Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off #2: Cover Up?

We’ve had a look at the covers to all 30 books on the Fantasy-Faction list for the Self-Published Fantasy Blog Off and picked our favourite three. Why did we do this? Because Mark Lawrence asked us to, that’s why.

Why he did that…you’ll either know by now or will find out soon!

A great cover will draw the eye of a reader, will intrigue them and, you hope, encourage them to pick up your book. Fantasy-Faction has 30 books and 30 covers. I’ve made a list of them over on my Pinterest page, so you can look and see if you agree with our choices.

Anyway, with no comment about the actual books themselves, here our top three covers in no particular order:

Sword and Chant
by Blair MacGregor

The Iyah of Calligar, conqueror of Kennem, is dead.

One assassin knows why.

Shala has hidden from assassins all her life, but the Iyah’s murder demands she leave the shadows. She is one of three surviving Swords—descendant of those who cast a blood-hungry god into exile generations ago, now compelled to protect Calligar from the Chant’s return despite her hatred of the Iyah’s warlord son.

Jaynes honed his battle-skills on the Kennem border, ruthless in his determination to control the lands his father conquered. He will see the Kennem rebels he believes killed the Iyah slain, no matter the cost.

But Jaynes doesn’t know every battlefield death feeds the Chant.

And Shala doesn’t know the Chant’s assassin is coming for her.

That assassin no longer knows his own name, but knows the Swords must become the Chant’s feast—a sacrifice of blood sung sweet by his own yearning to be free of the compulsion that has ruled him for twenty-four years, eight months, and seventeen days.

Song of Blood & Stone
by L. Penelope

Orphaned and alone, Jasminda is an outcast in her homeland of Elsira, where her magical abilities are feared. When ruthless soldiers seek refuge in her isolated cabin, they bring with them a captive—an injured spy who steals her heart.

Jack’s mission behind enemy lines nearly cost him his life, but he is saved by the healing power of a mysterious young woman. Together they embark on a perilous journey straight into the heart of a centuries-old conflict.

Thrust into a hostile society, Jasminda and Jack must rely on one another even as secrets jeopardize their bond. As an ancient evil gains power, Jasminda races to unlock a mystery that promises salvation.

The fates of two nations hang in the balance as Jasminda and Jack must choose between love and duty to fulfil their destinies and end the war.

The Black God’s War
by Moses Siregar III

Against the backdrop of epic warfare and the powers of ten mysterious gods, Lucia struggles to understand The Black One.

Her father-king wants war.

Her messianic brother wants peace.

The black god wants his due.

She suffers all the consequences.

King Vieri is losing his war against the lands of Pawelon. Feeling abandoned by his god, he forces his son Caio, the kingdom’s holy saviour, to lead his army. Victory ought to come soon.

To counter Caio’s powers, Pawelon’s prince enters the conflict. Rao is a gifted sage, a master of spiritual laws. He joins the rajah to defend their citadel against the invaders. But Rao’s ideals soon clash with his army’s general.

The Black One tortures Lucia nightly with visions promising another ten years of bloodshed. She can no longer tell the difference between the waking world and her nightmares. Lucia knows the black god too well. He entered her bed and dreams when she was ten.

The Black One watches, waiting to see Lucia confront an impossible decision over the fates of two men–and two lands.

Check back for more updates soon! For more information on Fantasy-Faction’s reading list you can check out our first article here.

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