I almost feel like I should saving these paranormal creature topics for October since that’s Halloween-time, but I suppose every month is October when you read as much paranormal and urban fantasy as I do.
Speaking of ghosts though, I have a story about my very own personal ghost encounter. When I was younger, until sometime in my teenage years, I used my parent’s bathroom to shower because that was the best shower in the house. And because all three of us used that shower, there were three wash cloths on the rack. One day, two of the wash cloths were overlapping on the rack in this way that really bothered me. I can’t explain it, it was just one of those things. The way they were dripping was just bothering me. Not enough, however, to actually make me leave the nice, hot water. So I turned around for a moment, and, when I turned back around, the wash clothes were like an inch apart. Now, in order for one of my parents to have moved them, they would’ve had to open the bathroom door and the shower door, which was literally impossible to open and close silently. Not to mention my parents didn’t barge in on me while I was showering. And the wash cloths were wet, so they were too heavy for any kind of draft to have done that.
I was freaked out. And you know how if there’s a spider, for example, you can just keep your eyes on it so that it can’t sneak up on you and therefore you feel safer? YOU CAN’T DO THAT WITH GHOSTS. I literally just kept my back against the wall even though it didn’t do any good and got out of there as fast as possible. Anyway, it turned out I wasn’t the only one in the house who thought there was a ghost in that shower, but I figure it moved the wash cloth so that I wouldn’t have to leave the hot water, so it was probably a nice ghost at least.
And that’s it. I never had anything else ghostly happen. I probably offended the poor thing when I didn’t appreciate its help.
Anyway, enough of my rambling. Here are some ghost covers!
Cover Characteristics is a weekly meme hosted at Sugar & Snark. I went rogue this week, so my topic is:
Books Covers featuring Ghosts
Pin the Collage!
The Ghost Chronicles by Marlo Berliner
I have a strange love/hate relationship with this cover. I kind of like it, but I also think the lights look really fake, but I also kind of like the fake-y look of the lights since it makes them stand out? I think the whole thing is pretty though, the house, background, etc., even if the ghost on this one is just a tiny thing in the corner.
Ruined Series by Paula Morris
I actually don’t think the third one is part of the series, but it just kind of fit. These are such pretty, elegant ghostly type covers.
The Ghost of Graylock by Dan Poblocki
She definitely looks creepy and ghostly, what with the way she’s glowing and walking through a door.
Dan Shamble, Zombie P.I. Series by Kevin J. Anderson
These are just a fun rendition of ghosts (and zombies), and I love the art style.
Defiant by Karina Sumner-Smith
I just really like this one. Maybe it’s the contrast of the bright, glowy ghost with the dark, destroyed background.
My Demonic Ghost Series by Jacinta Maree
I have actually been meaning to start this series. I especially like the first cover. It really does look both demonic and ghostly. And pretty.
The Prodigy Series by Kelly Madden
I love the art style of these, and they just really grab my attention and make me want to read the books. (And yes, according to the blurb that is a ghost in the back.)
Psyched by Juli Caldwell
I’m just kind of assuming that’s a ghost on the cover since that’s what the book is about and because she looks creepy as hell. I love the style of the whole cover though.
Yearning by AJ Rose
I just love this art style, and this cover just looks like there’s a really interesting story there. Maybe the ghost is like a third wheel, in love with one of the living men but can’t have him? (Or maybe I should just read the blurb and stop making random guesses.)
My Favorite:
Anna Dressed in Blood Series by Kendare Blake
To be honest, I think the entire top row of covers are all my favorites, but I just decided to go with these because of the red 😛 They’ve got pretty art and lots of red and black, so I couldn’t resist. Plus Girl of Nightmares is extra ghost-y what with the girl and all the red ghosts around the bottom.
Oh the Ghost of Graylock (and Psyched) looks awesome! I don’t normally read ghost stories, but these covers certainly do look atmospheric. PS, your shower ghost story would have freaked me out too!
They do look awesome, right?! Makes me want to read them. I do like ghost books though 🙂 And seriously, IT WAS SO FREAKY.
Oh that’s creepy those washcloths got moved, maybe it was a friendly ghost indeed, lol. But it’s still creepy. I don’t have any ghost encounter stories and actually rarely read books about ghosts, they aren’t my favorite supernatural creature. Although just yesterday i bought a box set for 3 ghostly paranormal romances, so that’s a fun coincidence.
You sure found some good ghosty covers. i really like the cover for The Ghost Chronicles with the green and the atmospheric feel and the lights. And the Ruined ones are great too, with how they sort of look normal and a bit creepy and then you notice her legs just fade away.
I like how those Zombie Pi covers are so totally different form the others and look more fun than creepy. especially compared to that creepy cover for The Ghost of Graylock. The Defiant cover looks a bit dystopia/ post apocalyptic like and it sure is a nice contrast her glowly form to the dark background. The cover for Yearning makes me think it might be some sort of love triangle indeed as the ghost is almost longingly looking at the couple. The psyched cover looks creepy too. I think I prefer the cute/ romancy ghost stories as all those others look so creepy. Nice list!
It was super creepy. Like, at the time I wasn’t thinking that it was a nice ghost, I was just freaked out and wanted to get out of there lol. But later I figured it was probably nice. I have read a fair amount of books with ghosts though, as main characters, love interests, and antagonists. The Duncan Andrews series I binge read last week had a ghost love interest. I like when they’re MCs or love interests as it usually makes for unique, interesting stuff. That is a fun coincidence that you just got some ghost books too! I’m curious, what books did you get?
I actually just got a review copy of The Ghost Chronicles, so yay lol. And it’s funny, I was actually working on a Photoshop thing of some ghost people, and I have their lower halves just fading into smoke (but this laptop just won’t run PS, so I haven’t had the chance to finish it).
Exactly! The Yearning cover looks like the ghost is looking at them longingly. I’m glad I’m not the only one who sees that lol. Thanks!
Yes I can imagine that at the moment you are just super creeped out when something like that happens. I am looking forward to your reviews for that Duncan Andrews series, I liked the covers for those.
I bought this box set, which includes 3 books for only 0.99$: https://www.amazon.com/Ghosts-Kisses-Banshee-Creek-Box-ebook/dp/B01JBTK596/
It looked so fun and I couldn’t resist grabbing it for that price.
Oh that’s a shame your current laptop won’t run photoshop do you can’t finish your ghost peoples.
I do think there’s a chance you’d like those Duncan Andrews books 🙂
The books in that box set do look fun, and they have pretty covers!
Yeah, I think I’ve forgotten everything I learned when I started with PS however many months ago -_-
”I suppose every month is October when you read as much paranormal and urban fantasy as I do.”
Amen, Kristin. lol . I love kendare blake’s covers. I love the possibly blood-soaked dress . The Paula Morris covers are a close second
Lol I do love me some urban fantasy. And yes, those Anna Dressed in Blood covers are so pretty! I’ve always liked them. The Paula Morris ones I only recently found, but they’re really nice too.
My mother paints houses. She says one house was haunted. One room the paint would run down the wall. In that house, a co-worker of hers took a video of that room with his cell phone. When he was going to play it back, there was no video. Another house she worked in, the kitchen smelled like food cooking and her cell phone would be knocked off the counter.
That’s so creepy! At least mine was a nice ghost. Those don’t sound quite so nice. I feel bad for the people actually living in those houses!
Not a ghost! You have telekinesis! That’s why you have issues with electronics – your powers interfere. lol. Anyway, nice picks. I like Psyched and the Anna covers best.
Oh man, maybe it was bothering me so much that I subconsciously moved it with my mind! And that must be the explanation for my electronics—my powers are completely out of control! I need to start practicing. I would so love to have telekinesis lol. Thanks, I really like both of those too!
Ghosts are real!!!!!!
I like the covers that you picked. The Anna covers are just amazing. That’s a pretty good series too.
Oh I was completely serious about my story! I definitely believe ghosts are real! I think I remember talking about that on your blog too lol. I haven’t read the Anna series, but I’ve always liked those covers. Btw my review for Teeth is up on the blog if you wanna check it out 🙂
I remember and I believe you 100%!!
I liked the Anna books. I didn’t think the second one was as good, but I still enjoyed it.
Oh Yey! I’ll have to go and read your review now. I’ve been behind on blogging and commenting lately. :/
I’ve had the Anna books tentatively on my TBR but I guess haven’t really been in a real rush to try them.
No worries about being behind, just wanted to let you know since we both read that one 🙂
I don’t think I’ve ever paid attention to any ghosty covers. Now you have me curious to scope them out. lol
I had just moved into my house (I was the only one there) and I had a pair of scissors and a pack of light bulbs sitting on the fireplace mantle in the living room. I went to the kitchen and came back and both the scissors and the pack of bulbs were gone. I still had the French doors open then, so I could see straight from the kitchen to the living room and no one was in there. Still to this day I have no idea where they went.
I didn’t used to pay attention to what exactly was on covers until I started participating in this meme, and now I can’t stop noticing, haha.
That is freaky! Apparently you have a hoarding or thieving ghost since he didn’t even put them somewhere else for you to find, he just kept them lol.
Freaky topic! I think Defiant and Psyched are my favorites. Defiant looks almost like a dystopian, with the ruined city and especially the storm clouds. Speaking of, I think a mixed dystopian/ paranormal would be kickass, what a combo that would be! The world is wrecked and the spirits are loose ha ha. And Psyched I like because you can’t see her face… big moon, all blue, the tracery around the letters. Definitely my favorite. 🙂
I think Defiant actually is a dystopian. I like your idea about all the spirits being loose in the wrecked world lol. I have read at least one urban fantasy/dystopian combo series, but it didn’t have ghosts. And yeah, that Psyched one is really great and eye-catching!
Ooooh – I love a good ghost story. Ghost stories were actually the “genre” that put me on my reading track. We had this Afrikaans author, C.J. Langenhoven who wrote the BEST ghost stories and I read them all as a child. Anna dressed in blood is on my TBR, the rest of you list I don’t know, but will have a look at a few.
How cool that ghost stories got you into reading! The ones I read usually aren’t scary. Sometimes they’re about haunting evil ghosts, but they’re still usually more urban fantasy than horror. Anna Dressed in Blood has been on my TBR for a while, but it’s one of those that I’m not sure I’ll ever actually read.
I love the cover for Psyched and you are right, the lights on the house in The Ghost Chronicles are somehow both cheesy AND awesome. So glad to see the Dan Shambles books. I keep waiting for a new one in that series but I’ve not heard anything. I agree your ghostly encounter must have been a nice one. One night while I was in bed, with both of our pups snuggled in the room with me, my husband watched a tennis ball roll across the floor downstairs. There was no real explanation for it. See, I’m so dog crazy even my ghosts seem to be of the 4-legged variety!
I’m glad someone understands what I’m saying about The Ghost Chronicles cover lol. I still haven’t started the Dan Shambles books, though I’d like to. How funny though that your ghost is a dog! I just had a boring human 😛
Ghosts are a good theme! It would be a fun one for October. I love the Paula Morris series, great picks! And your ghost experience is spooky! I might have had one encounter at a haunted bed and breakfast one time, but I’m afraid I can explain it with actual physical things, so I don’t really think it was real. You can check out my covers in the link below!
Thanks! The Paula Morris ones are pretty. And yeah, I’ve had other weird things happen, but there was always a possible explanation. That shower one just had no other explanation though!
You know, I’ve actually never heard of any of these. I love the Kendare Blake covers, and the Demonic Ghost (especially the first) covers 🙂
I love that first Demonic Ghost cover! I do have to agree it’s better than the other two. And of course the Kendare Blake covers are great! And hey, if you haven’t heard of them, it’s just more potential books! Though I haven’t read them, so I can’t say whether they’re good or not.
Ghosts is a really fun topic! I like it!
Thanks for joining in last week 🙂
Sugar & Snark
Thanks! Glad you like it 🙂