The blending of history and fantasy always makes for great stories and great historical fantasy book covers. The juxtaposition of something that actually happened with something that didn’t creates intriguing artwork. The covers below are interesting for this and many other reasons:
1. Dragon America by Mike Resnick
Dragon America’s cover design depicts an erie war between fantasy and real life. The image of the soldiers on the battlefield as dragons are flying above possibly reveals a glimpse into the storyline, in which battles are fought in the midst of a territory inhabited by dragons.
A wonderful design feature about this book’s cover is:
Realism – The cover’s design shows a very real-looking image of the soldiers at war as dragons fly overhead. The cover scene looks as if it’s an actual photograph taken during the time period this book is centered in.
2. The Still by David Feintuch
The cover of David Feintuch’s, The Still, provides an air of adventure, mystery, and expedition. There’s a quote on the cover that reveals the medieval time period the book takes place in, however looking at the ancient map and detailed dagger alone gives the feeling of a medieval fantasy.
A great feature about this book’s cover design is:
Artwork – The ancient theme and style of the artwork combined with the chiseled finish of the text on the cover really put you in the medieval era. The details put into the design of the map give clues to the adventure that lies within this fantasy tale.
3. Flight To Mons by Alexander Fullerton
The cover of Flight to Mons does a wonderful job of elaborating the book’s title. At first glance of the cover, you’ll simply see to people aboard some type of air vessel, embarking on a journey above the clouds. The men appear to be hard at work navigating the vessel which based on the illustration – seems to be a task that’s not so easy.
A great feature about this book’s cover design is:
Illustration – The illustration on Flight to Mons’ cover perfectly tie in with the title and storyline. The detail put into the clouds and sky in the illustration’s background is the perfect gesture for taking readers to the setting of the book.
4. In Winter’s Shadow by Gillian Bradshaw
In Winter’s Shadow’s cover is a great Winter-themed glance into the events of the story. With whites and grays, and shades of blue being the main colors highlighted on the color – along with a streak of lipstick red underlining the word “shadow” in the title – the colors alone bring on feelings of mystery and suspense.
A wonderful feature about this cover design is:
Colors – Though the woman dressed in all white, the snowy mountains, and the snow- blanketed ground do an obvious job of setting providing a glimpse into the theme of the book – the colors alone provide a direct feeling of a mysterious, mystical Winter.
