Time and again, Pyr Books produces the best book covers in the industry. This time it’s Thief’s Covenant by Ari Marmell (formerly known as Household Gods). Normally I’d bitch about another thief-in-leather cover, but Lou Anders, the art team at Pyr and artist Jason Chan take the tired concept and inject some life into it. It proves that a good artist can take those proven elements (sexy figures sell books, you know), literally flip them on their heads, still have fun and, most importantly, be successful both artistically and commercially. Along with The Goblin Corps., Marmell’s really hitting the mark with his recent cover art.
Since I can’t complain about the cover, I will point out that Household Gods was a way better title. Still, regardless of the title, I can’t wait to get my hands on this one.
One of the things I love about Pyr’s cover work is how they are not framed. The art fills the whole page and you can almost imagine it continuing off page. It makes the books visually dynamic.
I also think Pyr is smart in their color choices. They are not shy when it comes to a bold palette. Combined with the minimalist font work and the covers are exceptionally striking and leap off the shelf.
I know that when I have friends over, my Pyr trade paperbacks are often the first ones people pick up and look at.
Hm, sounds a fun read! Though I agree, ‘Household Gods’ has much more originality to it: Thief’s Covenant just mixes two of fantasy’s staples.
[…] I featured the cover for Ari Marmell’s Thief’s Covenant. I liked it so much that I felt it was about time I featured some of artist Jason Chan’s work […]
Its a great cover which is something that one comes to expect from Pyr. It may have a figure on it but its different from the usual “bloke in a cloak” or “leather-clad thief” in that its an unusual pose and not the normal type where there standing up and waving a dagger menacingly in front of themselves.
[…] loved the cover for the first volume in Marmell’s YA Widdershins Adventure series, and I love this one. Jason Chan can have my […]