Hi everyone, welcome to the second installment of my cover design project that I still haven’t thought of a more concise name for! If you missed the first one/are wondering why the hell I’m doing this you can check out this post but the short answer is because I can and it’s fun.
This time around I decided to do Maggie Stiefvater’s Raven Cycle Quartet. As pretty much anyone who has ever talked to me before can probably tell you, I’m a massive Maggie Stiefvater fan and this series is my all time favorite of hers. While I really love her actual covers, I decided I wanted to make my own because of aforementioned superfan status and the whole thing where it’s fun and I can.
The last time around I focused on typography, this time I wanted to do something a little more image-y. While all of the main characters are key to each book, I loved the idea of representing each book with one of the four core characters (sorry Noah, but I’m treating you like a wildcard for reasons). I also really loved the cameo thing that Blue Lily, Lily Blue and kind of reimagined the rest (or in the case of the yet unreleased Raven King cover, imagined) how that could’ve played out across all four covers.
I gave The Raven Boys to Blue. You can make a pretty solid case for making Blue Lily Lily Blue Blue’s book but I went with Raven Boys because it’s the beginning and Blue’s tarot card is the Page of Cups which represents beginnings and potential. For all of these covers I wanted to do a combination of super vivid imagery and a combination of brush texture and swirly shapes to frame the imagery and give it a wild, magical vibe. I used one of my favorite handwriting fonts and a watercolor paper texture to give them a sort of personal, hand made, one might even say journal sort of feeling. For Blue/The Raven Boys I went with a gnarly, epic tree for Cabeswater/vision tree reasons and the night sky to represent Blue’s desire for something more. I liked the juxtaposition of ground and sky for Blue as a nod to her internal practical vs fanciful conflict and also because the similar but also opposite thing plays into the whole mirror theme of the series.
There’s no question that The Dream Thieves is Ronan’s book. Equally obviously Ronan’s cover had to have something to do with ravens (hence, the feathers) and something glorious, beautiful and destructive as hell like, oh, say, a fiery explosion. For Ronan’s embellishments I wanted something a little spikier and wilder than the vine-y things I went with for Blue and just barely peaking out around the edges.
I ultimately decided to make Blue Lily, Lily Blue Adam’s book because I feel like this is the book where Adam finally starts to get a grip on who he is and what he’s about. I went with cathedrals and ripples to represent something high level and metaphorical about having a lot going on beneath the surface and also literally represent a certain church scene. I added some naturey things creeping around the edges for [spoilers].
For The Raven King I went with Gansey because I figure if he’s going to die then the least I could do is put him on the cover. Keeping with the death theme, I went with misty graveyard/tombstone/skull imagery plus a raven because r(if you’ve read this series, duh). For the embellishments I went with some ornate, vaguely baroque-y flourish’s to convey a kind of royal vibe because Gansey is 100% Glendower in some way or the other and one day I will actually finish my essay laying this out with in-text citations. I clustered the brush texture around his head to represent a crown because I like to think I’m clever.
You may notice that some of the silhouettes are facing one way or the other. I’d love to tell you it’s for some genius high level reason like representing how Blue and Ronan tend to think more along the lines of each other and ditto Adam and Gansey but that was pointed out by Ellis. I was just making the ships look at each other when the covers are lined up like they are above because I know what I’m about.
What do you guys think? What are some other covers you’d like to see re-imagined? I can’t promise I’ll end up doing your suggestions because I’m functioning on more of a when the inspiration strikes kind of schedule with these, but I’ll definitely let them percolate around in my brain to see if I come up with something.
Pssssssst! If you like these designs, book wraps and prints are available in my shop: Meg Makes Things. (/shameless self promo)
Bieke @ Istyria book blog
OH MY GOD! These are so gorgeous, Meg! Makes me wanna read these books! 😀
Meg Morley
THANK YOU!! You totally should, they are amazing (though a little slow if you’re more of an action-laden plot reader, very character oriented)
Bieke @ Istyria book blog
They’ve been on my TBR for ages so I really should pick them up soon. x)
Jane
I just keep staring at these in awe. You are so incredibly talented, Meg! I love this series and look forward to seeing more of your redesigned covers.
Meg Morley
thank you thank you!! maybe i’ll be able to get the next set up in less than 2 months :/
Tara
You did it again! If I ever write a book, I’m going to commission you.
Meg Morley
eeep!! thank you!
deshipley
Do you actually take commissions? Because having seen this, I am overcome with the fierce desire to have you design a book cover for me one day. Say it may be so.
Sana // artsy musings of a bibliophile
Hi, I have died.
I mean, I just had to sit here awhile and just soak up all the awesome, but combined with your descriptions of each cover and how the ships are facing each other and the ones facing in the same direction *cough* drift compatible *cough* and I am just aaahhhh. Love, love, love!
Meg Morley
hold up wait a second why has it never occurred to me to look for trc pacific rim AUs bc I have a powerful need to read about Blue and Ronan in the drift
(also, consider this vengeance for all the times you’ve made me cry over headcanons) (except I love it so maybe not) (also THANK YOU!!)
Sana // artsy musings of a bibliophile
Sooo I might have Googled and at least one definitely exist only it’s about Adam, Ronan, Neeve and Whelk which weird. Buuut I’ll definitely read a Blue/Ronan one because need.
Anyway, yes I absolutely accept this as a form of vengeance. Also, I noticed the dead Gansey flag waving and very approve.
Meg Morley
um. what? neeve and whelk? they barely even go here.
haaaaa i thought you’d like that. I had a much less death-y one in the works and pictured ellis glaring at me and was like okay, need to death this up, it’s not working anyway.
Angel
They are so damn gorgeous!
Meg Morley
thank you!!
Ellie
Oh God, they are drop-dead gorgeous! I’ve tears in my eyes and can’t stop looking at them. I wish they were real because I’d totally buy these editions in a heartbeat.
Meg Morley
EEEE!!!! THANK YOU!! ngl, I have def indulged in a brief fantasy where scholastic wants to license and print them
Vanessa
These are absolutely beautiful! I’m not someone who buys books twice cause they found a prettier edition, but I would totally make an exception for these!
I also agree with your reasoning about whom to put on the covers.
Meg Morley
ahhhh thank you!!
Lisa (Fic Talk)
I wish I could pet these covers. SO SO SO GORGEOUS, Meg.
Meg Morley
THANK YOU!!
Chenise J.
These are absolutely stunning! The typography and images are perfect compliments of each other! I’m also reeeeally in love with the spines and how nicely they look all lined up. These need to be real asap!!
BRITTANY T
Well damn! Those are freakin amazing. I would totally buy them even though I love the covers now. I think I might like these a bit better. Great job lady! Can’t wait for The Raven King!!!
❤️Britt @ PleaseFeedTheBookworm.com
Judith
*dies*
(That’s pretty much it. You’re too fucking talented and these are too fucking gorgeous and I will never not be impressed.)
(Lol coherent comments.)
Rosie
WOW! You are crazy talented. These are beautiful. Words can do these no justice.
I would love to have a copy of these on my shelf. You’ve reminded me that I need to finish the series off too – The Raven Boys was the first book I read this year and I loved it.
Serious booklust.
Angiegirl
These are just exquisite.
Hebe
I haven’t read the books, but these covers really are gorgeous.
wildpear
SO GORGEOUS!!!
Ahaha I totally thought ‘Hey, the ships are looking at each other, well played Meg’ before reading that bit of your write-up 😉 I suppose . . . philosophical things could be relevant too . . . *shrugs noncomitally*
But seriously these are so pretty and I love them all (especially Blue’s, for personal reasons) and if I’m ever in a position to choose my own cover designer I know who I want!
Heidi @ YA Bibliophile.com
So lovely! Love these re-covered posts!!
Marie
These covers are really, really good. I like them better than the original ones (Even though The Raven King has yet to have an official cover at the moment). They are just so pretty. You have some crazy talent. 🙂
Mel@thedailyprophecy
Oh my, these are fantastic and I loved your explanations behind your picks. The cover from Ronan is perfect. Blue Lily, Lily Blue is my favorite cover! Gorgeous colours and details.
Bonnie @ For the Love of Words
Dude. These are fucking gorgeous. You’re amazingly talented, my dear.
E.Maree
Oh my god, these are BEAUTIES.
Maraia
I still can’t get over how stunning these covers are. Why are you not being paid for this?! I don’t even know what else to say, except that they are perfect. You captured everything I love about this series.
annie
i’ve definitely come to look forward to these posts just to see all the amazing things you manage to create. this post has absolutely blown me away. i’ve never been a huge fan of the raven cycle covers though i couldn’t imagine them with anything else but oh my god, THESE COVERS. i would buy ten thousand copies of each book just to see them lined up on my bookshelf. so so pretty, it makes me sad that these aren’t real. can they be real please??
Kira Brighton
These are GORGEOUS, Meg! I love your cover redesign project so much. 🙂
Ginny
Wow, I would love to buy those! Also, I’d like to see your take on The Diviners series and Throne of Glass series.
Aentee
Wow these are so stunning! If they were real covers I could repurchase the entire series in hardbacks. I love reading your description as well, they suit the books so well. Thanks for sharing!
Deyse
CAN YOU JUST DESIGN ALL THE COVERS FOR REAL SO I CAN HAVE THIS LIKE PLSSSSSSS I WANT MY SHIPS FACING EACH OTHER
Liza @ Reading with ABC
Another Stiefvater fan!!! I would love to see what you can do with The Scorpio Races 🙂 Anyway, I love these, they fit the characters so well. I keep hoping for a good ending to the series *fingers crossed*
Vane J.
Oh my gracious Lord, I think I died a little inside when I saw those covers. They’re AH-MAZING, Meg.
Michelle @ Pink Polka Dot Books
Wow you have some real talent and creativity. You should definitely pursue this in the publishing world. I love this series, and I love what you did with it!
Jess @ Such a Novel Idea
MEG! I seriously didn’t think I could ever love the covers to this book series more, but I think I do. These are GORGEOUS!
Chachic
These are gorgeous! I wish they were real because I would love to have copies of these editions.
Nicole N.
THESE ARE SO LOVELY.
Someone should seriously pick you up and let you design covers because seriously.
Cait @ Paper Fury
oh my god these are so beautiful I CANNOT EVEN BREATH. I WOULD LIKE THESE ON MY WALL BASICALLY, BECAUSE THEY ARE SO AMAZING. ALSO SHIPS.
Ksenia @ Ksenia's Book Blog
Gorgeous covers, Meg! I love them so much! You are very talented. If you are open to suggestions, I would really like to see re-imagined covers for Rosamund Hodge’s books.
Carina Olsen
YOU ARE AMAZING. And I want these. Oh my gosh. You are so talented Meg 😀 SO GORGEOUS. <3 I adore these books too. Sigh. But don't you dare! Gansey is NOT DYING! I refuse it 😀 The Raven King will end happily for Gansey and Blue. And that's that. <3 Anyway. These are awesome. And I want them so badly. Thank you for making and sharing sweet girl 🙂 You are awesome.
La Coccinelle @ The Ladybug Reads...
I love these cover re-imaginings! Amazing work.
Amy B
Wow! I envy your talent, Meg. They’re absolutely stunning covers! Bravo!
Jolien @ The Fictional Reader
WHAT. These are so beautiful! I would buy these over the current covers any time! You’ve made an incredible thing here.
Retrospect #88: September 6 | Word Revel
[…] @ Cuddlebuggery designed reimagined covers for The Raven Cycle. They are absolutely stunning to behold! If only these weren’t merely a personal project but […]
Julie
These are beautiful! I love all the reasoning behind your choices as well. Even though the current covers are pretty, I really love your redesigns!!
Dita the Squirrel
I’ll have to agree with everyone. These are beautiful! Stunning! Amazing! Soo pretty!
They make me want to read the books even more. 😀
Jaz
What do I think? What do I THINK? Holy sweet baby Jesus Meg these are stunning, amazing, beautiful, jaw-dropping, my socks are knocked off my feet incredible!
You are sooooo talented and omg if these were released as a new edition I would be the first to be buying them! So gorgeous I cannot even.
I hope you have the time to keep this feature up as I’d love to see how you interpret and re-create other series covers (suggestion, The Grisha Trilogy :D).
Kyra @ Blog of a Bookaholic
THESE ARE SO BEAUTIFUL OMG! You’re so talented! Seriously though, if I saw these at a bookshop I would buy them without even bothering to read what they’re about. WOW!
Emma @ A Bookshelf Kitten
I thought these covers couldn’t get more beautiful. I was wrong. These are some of the most beautiful covers I’ve ever seen! *flails* They are so, so pretty. I think my favorite one is The Raven King. Also, question, what’s a cover wrap? Is it like a dust jacket?
Holly J
I know I’ve already told you they are gorgeous (they still are and omg I need prints of these) but I also had to comment on how PERFECT the details and descriptions are. And I love the originals, but holy wow, I’m obsessed with your covers here. 🙂
KayCee K.
Oh, my word! Those are amazing! I need to get them… now! <3
Monique Sutton
These covers are more beautiful than the originals and that is saying something!! I love these covers and your descriptions were amazing and so well put together, this whole post was just incredible! 😀
Boring Series Recommendation: The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater – Bored to Death book club
[…] not. Let’s hope its a not yet and the publisher will pay this amazing artist for her work and we get to have these beauties in our […]
Eon
Wow. Amazing work. You are super talented – keep up the beautiful work.
Mithila
i’d get these in a heartbeat if they were ever published. these are just stunning!
Sharon Carson
Oh my gosh! Love the covers so much, are you actually doing commissions for book covers?