I think covers with faces on them can work, but definitely not always.

Some covers with faces (or part of it) I think are stunning:

It was never aware of the fact that there are mostly white people on covers. I think it's annoying when the cover doesn't correspondent with the story.

I think that's another problem in the book industry: mostly white characters.

And I must agree with you guys, although film editions can be very pretty, usually I'll prefer the other version. I don't really know why, maybe because I don't want to see a possible interpretation of how the characters look? Although, in that case, film editions might be a smart idea. When I read Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets for the first time, I imagined charismatic and handsome Gilderoy Lockhart as this slimey monster with tentacles and his brains hanging out, so...

It's not that

Spoiler (hover to show)

Finnick died (which was heartbreaking)

and that the other characters did not have time at that moment to ponder over it. However, I thought

Spoiler (hover to show)

the grief would hit them at the next quiet moment, but it didn't.

. On top of that, I was very disappointed

Spoiler (hover to show)

Katniss fell apart at the end, I kept wishing she eventually get it together.

THG definitely was a good series though. The biggest disappointment is that it caused some kind of trend, where (not even a good) romance is poorly disguised as a dystopian. (But then again, other dystopians such as DIVERGENT and LEGEND are awesome, so everything has its positive and negative sides?)

Book covers can be very misleading indeed.

What do you think if you see this gorgeous cover?



I'm assuming you get high expectations, because who could not love such a cover? However, you get a brainless story that's just really, really bad.

But I love covers. An amazing cover alone can convince me to pick up a certain book. Sometimes it is utter brilliance, other times a huge disappointment.

It is also really interesting to take a look at the cover trends. I am mainly interested in YA books, and here are some really interesting posts on the recent cover trends:
Part 1: http://www.stackedbooks.org/2012/11/2013-cover-trends-part-one.html
Part 2: http://www.stackedbooks.org/2012/12/2013-cover-trends-part-two.html
Part 3: http://www.stackedbooks.org/2012/12/2013-cover-trends-part-three.html

I find it frustrating that so many covers look similar to one another. I get that it is marketing-related, but sometimes you're just looking for that one special book, not a 1000th paranormal romance that follows the Twilight-formula etc. But I guess it is getting better than dead-girls-floating-around covers?

It is startling though that most covers (at least in the YA genre) seem to portray white characters (sometimes even when the protagonist is not white). It is definitely one of the issues of the book industry (because apparently white readers won't like books with black or asian ethnicities on the cover?).
(More on this: http://www.katehart.net/2012/05/uncovering-ya-covers-2011.html)

To end on a high note, two covers that I think are amazing, with incredible stories attached to them:

@ Lone Wanderer: Yes, I have a Goodreads account, send you the link to it in PM.

@Forty-Two: 

@ Lacernella Rubra: Shame on you! But which one to start with... The Farseer Trilogy are the first ones. I read the Liveship Traders Trilogy first and they are still my favorites. Either one would be fine to start out with, but I think there is a certain character you would enjoy more if you read the Farseer Trilogy first (and everyone who read the books will know which EPIC character I'm talking about).
Furthermore, I would read the Farseer Trilogy before you read the Tawny Man Trilogy, and the Liveship Traders Trilogy before the Rain Wild Chronicles.
Robin Hobb has another trilogy as well, set in another world, the Soldier Son Trilogy, but I have not gotten to them yet, so can't really say anything about them.

Hi there!

My name is Saphira (some of you will remember me, as I was a member of the previous THOI and the Eragon forum before that), I'm 20 years old, live in Belgium and have two pet ferrets. Some of you may know I had three, but one had to be put down. Later this year I will probably get another one, since the two remaining ones are a bit lost and need someone to boss them around a new friend.

I am obsessed with books (and have been told I read too many last year... I know, one can never read too many books!). My favorite author is J.K. Rowling. I am still a Harry Potter geek, and proud of it! Another favorite author of mine is Robin Hobb. She is brilliant, no doubt about that, and I keep wanting more.

(Warning: I am going to start listing my favorite reads. If you are not interested in that, stop reading here.)

Some of my favorite fantasy reads from the past year are FINNIKIN OF THE ROCK by Melina Marchetta (!), POISON STUDY by Maria V. Snyder, THE SCORPIO RACES by Maggie Stiefvater (!), GRAVE MERCY by Robin LaFevers, THE GIRL OF FIRE AND THORNS by Rae Carson (!), SHADOW AND BONE by Leigh Bardugo, CITY OF DRAGONS by Robin Hobb and SERAPHINA by Rachel Hartman. I know. That's a lot, and those are only the fantasy ones. You should definitely check the (!) ones out, but I would recommend all of them. They are amazing. And if anyone can direct me to even more Fantasy books, especially YA Fantasy, please do so! Despite my impossible to-read pile (which is so huge I don't even dare to count it anymore) I want more books. I'm addicted.

Anyway, I try to read in other (sub)genres as well, but usually stay within the YA genre. Some of my other favorite reads are IF I LIE by Corrine Jackson (contemporary), Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout, which I definitely recommend if you are in need of some boy candy (paranormal romance), DIVERGENT by Veronica Roth (dystopian), EASY by Tammara Webber (contemporary and part of the New Adult trend), SOMETHING STRANGE AND DEADLY by Susan Dennard (steampunk), UNEARTHLY by Cynthia Hand (paranormal romance), ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS by Stephanie Perkins (contemporary) and a couple more.

Phew, that seems like a huge list, but I read 96 books and novellas last year (not counting non-fiction books) and am aiming for a 100 this year (17 books and 6 novellas so far!). I write a little as well, but nothing I am comfortable with sharing yet.

And on a final note, great job guys! I was a little surprised to see a new forum, but it looks amazing!