Book Wars a weekly feature hosted between two book review blogs – A Life Bound By Books & Much Loved Books!

It’s a fact that book lovers know all about the covers of the books they covet. Often when a title is released here in the UK, it’s sometimes vastly different across the pond in the US.  So, Michelle from Much Loved Books and I have come together to create Book Wars to talk about the difference in covers when it comes to the US vs. UK versions.

We hope from time to time authors will chime in with their thoughts as well. We welcome everyone to comment and share their thoughts too! The more the merrier!

Before we get to this weeks Book Wars, we have a winner to announce. The Book Wars winner for Insurgent by Veronica Roth is...USA!!!!!! Thank you to everyone who voted for both books, and for picking a winner.

Also, there's a poll at the bottom of the post that we'd love to hear your input for the two covers! Tell us which one YOU love the most.

Left: US - Right: UK

Title: Black Heart
Series: Curse Workers #3
Author: Holly Black
Publisher: US - Margaret K. McElderry Books , 296 Pages, (April 3rd 2012), UK - Gollancz , 296 Pages, (April 19th 2012)
Add to Goodreads: USA Version | UK Version
Order online here: USA: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository UK: Amazon UK, Waterstones, The Book Depository

Synopsis: In a world where Magic is illegal.

Cassel Sharpe has the most deadly ability of all. With one touch, he can transform any object - including a person - into something else entirely. And that makes him a wanted man. The Feds are willing to forgive all his past crimes if he'll only leave his con artist family behind and go straight. But why does going straight feel so crooked?

For one thing, it means being on the opposite side of the law from Lila, the girl he loves. She's the daughter of a mob boss and getting ready to join the family business herself. Though Cassel is pretty sure she can never love him back, he can't stop obsessing over her. Which would be bad enough, even if her father wasn't keeping Cassel's mother prisoner in a posh apartment and threatening not to let her leave until she returns the priceless diamond she scammed off him years ago. Too bad she can't remember where she put it.

The Feds say they need Cassel to get rid of a powerful man who is spinning dangerously out of control. But if they want Cassel to use his unique talent to hurt people, what separates the good guys from the bad ones? Or is everyone just out to con him?

Time is running out, and all Cassel's magic and cleverness might not be enough to save him. With no easy answers and no one he can trust, love might be the most dangerous gamble of all.

About Holly:

Holly Black is a best-selling author of contemporary fantasy novels for kids, teens, and adults. Tithe, Valiant, and Ironside), The Spiderwick Chronicles (with Tony DiTerlizzi), and The Good Neighbors graphic novels (with Ted Naifeh) The Poison Eaters and Other Stories, a collection of short fiction, and The Curse Worker series (White Cat, Red Glove, and Black Heart). She is also the co-editor of three anthologies, Geektastic (with Cecil Castellucci), Zombies vs. Unicorns (with Justine Larbalestier), and Welcome to Bordertown (with Ellen Kushner). Her most recent works are the middle grade novel, Doll Bones, and the dark fantasy stand-alone, The Coldest Girl in Coldtown. She is the author of the Modern Faerie Tale series.

She lives in Massachusetts with her husband, Theo, in a house with a secret library.

Find Holly Online: Website | Journal | Twitter | Facebook

Let the Wars Begin: Its now time to make our decision, let's see what we think about the covers and pick our favorite cover.

Lisa So, this week we have two VERY different covers. I wasn't a fan when they changed the US covers to this new style. I liked the direction the original covers were going.

The UK cover is dark and kind of twisted and I love it! I'd like to see what these look like in person.

My vote for this week goes to the UK cover in all it's dark glory.

Michelle I do like the new covers for the USA editions, but my vote goes to UK for this week. I love the effects of the UK editions, the background effects, and the black heart is perfect for this book, in a creepy kind of way. It's a UK win for me this week.

VOTE for YOUR favorite cover of Black Heart by Holly Black NOW!

QuestionPro

Book Wars a weekly feature hosted between two book review blogs – A Life Bound By Books & Much Loved Books!

It’s a fact that book lovers know all about the covers of the books they covet. Often when a title is released here in the UK, it’s sometimes vastly different across the pond in the US. So, Michelle from Much Loved Books and I have come together to create Book Wars to talk about the difference in covers when it comes to the US vs. UK versions.

We hope from time to time authors will chime in with their thoughts as well. We welcome everyone to comment and share their thoughts too! The more the merrier!

Before we get to this weeks Book Wars, we have a winner to announce. The Book Wars winner for Into the Still Blue By: Veronica Rossi is...UK!!!!!! Thank you to everyone who voted for both books, and for picking a winner.

Also, there's a poll at the bottom of the post that we'd love to hear your input for the two covers! Tell us which one YOU love the most.

Left: US - Right: UK

Title: Red Glove
Author: Holly Black
Publisher: US - Margaret K. McElderry Books , 325 Pages, (April 5th 2011), UK - Gollancz , 272 Pages, (June 14th 2011)
Add to Goodreads: USA Version | UK Version
Order online here: USA: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository UK: Amazon UK, Waterstones, W H Smith, The Book Depository

Synopsis: The cons get craftier and the stakes rise ever higher in the riveting sequel to White Cat—now in paperback!

After rescuing his brothers from Zacharov’s retribution, Cassel is trying to reestablish some kind of normalcy in his life.

That was never going to be easy for someone from a worker family that’s tied to one of the big crime families—and whose mother’s cons get more reckless by the day. But Cassel is coming to terms with what it means to be a worker, and he’s figuring out how to have friends.

Except normal doesn’t last very long. Soon Cassel is being courted by both sides of the law and is forced to confront his past—a past he remembers only in scattered fragments, and one that could destroy his family and his future. Cassel will have to decide whose side he wants to be on, because neutrality is not an option. And then he will have to pull off his biggest con ever to survive….

About Holly:

Holly Black is a best-selling author of contemporary fantasy novels for kids, teens, and adults. Tithe, Valiant, and Ironside), The Spiderwick Chronicles (with Tony DiTerlizzi), and The Good Neighbors graphic novels (with Ted Naifeh) The Poison Eaters and Other Stories, a collection of short fiction, and The Curse Worker series (White Cat, Red Glove, and Black Heart). She is also the co-editor of three anthologies, Geektastic (with Cecil Castellucci), Zombies vs. Unicorns (with Justine Larbalestier), and Welcome to Bordertown (with Ellen Kushner). Her most recent works are the middle grade novel, Doll Bones, and the dark fantasy stand-alone, The Coldest Girl in Coldtown. She is the author of the Modern Faerie Tale series ( She lives in Massachusetts with her husband, Theo, in a house with a secret library.

Find Holly Online: Website | Journal | Twitter | Facebook

Let the Wars Begin: Its now time to make our decision, let's see what we think about the covers and pick our favorite cover.

Lisa This week we have the original US cover and the creep-tastic UK cover. Since this is a series I haven't read yet (don't yell!) BUT I have them this one (this US cover) on my shelves I'm inclined to give my vote this week to the US cover. The UK cover seriously creeps me out and I'm not sure which one fits better, but I like that the US one is mysterious and the gloved hand is somewhat chilling.

So, US wins for me this week. Which cover is the winner in YOUR eyes? Cast your vote below!

Michelle Once again I have to go the with the UK cover for Red Glove. The USA version looks creepy, but in a wrong way. The red glove just doesn't look right on the models shoulder. The UK one has the great wrinkled effect on the cover and the red glove really stands out from the background. UK wins for me thins week.

VOTE for YOUR favorite cover of White Cat by Holly Black NOW!

QuestionPro

Book Wars a weekly feature hosted between two book review blogs – A Life Bound By Books & Much Loved Books!

It’s a fact that book lovers know all about the covers of the books they covet. Often when a title is released here in the UK, it’s sometimes vastly different across the pond in the US.  So, Michelle from Much Loved Books and I have come together to create Book Wars to talk about the difference in covers when it comes to the US vs. UK versions.

We hope from time to time authors will chime in with their thoughts as well. We welcome everyone to comment and share their thoughts too! The more the merrier!

Before we get to this weeks Book Wars, we have a winner to announce. The Book Wars winner for Through The Ever Night by Veronica Rossi is... the US cover!!! Thank you to everyone who voted for both books, and for picking a winner.

Also, there's a poll at the bottom of the post that we'd love to hear your input for the two covers! Tell us which one YOU love the most.

Left: US - Right: UK

Title: White Cat
Author: Holly Black
Publisher: US - Margaret K. McElderry Books , 320 Pages, (May 4th 2010), UK - Gollancz , 320 Pages, (June 17th 2010)
Add to Goodreads: USA Version | UK Version
Order online here: USA: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository UK: Amazon UK, Waterstones, W H Smith, The Book Depository

Synopsis: Cassel comes from a family of Curse Workers - people who have the power to change your emotions, your memories, your luck, by the slightest touch of their hands. And since curse work is illegal, they're all criminals. Many become mobsters and con artists. But not Cassel. He hasn't got magic, so he's an outsider, the straight kid in a crooked family. You just have to ignore one small detail - he killed his best friend, Lila, three years ago.

Cassel has carefully built up a facade of normalcy, blending into the crowd. But his facade starts to crumble when he finds himself sleepwalking, propelled into the night by terrifying dreams about a white cat that wants to tell him something. He's noticing other disturbing things too, including the strange behavior of his two brothers. They are keeping secrets from him. As Cassel begins to suspect he's part of a huge con game, he must unravel his past and his memories. To find out the truth, Cassel will have to out-con the conmen.

About Holly:

Holly Black is a best-selling author of contemporary fantasy novels for kids, teens, and adults. Tithe, Valiant, and Ironside), The Spiderwick Chronicles (with Tony DiTerlizzi), and The Good Neighbors graphic novels (with Ted Naifeh) The Poison Eaters and Other Stories, a collection of short fiction, and The Curse Worker series (White Cat, Red Glove, and Black Heart). She is also the co-editor of three anthologies, Geektastic (with Cecil Castellucci), Zombies vs. Unicorns (with Justine Larbalestier), and Welcome to Bordertown (with Ellen Kushner). Her most recent works are the middle grade novel, Doll Bones, and the dark fantasy stand-alone, The Coldest Girl in Coldtown. She is the author of the Modern Faerie Tale series (She lives in Massachusetts with her husband, Theo, in a house with a secret library.

Find Holly Online: Website | Journal | Twitter | Facebook

Let the Wars Begin: Its now time to make our decision, let's see what we think about the covers and pick our favorite cover.

Lisa With this weeks cover we're featuring a US original cover that's since changed and a UK cover that I had never seen before. While I own and do like the US cover there's something so different about the UK cover that I can't stop looking at.

It looks simple but I have a feeling it's not. I love that it has a cardboard look to it, wrinkles and all. I love the colors or lack there of and I love the tag line at the time. This week was easy for me - UK all the way!

Michelle I first stumbled upon White Glove via audiobook, and then I knew I had to read the book. Being in the UK I got the UK version of this book, and the rest of the series. Looking at both of these covers in front of me now, I still would pick the UK cover over the USA one. I love how neutral it is, which does make it stand out among a shelf of colourful books, I also love the effect of texture on this cover. It may not be the most colourful, bright cover with no male model on the front, but it's a winner in my eyes. MY vote is UK all the way this week.

VOTE for YOUR favorite cover of White Cat by Holly Black NOW!

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Book Wars a weekly feature hosted between two book review blogs – A Life Bound By Books & Much Loved Books!

It’s a fact that book lovers know all about the covers of the books they covet. Often when a title is released here in the UK, it’s sometimes vastly different across the pond in the US.  So, Michelle from Much Loved Books and I have come together to create Book Wars to talk about the difference in covers when it comes to the US vs. UK versions.

We hope from time to time authors will chime in with their thoughts as well. We welcome everyone to comment and share their thoughts too! The more the merrier!

Before we get to this weeks Book Wars, we have a winner to announce. The Book Wars winner for Monsters by Ilsa J. Bick is... Thank you to everyone who voted for both books, and for picking a winner.

Also, there's a poll at the bottom of the post that we'd love to hear your input for the two covers! Tell us which one YOU love the most.

Left: US - Right: UK

Title: The Falconer
Author: Elizabeth May
Publisher: US - Chronicle Books , 336 Pages, (May 6th 2014), UK - Gollancz , 312 Pages, (September 26th 2013)
Add to Goodreads: USA Version | UK Version
Order online here: USA: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository UK: Amazon UK, Waterstones, W H Smith, The Book Depository

Synopsis: One girl's nightmare is this girl's faery tale.

She's a stunner.
Edinburgh, 1844. Eighteen-year-old Lady Aileana Kameron, the only daughter of the Marquess of Douglas, has everything a girl could dream of: brains, charm, wealth, a title — and drop-dead beauty.

She's a liar.
But Aileana only looks the part of an aristocratic young lady. She's leading a double life: She has the rare ability to sense the sìthichean — the faery race obsessed with slaughtering humans — and, with the aid of a mysterious mentor, has spent the year since her mother died learning how to kill them.

She's a murderer.
Now Aileana is dedicated to slaying the fae before they take innocent lives. With her abilities and her knack for inventing ingenious tools and weapons — from flying machines to detonators to lightning pistols — ruthless Aileana has one goal: Destroy the faery who destroyed her mother.

She's a Falconer.
The last in a line of female warriors born with the gift for hunting and killing the fae, Aileana is the sole hope of preventing a powerful faery population from massacring all of humanity. Suddenly, her quest is a lot more complicated. She still longs to avenge her mother's murder — but she'll have to save the world first.

About Elizabeth:

© to Elizabeth May 

Elizabeth May was born in California, where she lived during her formative years before moving to Scotland. She is currently working on her PhD at the University of St Andrews. When she isn’t writing or doing academics, she can be found with a camera in hand; her photography has been published on an array of book covers and in magazines. She currently resides in Edinburgh, Scotland, with her husband. THE FALCONER is her début novel. For more information, follow her on Twitter @_ElizabethMay or visit her website www.elizabethmaywrites.com

5 Things about Elizabeth May:
1. She penned 9 unpublished manuscripts before finally writing THE FALCONER. 2. Incidentally, she wrote THE FALCONER 3 times to get it right before trying to get it published. 3. Her degrees are in anthropology, and her speciality is folklore. Which comes in handy when writing about Scottish faeries. 4. Sometimes, her face ends up on book covers. This helps her pay university tuition. 5. She wrote her first book at the age of 12, about a half-vampire with amnesia. She hasn’t been able to stop writing novels since.

Find Elizabeth Online: Website | Tumblr | Twitter | Facebook | News

Let the Wars Begin: Its now time to make our decision, let's see what we think about the covers and pick our favorite cover.

Lisa WOW! We've been picking some pretty amazing covers that makes a choice hard when you have two that draw you in for different reasons. I have the US version on my shelves and while it's beautiful it's almost TOO beautiful, too flawless.

And the UK cover almost feels like it's taken from a movie. It's full of action and I LOVE IT!

This week my vote goes to the UK cover. It makes me want to get lost within the pages and find out more about this female character and now I really can't wait to check this book out.

Michelle There is no doubt in my mind that it's a UK vote for me this week. While I do like the US version, the UK version just has more going on for it. I love the detail of the character, the dress, the weapons, even down the the hair on her head. I love the background illustration, and having read this book, how relevant it is to the story itself.

VOTE for YOUR favorite cover of The Falconer by Elizabeth May NOW!

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