s Book Blog and this week we are featuring STYLISED covers. I’ve selected The Invisible Library – Book 1 of The Invisible Library series by Genevieve Cogman – see my review.
This offering was produced by Pan in December 2014. This is the cover of the edition that I read, which probably has influenced my decision – because it is one of my two favourites this week. I love the lovely teal background and the nifty little details highlighted in gold, which gives a good sense of the period feel of this portal fantasy adventure. And while I don’t love the strapline, at least it has been treated as part of the overall design, rather than plopped onto the middle of the cover as an afterthought, as so often happens.
Published in June 2016, by Ace, this cover has clearly taken its inspiration from the original, with similar styling. The main differences are the background colour – that beautiful rich blue makes the gold detailing sing out. However, I find those details create just a bit less impact and therefore don’t draw my eye as successfully as the top cover. But I suspect this week, it is going to be down to personal taste, because there is nothing essentially wrong with this design, which is still beautiful and classy.
This Czech edition, published by Omega in October 2017, is my other favourite this week. I love that rich crimson background and the heavy gilded border and very elaborate detailing on the title font gives this cover a sumptuous, luxurious tone that harks back to a time when books were rare and valuable items. And what I particularly like about that dynamic, is that these are the types of books that frequently feature within The Invisible Library. It’s a dynamic which I think all these covers are reaching for – but this is the one that most successfully achieves it.
This Romanian edition, published in March 2019 by Editura Nemira, is another lovely offering. This time, the styling includes more colour and less gold and I particularly like that beautifully elaborate, steampunk-ish key featured in the middle of the design. However, I’m not so keen on those leaves popping up on the border design of the cover – that kind of flora simply doesn’t appear in this book. But I can’t deny that those little drops of red do draw the eye.
This Turkish edition, published by Timaş Yayınları in March 2016, is another lovely, stylised design. I like the mathematical feel of some of the detailing in the corners, as well as featuring the gothic detailing in the architecture of the Houses of Parliament. This one is so nearly a contender for my favourite of the week – but unfortunately, the lighter shading fades into near invisibility when in thumbnail, which was a dealbreaker, given the purpose of book covers is to draw the attention of a prospective reader. Which is your favourite?
Brainfluff 
I’m going to agree with you, I love the Czech edition as well, I think mostly because of the colors😁
Thank you for your input. I found this quite a tough call – they all have their strong points, but I loved the opulence of this one…
My favorite is for sure the first one! Although, the second one isn’t bad, it just seems a little plain. The fourth one with the ancient key really has me intrigued. All of them are really cool though.
Thank you, Wanda:). They are all cool, aren’t they?
Yes, they are!
I am familiar with the first cover because it’s the one for the only (so far) book in this series I have read, but I have to say that the second cover with the deep blue, the golden frame and that single key in the lower part looks so very elegant… 🙂
Yes – such a classic look with the deep blue and the gold:). I do think this week will very much come down to personal tastes, as there isn’t a bad cover here.
All attractive covers, but I like the first one best because of more period details.
Yes – the first one has been clever in the details that have been featured and works really well against that teal, which is a favourite colour of mine, anyway:).
I love all this series.
Thank you, Anne – oh, I completely agree with you! It has been such fun following this series:))
No contest for me this week. I loved the first one.
Thank you, Carla – it is a lovely colour combination!
I like the Ace June 2016 version. The key draws me in.
Thank you, Jennie – how interesting that you find the key such a crucial element in this particular design. You’re the second person to have mentioned it.
Wow! 😀
I like the first due to familiarity, and I love your choice because it is so rich feeling but the second Ace cover is my favourite. Something about the blue that makes the gold really pop.
Lynn 😀
It is a classic colour combination – and the joy of this week is that there aren’t any bad covers:))
I’m going with the first one I think. I love the color and the illustration on it. There’s almost an antique look to it somehow.
It certainly has that feel, hasn’t it? Have you read any of this series, Katherine?
Probably because it was the edition I read, I like the first best.
It does make a surprising difference if you have the cover of the book you read in the mix, doesn’t it?
Yes mam’
:))))
Hmmm. I think that second offering, only because I do love a mysterious key to an invisible place…
Yes – I’m really intrigued at how that key has snagged so much positive attention! It’s why I love this post so much:)).