2 days ago
10
2
Posted On: October 14th 2026, 07:02 pm
COVER STORIES: The Valley of Vengeful Ghosts. They say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. But I do. All the time. As a brand consultant who works with designers, I’m fascinated by the decisions that go into a great cover. The colours, typography, illustrations and tiny details that make us add a book to our #TBR or walk right on by.
As part of my #BIR (Bookstagrammer-in-Residence) adventures with the @wordfest #Imaginairium I’m taking a closer look at the covers of some of the books I’ve been reading.
A HUGE disclaimer: These are entirely my own interpretations, not necessarily the intentions of the designers or the authors. I’d love to hear yours :) Also, while I might reference book themes, there are no spoilers here. Also I created these images in Canva and tidied up with AI :)
First cover up: The Valley of Vengeful Ghosts by Kim Fu, with cover design by Beth Steidle.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS: I borrowed this book from the @calgarylibrary and it caught my eye immediately. It’s colourful, slightly chaotic and rather beautiful. But there’s something unsettling about it, too. Swipe along for a closer look.
COLOUR: I love the contrast between the bright blue rain, the deep greens and the warm pinks. It’s an unusual combination that feels almost light, despite the ominous title. There’s something wonderfully surreal, and a little bit “off” about the whole thing.
THE RAIN: The heavy, slanting rain makes the cover feel dramatic, urgent, and maybe even a little frenetic (one of my favourite words). That one little house with the yellow windows? It feels like a bright light in a pretty threatening landscape. But is it?
THE HOUSES: I really love the contrast between the bold typography and the tiny, delicate houses. They seem insubstantial and fragile. And having read the book, that feels particularly appropriate. A lot of this story challenges structure and the things we think will keep us safe.
THE HILL-WAVES: Are those hills? Waves? Something else entirely? The green shapes almost swallow up those little houses. There’s a sense of things disappearing beneath the surface. I love a cover that reveals more the longer you look.
FINAL THOUGHTS: I’m not usually d
As part of my #BIR (Bookstagrammer-in-Residence) adventures with the @wordfest #Imaginairium I’m taking a closer look at the covers of some of the books I’ve been reading.
A HUGE disclaimer: These are entirely my own interpretations, not necessarily the intentions of the designers or the authors. I’d love to hear yours :) Also, while I might reference book themes, there are no spoilers here. Also I created these images in Canva and tidied up with AI :)
First cover up: The Valley of Vengeful Ghosts by Kim Fu, with cover design by Beth Steidle.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS: I borrowed this book from the @calgarylibrary and it caught my eye immediately. It’s colourful, slightly chaotic and rather beautiful. But there’s something unsettling about it, too. Swipe along for a closer look.
COLOUR: I love the contrast between the bright blue rain, the deep greens and the warm pinks. It’s an unusual combination that feels almost light, despite the ominous title. There’s something wonderfully surreal, and a little bit “off” about the whole thing.
THE RAIN: The heavy, slanting rain makes the cover feel dramatic, urgent, and maybe even a little frenetic (one of my favourite words). That one little house with the yellow windows? It feels like a bright light in a pretty threatening landscape. But is it?
THE HOUSES: I really love the contrast between the bold typography and the tiny, delicate houses. They seem insubstantial and fragile. And having read the book, that feels particularly appropriate. A lot of this story challenges structure and the things we think will keep us safe.
THE HILL-WAVES: Are those hills? Waves? Something else entirely? The green shapes almost swallow up those little houses. There’s a sense of things disappearing beneath the surface. I love a cover that reveals more the longer you look.
FINAL THOUGHTS: I’m not usually d
Comments (2)
2 days agocoolmomsreadbooks
I love this!!! I don’t often think about the covers and especially not the cover artists - thanks for breaking this down!
More posts
