In my opinion, featuring characters on book covers is a
blade that cuts both ways. Most of the times I am not thrilled to see the
characters given face on the cover, it leaves my imagination without a blank
canvas from where to start its work, I like it more when my mind can project
the image of the characters, based on the descriptions found within the pages
of the book. There are some such covers, however, I have nothing against. For
example, the cover of Molly Tanzer’s
debut novel “Vermilion”, although it
features the main character the cover leaves plenty of room for my own
imagination to weave around it. There is something else about this artwork that
makes me like it quite a bit, it reminds me of the western movies, the moment
when someone steps beyond the swinging doors of a bar and the figure silhouetted
by the outside light casts an air of mystery. True, in the case of Molly Tanzer’s
“Vermilion” book cover the character is not shrouded in shadows, but she still
radiates an air of mystery. Looking over the cover I want to know what the
story of this character is, who she is and what she seeks. Of course, the synopsis
of the novel offers a couple of short answers, but at the same time adds
further intriguing elements. From my point of view, the combination of gripping
synopsis, the previous excellent experience I had with Molly Tanzer’s short
stories and the great cover, designed by Osiel
Gómez and featuring the art of Dalton Rose recommends “Vermilion” as one of the novels not to be missed this
year. The novel will be released on April 15th by Word Horde.
Gunslinging, chain smoking, Stetson-wearing Taoist
psychopomp, Elouise “Lou” Merriwether might not be a normal 19-year-old, but
she’s too busy keeping San Francisco safe from ghosts, shades, and geung si to
care much about that. It’s an important job, though most folks consider it
downright spooky. Some have even accused Lou of being more comfortable with the
dead than the living, and, well… they’re not wrong.
When
Lou hears that a bunch of Chinatown boys have gone missing somewhere deep in
the Colorado Rockies she decides to saddle up and head into the wilderness to
investigate. Lou fears her particular talents make her better suited to help
placate their spirits than ensure they get home alive, but it’s the right thing
to do, and she’s the only one willing to do it.
On
the road to a mysterious sanatorium known as Fountain of Youth, Lou will
encounter bears, desperate men, a very undead villain, and even stranger
challenges. Lou will need every one of her talents and a whole lot of luck to
make it home alive…
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