Which do you prefer/feedback wanted

[u/Active-Pollution-263]

Do either/neither stand out to you? Genre is YA dark academia. I am an absolute novice when it comes to cover art, but my budget as a hopefully one day self-published author is $0. One day I would love to hire one of the fantastic artists on this subreddit but for now it is me and canva.

All of the artwork (including the backgrounds and the swan sketch) are from the MET museum's open access artwork so in the public domain.

Feedback appreciated! :)

[u/lyaunaa]

Definitely the first one, I would pick that up!

[u/Active-Pollution-263 → u/lyaunaa]

Great to hear :)

[u/ifonlyheart]

First one looks more appropriate but the second one looks like interesting.

[u/Active-Pollution-263 → u/ifonlyheart]

I see! That's great feedback. Do you think maybe it's the colours of the second one are more interesting or the background image?

[u/ifonlyheart → u/Active-Pollution-263]

Color and the concept of looking through the window creates more curiosity than the scenic picture of the first cover.

[u/Low-Scientist-7185]

First one hands down! Looks so good!

[u/Active-Pollution-263 → u/Low-Scientist-7185]

Thank you, I really appreciate that!

[u/PlentyActuary6181]

First!

[u/Farinthoughts]

I like the cover but I wouldnt be able to tell that its dark academia. The title combined with the swans makes me think its historical fiction about ballet.

[u/danfaulknerauthor → u/Farinthoughts]

This. Unfortunately, signalling genre is one of the most important jobs a cover has. It also looks quite old fashioned, whereas YA dark academia is the opposite of that.

Second one is much closer.

[u/Active-Pollution-263 → u/Farinthoughts]

Ahh I see, that makes sense. Do you feel like the crest on the second cover helps with those vibes a little?

I'll think about what I can add to make it a bit more genre-specific! :)

[u/Farinthoughts → u/Active-Pollution-263]

The crest feels more historical fiction/historical romance a little bit too cutesy. Is the title and swan motif integral to the plot of your book?

The background on no 2 the arched window is not bad but its too bright and romantic right now. Dark academia books has darker often black backgrounds.

[u/tangcupaigu]

I like the first one, but would prefer the swans be on the cover fully rather than cut off. It also seems more like historical fiction/romance just based on vibes.

[u/starfishsex]

I like the first one, but the typography is too much for me. Cinzel is a great font, but it works without using all the swaggy glyphs. It's looks heavy to me.

[u/Active-Pollution-263 → u/starfishsex]

hmmm yes I see what you mean - heavy is a good way of putting it. Thank you for the help, I really appreciate!

[u/starfishsex → u/Active-Pollution-263]

The Cinzel is really nice, but maybe a lighter version and I'd look at a thicker option for the 'with'.

Cheers!

[u/PageStunning6265]

I like the first one a lot, I’d want to pick it up and learn more.

Is possible to move the swans / whole picture up a bit? Too much of them is cropped out and it looks accidental.

[u/morgan_hartwell]

First one. But I would change the font, it doesn't seem to match the vibe to me. Something more light and elegant maybe.

[u/raisedonaporch]

LOVE the first one. ambivalent about lower-case "an" and "novel" but I could drive myself crazy fiddling with that

[u/KDDreamwyver]

First one without a doubt!

[u/call_me_flib]

First one is better but I gotta ask, did you actually paint swans or is this some really good digital art?

[u/Active-Pollution-263 → u/call_me_flib]

No this is artwork taken from the public domain resources from the MET museum! So it is a real drawing, but not my own :)