I think a lot of the urban fantasy covers have the same look – a sexy, butt-kicking chick in front of an apocalyptic background. I keep waiting to get sick of these covers. It hasn’t happened yet. I still like them. Some better than others, of course.
As an example, the covers for Chris Marie Green’s (AKA Crystal Green) Vampire Babylon series really work for me. I think it has something to do with the colors and the fact the chick looks approachable, tough but not scary. Here they are:
Like them?


























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Rachel Caine’s Weather Warden books (the last three, anyway) are very like the covers in the post. I generally don’t pay a whole lot of attention to cover art, but I did have a twitch when one shipment of books included half a dozen books with black bustiers on the cover. Zero points for originality!
Occasionally something will catch my eye, though. I’d get Red by Jordan Summers on the strength of the cover alone. Gor-juss.
by Kerry Allen June 12th, 2008 at 8:04 amI like Chris’s covers. The heroine kind of reminds me of her (the author). Something about the face is similar. Or maybe I’m just imagining things.
by Jill Sorenson June 12th, 2008 at 8:48 amI really like them, too. My new favorite is Jordan Summers’s RED cover — I pretty much gasped out loud when I saw it.
by Meljean June 12th, 2008 at 9:46 amYeah, what Kerry said!
by Meljean June 12th, 2008 at 9:46 amI really like those covers. I agree that it probably has something to do with the colors. The simplicity of the color scheme with the black and white background really makes the heroines pop. Also, as you mentioned, they seem approachable, probably because they are in color in such a colorless landscape.
by Karin June 12th, 2008 at 10:10 amI love these covers. If the cover doesn’t appeal to me I won’t be as interested in buying it.
by Debby Creager June 12th, 2008 at 11:01 amYou guys are right. Jordan’s cover is awesome. My reaction was the same as Meljean’s. The coloring is incredible. The way the red stands out is just fabulous. I think I’ll post that one tomorrow…
by HelenKay Dimon June 12th, 2008 at 11:40 amThese are really attractive, HelenKay–a little mysterious, and as you said, tough but not scary.
by Fedora June 12th, 2008 at 1:31 pmI really like these covers. The heroine looks like she can kick some butt, without looking scary. I’m not big on having scary covers.
by Liza June 12th, 2008 at 1:51 pmI like the covers, I think they are sleek and set the tone for the story. I love the kick-ass heroines, but damn, do they have to be so tiny? LOL. I like Jordan’s cover too, and it’s cool that the heroine is not half-naked.
by Stacy ~ June 13th, 2008 at 5:23 amI like these covers and the series looks interesting, I haven’t heard if her and I need to check her out before the series is finished.
by Scarlet Y Wharton June 13th, 2008 at 7:49 am[...] Urban fantasy book covers. [...]
by Matt’s Bookosphere 6/13/08 « Enter the Octopus June 13th, 2008 at 9:29 pmI love looking at these covers. I especially love the Patricia Briggs’ book covers for the Mercy Thompson series. Mercy looks sexy but also a little grungy with her tattoos.
by Urban Fantasy Rocks August 8th, 2008 at 7:09 pm