10 Spooky Covers That Rock My World
I’ll start with a confession: I’m not really a fan of horror fiction (mainly because I’m a massive wimp who will leave the house at the mere sight of a spider) but that doesn’t stop me from appreciating the wide variety of covers the genre has to offer. Therefore, in honour of Halloween 2020 I’ve gathered together (in no particular order) ten of my favourite spookilicious book covers for your perusal and enjoyment.
Happy Halloween everybody!
1. The Dark Tide
Design & Illustration: Helen Crawford-White
I love the way the wave draws your eye up and over and points you straight to the title. The subtle colour palette is refreshing also.
2. The Ring
Design: Chip Kidd
Pink. For a horror book? It's an unusual choice but somehow it totally works. The mind-bending visuals make for uncomfortable viewing, just like the videotape central to the plot.
3. Horrorstor
Design: Andie Reid, Illustration: Mike Rogalski
The entire concept for this novel is ingenious and the cover really reflects this. At first glance it's just your usual Ikea catalogue, but then you notice the prints on the wall...
4. A Wicked Magic
Design: Dana Li
Anything with a cat on it gets my vote. To me, the rough use of ink conjures up a sense of wildness and the occult that a standard illustration simply couldn't.
5. Dracul
Design & Illustration: Jo Thomson
This is such an evocative cover and just screams Gothic horror. From the sinister monotone clouds to the lonely silhouette of an unknown woman (future victim?) trapped in a tower, you can't help but look at it and shiver.
6. Rooms
Design & Illustration: Sara Wood
Another unusual colour for a spooky book but it makes a great contrast for the house. I like how the roots spread and infiltrate the text, just like the ghosts in the story.
7. Mexican Gothic
Design: Tim Green
This book seems to have been everywhere lately and a lot of that is down to this cover. The colours are exquisite and the eyeless model adds a sense of quiet menace.
8. The Shadows
Design: Will Staehle
I love a good optical illusion on a cover and this one is superb. I think it would have been easy to go overboard on this one, with swirling shadowy textures and cursive font, but keeping everything clean and simple allows the stark finger bones to jump off the page.
9. A Head Full of Ghosts
Design: Julia Lloyd
It's the use of space that makes this cover rock. Also, the texture of the background hints at the twists and tangles of the protagonists mind as she descends into madness. Great colour gradient on the text too.
10. The Elementals
Design: M. S. Corley
A haunted house story needs a good old-fashioned creepy house on the cover and this chilling silhouette set against a vivid background absolutely nails it.
Editor, artworker and lifelong bibliophile.