I've noticed that a few UF/YA covers have taken a bit of an edge to them. Sure, there are still lots of pretty guys and kick-ass girls, but there are more and more that seem to have use stills from horror films as their cover images. Perhaps we've just gotten darker and love the goosebumps when get when we see a scary book cover.
0.4 by Mike A. Lancaster
Eep! There are wires plugged into his veins. Seriously, icky icky icky. Reminds me of that scene in the Matrix when Neo wakes up covered in goo. Also, the cover reminds me a little of tentacles. Scary stuff.
The House of Dead Maids by Clare B. Dunkle
OMG those eyes! I really can’t look at this one too long without feeling like the girl is acccusing me personally. Talk about wanting to run and hide.
Another nightmarish girl on another nightmarish cover. This practically exudes The Exorisist!
The Replacement by Brenda Yovanoff
The Replacement cover is probably the scariest on here. This is so effective at unsettling people because it deals in binary oppositions – the safety and comfort of a baby carriage vs. the danger and cruelty of sharp instruments. Add to that the spooky fog and dead tree: you've got the scariest cover known to man. Whoever made this thing was a disturbed genius, and the UK publishers must have been out of their mind when they replaced it with the blah-cover they're using now (albeit, less likely to make people want to cry when they see at Waterstones).
Rot & Ruin and Dust & Decay by Jonathan Maberry
I adore these covers - at least in the sense that they seriously freak me out. They both have that edge to them that screams horror film to me.
So, which is your favourite (i.e. which ones make you want to hide under the covers!)? Or better yet, have I missed out any truly spooky ones from my list?
I must be a bit twisted because I love all those covers. I'm right there with you on the UK cover of The Replacement. The cover that freaks me out most is the UK candor cover...I am terrified of wasps eeeuck.
ReplyDelete@Vicki - You're so right about Candor. That cover managed to take pretty!colour!candy and then creeped it right up.
ReplyDeleteThe House of Dead Maids is utterly scary. Those eyes are just so gruesome.
ReplyDeleteAll these covers creep me out too! I am a huge cover shopper - I realize that is bad, but...
ReplyDeleteI didn't buy The Replacement until I had a chance to meet the author - I was so creeped out by the cover that I wouldn't buy it, then I met her and I was intrigued enough to get past the cover and buy the book!
This is the first I have seen the 04 cover - scary!
The House of Dead Maids wins out of these hands down - totally freaky! Great post though. This is my first visit to your blog but I'm following now so I'll be back!
ReplyDeleteI love creepy/scary covers! In fact, I love all of these lol. I don't think I'm the right person to comment on this post, seeing as I pretty much want to marry that Replacement cover ;)
ReplyDeleteThose do not look like plugs. They look flesh strings coming off of the hand. Eeky!!
ReplyDeleteI love The Replacement cover and thought it was as you said genius, it also was quite appropriate for the story. I think of as far as scariest though The House of Dead Maids wins hands down. Great post!
ReplyDeleteWow they really are freaky. I dont know if I want to thank you for sharing them LOL
ReplyDeleteok those first 2 really freak me out!! YUK YUK YUK on the hand one...*shivers*
ReplyDeleteFroggy
Froggarita's Bookcase
I posted the pictures in my Blog, :) I hope you don't mind.. :) I'm looking for this books now. And I hope to get them all! ^^,
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