When I was a kid, I always wanted to go to New York. I don’t know if I’d ever actually want to live there, but I finally got to go there when I was 16 or so, for two days on a family vacation, and yes, I loved it just as much as I thought I would. Unfortunately that’s the only time I’ve ever been.
Anyway, New York, it turns out, is an awesome topic for book covers! And, because I’m a perfectionist, I did in fact check blurbs and reviews for try and make sure all these book covers do actually feature NY, not just some other big city. And I still found so many good ones that I struggled to pick a favorite. But hey, I’m not one to complain about too many awesome book covers, so here they are!
Cover Characteristics is a weekly meme hosted at Sugar & Snark. This week’s topic is:
Books Covers featuring New York City
Pin the Collage!
Redemption by Rye Brewer
I just find this cover so pretty. Even the way the strands of her hair are blowing are pretty, and I like the white/gray/black colors.
York: The Shadow Cipher by Laura Ruby
This so awesome looking! Like a golden-hued steampunk version of NY or something.
The Diviners by Libba Bray
Not the most NYC looking of covers, but it’s old school, historical NYC since the book is set in the past, and I like the purple and the glowing people.
Peter & Emily, The Girl from New York by Thomas Hayes
This is pretty and magical with nice artwork!
Lyra’s Magic by Langley Keaton
This one is also pretty, and I like the colorful look of the city in the background and the magic sparkles.
Blacker Than Black by Rhi Etzweiler
I just really like this artwork and the kind of futuristic/cyberpunk feel (even though I don’t know if it is).
Discount Armageddon by Seanan McGuire
The perspective on this one is cool, and the art is great.
The Cowering Corner by Shawn Baker
I just find this one so interesting, with the city in the background and the guy walking along a ledge and the creepy shadow thing. And I love the coloring, it’s so attention-grabbing.
My Favorite #1:
New York 2140 by Kim Stanley Robinson
This cover is amazing! I mean, just look at it! The city, but with the risen sea level… Very striking and interesting to see.
My Favorite #2:
Doppelgangster by Laura Resnick
I couldn’t resist picking this as my favorite too because look at that gorgeous artwork. And look at all the detail!
Ooh nice. I like Redemption a LOT- for the moon, the mistiness, and the woman looks badass. Peter & Emily isn’t bad, Blacker than Black has a nice futuristic look, and The Cowering Corner is interesting after I took a second look. Probably not a big surprise I like discount Armageddon lol, but 2140 is sweet too. Between the futuristic look and the flooding, that one is awesome.
Doppelgangster though… that HAS to be a Dan dos Santos!
Redemption might be my fave… or Doppelgangster.
Is is a dos Santos lol. So of course it was one of my favorites 😉 I really do like Redemption too though.
Blacker than Black has that cyberpunk feel like the artwork you post on your blog a lot. And yeah, I know you also like the Discount Armageddon cover! That 2140 one though—it’s just so cool!
I keep seeing dos Santos covers I’ve never seen, and it occurs to me he has illustrated a lot of stuff. I really should check out his website…
Yeah I’m a sucker for the cyberpunk look. 🙂 I like the neon, the driving rain (why’s it always raining?) and the whole vibe. Too bad it’s so scarce…
He really has done a lot of covers. I found a list on GR once, though I can’t promise the accuracy of that.
The neon is definitely a cool look! Lol about the rain. Futuristic/cyberpunk has an interesting, unique vibe, I totally get it.
Good job properly researching the covers. 😀 They’re all good, but York is pretty damn cool.
Lol I’m just a perfectionist like that, can’t help it. The York one is awesome!
2140 would top my list too. The next ones I love are York and the Cowering Corner for the reasons you listed.
Great topic!
2140 is just so interesting! Glad you agree about York and Cowering Corner too 🙂
I’ve always loved seeing big city skylines on books. I see a lot of them on UF books so I’ve read a good few in my time! Some really nice choices today! I like Lyra’s Magic and Redemption. New York 2140 is beautiful too.
I’ve always loved city skylines period, so I love them on book covers too. They do work well on UF covers! I love all three of those that you mentioned! They all have that far away, looking out over the city look.
Oh my goodness, how EPIC is the cover for YORK?? My eyes went right there — even though I love LOVe the Seanan MCguire and Laura Resnick covers too — two ladies who are amazing!
Right?! Whoever made the York cover did an amazing job. But those other covers are great too!
Love all of those covers! What a great post. I love the cover of New York 2140.
Thanks! The 2140 one is amazing!
YAY! I’m so glad for the topic of this week. I HEART NY! As cliche as it may sound making me as unoriginal as millions of other NY fans, I have to say… I HEART NY! 🙂
I live close enough that I could visit often in my pre-kids life and I’m hoping to start visiting often again. The NY skyline is superb for covers! You always fin dthe best covers and make it so difficult to choose! I’ll have to go with York: The Shadow Cipher. OMG that cover is AWESOME 🙂
Don’t worry, I totally have a I <3 NY hoodie, so I'm cliche too 😛
That'd be awesome to live just close enough to visit sometimes! And yeah, the skyline is amazing for covers. Not to brag or anything, but I did find great ones this week *brushes shoulder off* 😉 The York one is amazing!
How can you choose from such greats!? You found a lot of good covers. Funnily, I didn’t think of Discount Armageddon and I have that book!
I am kind of bowing my head in shame though. I didn’t read to ensure all of my covers were New York! I will have to do that next time. What a great idea!
Haha, thanks! Sometimes I forget about books I have too. It’s hard to remember the specifics of all the covers!
Don’t worry, I’m probably the only one who did because I’m too much of a perfectionist lol.
Senan McGuire?! I’ve only read her zombie series….and only one book from that. Haha. Great list, a lot of these look super seedy. I love the DIviner series and can’t wait for the third book!
I don’t think I knew she had a zombie series? I want to read her Discount Armageddon series though, they sound good. I also really want to read The Diviners because it’s set in 20s right? And I love that era!
I haven’t read any of these, but I’m really looking forward to trying The Diviners. 🙂
I am too! Pretty sure it’s set in the 20s, and I love that time period.
Some great covers here. I love the one on the Resnick book as well as Discount Armageddon ( a series I love by the way). I was also really curious about Lyra’s Magic and thanks to you, it’s now loading on my Kindle as we speak. I love your cover features but they are often dangerous to my TBR!
Thanks! I want to try the Discount Armageddon series, but it’s one of those that’s just too much money right now. Haha, you’ll have to tell me how Lyra’s Magic is 😛
I’m writing a book set in NYC right now…the characters are making their way around the city. I’ve been there twice, but it’s SO hard to try to get my bearings and say, “Where can they go next?” I don’t know what’s close to what. The internet helps, but it’s not always easy to find cool spots close together!
Ooh sounds cool! Google maps could be really helpful for that. Like, zooming in closer and using the different types of views to see what stuff is around or going to the street mode where you can “walk around.”
Great job on finding these. The one that really stood out for me was York. Then the 2140 cover and Lyra’s Magic. But then I liked the Doppelgangster cover too. Yeah, OK, I can’t choose lol.
Thanks! The York one really does stand out. And the 2140 one is just amazing to me! But see, now you understand my problem and why I also had such a hard time choosing, haha.
I love the covers for New York 2140 and York!! Very cool and now I want to read those books!! Side note: I never really felt to urge to visit NYC, but I went with friends for the first time a few years ago and it was so much better than I though it would be. I totally see the appeal now 🙂
Both of those are so amazing, right?! Haha, I was one of the cliched people who always wanted to go. I’m glad you enjoyed your trip to NYC 😀
I really like the cover of York: The Shadow Cipher. Although Dopplegangster has somethin’ somethin’ going on there too. (Maybe it’s the girl with the axe that I like so much about that one.)
The York cover is amazing! But I just love the art on Doppelgangster. And the badass girl with the axe helps 😛
Great covers! I’ve been to New York a few times and while I love aspects of it, I don’t think I’ll ever really be a city girl. 🙂
Thanks! Oh, I’m a total city girl, just maybe not a NY city girl 😛 A little *too* crowded and definitely too cold!
Wow, great picks.
I love city landscapes on books for some reason (forests and fields too, but that’s another story..)
I love how some website banners incorporate city silhouettes in their headers as well, like Book Chick City used to do, but I never got it to look right sadly.
Thanks! I love cities on books too. I just like skylines in general! It is pretty when blog headers use them. Sorry you couldn’t get it to look right for yours :-/
I love the cover of Redemption. I’ve never been to New York either. But I’d rather just visit. I don’t think I can handle hectic city life anymore. 🙂 ~Aleen
That cover is so pretty! And oh, I’m definitely a city girl, just maybe not New York City 😛
Wait. Peter Pan’s in America now? I’ve never heard of this book but I’ll have to find a plot summary.
Apparently, haha. It’s one of those sequel type retellings, I think.
Oh I’m with you! I LOVE the Kim Stanley Robinson cover – and will want to get hold of the book in due course as it sounds right up my alley. However, I don’t think there was one there I DIDN’T like:). Thank you for sharing Kristen.
2140 does seem like it’d be your kinda book, and it sounds great in general! Plus that cover is amazing. But I agree, there are so many great NYC covers!
I usually like city scapes for cover backgrounds, it just seems to work usually. I actually always have been the opposite, every time I see a picture of New York I can’t imagine ever wanting to go there. It just seems so busy and crowded and those high building freak me out. Although at the same time I guess it would be kinda interesting to see it real life. I am pretty sure I’ve read some books set there and just watched a movie set there yesterday evening.
I think it’s awesome you actually double checked to make sure these covers actually featured New York and not another city. The Doppelganster cover is indeed a great one, the artwork is pretty! And the New York 2140 cover gives a striking view of the city and makes me curious about how that will work out with the water levels risen so much. Blacker Than Black does has a futuristic feel indeed. Great picks!
Me too about the cityscapes! But lol I’ve always been a city girl and enjoyed crowds (well, I used to enjoy crowds), despite being an introvert.
Lol I’m a perfectionist, I can’t help it. The Doppelgangster art is super pretty! But the 2140 cover is just amazing, right? And I really like that Blacker than Black one too. Thanks 🙂
I love the York cover and 2140 comes in a close second. 🙂
Those two are just so amazing!
I think the York is my fav one!
Sorry that this week’s post was a little late!
Thanks for joining in last week 🙂
Sugar & Snark
The York one is so striking!
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