Welcome to shelf candy saturday a weekly meme hosted by Stephanie at Five Alarm Book Reviews http://www.fivealarmbookreviews.com. This meme is a celebration of artists and the book covers we love!!
My Shelf Candy pick this week is:
Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock
This is the US cover. I think it is absolutely beautiful. I love the colors and the sweeping vines at the top – it makes me think that perhaps I could get tangled in the story. 😉 It actually kind of reminds me a bit of mt shelf candy choice from last week Juliet Immortal. Both have young girls in beautiful dresses looking down and rather melancholy. I must have a soft spot for this look. 😉
Even so I think you can agree that it is a stunning cover.
Here is the UK cover. The UK edition will be released in July 2012
Personally I like the US cover better but the UK version is beautiful too and I think also gives more indication that the story will be filled with action (and hopefully twists and turns!) It kind of reminds me of Little Red Riding Hood. I like the image in the branches above the girl, it adds an element of danger to the cover. 😉
Also, notice that the title on the UK cover is “Deadly Hemlock” and the title on the US cover is “Hemlock”. I’m not sure which one I prefer but I think that both covers titles suit the style of each book. The “Deadly” in the UK version goes along with the urgent danger feel and the simple “Hemlock” on the US cover I think fits the simplistic sorrow. I will say that I was slightly bothered that the titles are different, I guess because I think the different title and the different cover made me pause to wonder if it was the same story inside the pages.
Here is some information on this book that I just can’t wait to read upon its release!
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books (an imprint of HarperCollins)
Release Date: May 8, 2012 (this is the US release date. The UK date is above)
ISBN-13: 978-0062048653 ISBN-10: 0062048651
Mackenzie and Amy were best friends. Until Amy was brutally murdered.
Since then, Mac’s life has been turned upside down. She is being haunted by Amy in her dreams, and an extremist group called the Trackers has come to Mac’s hometown of Hemlock to hunt down Amy’s killer: A white werewolf.
Lupine syndrome—also known as the werewolf virus—is on the rise across the country. Many of the infected try to hide their symptoms, but bloodlust is not easy to control.
Wanting desperately to put an end to her nightmares, Mac decides to investigate Amy’s murder herself. She discovers secrets lurking in the shadows of Hemlock, secrets about Amy’s boyfriend, Jason, her good pal Kyle, and especially her late best friend. Mac is thrown into a maelstrom of violence and betrayal that puts her life at risk.
Hemlock is the first novel in a spellbinding urban fantasy trilogy filled with provocative questions about prejudice, trust, lies, and love.
Synopsis and publisher info was provided by http://kathleenpeacock.com/Hemlock.html this is the author’s website. Please visit this site for more information.
I am really excited to read this. As most of you know I love a werewolf and this seems like a really fresh take on a story involving one. I will for sure be picking this book up to read!!
It is more common for me to like the UK covers, but yeah for the US version in this case. It is a little Juliet Immortal and Entwined. It is beautiful.
I can depend on you to find the best wolf type reads.
thanks Stephanie! I do like a werewolf read! I can’t wait to read this one!!
It IS very similar to Juliet Immortal. I think I am really drawn to that look. lol.
thanks for stopping by!
Hi, Cambria!
Oh, I absolutely prefer the US cover!! It’s so simple and elegant! I love the vines, too, as well as the gorgeous purple dress. And yes, it reminds me of the cover for “Juliet Immortal”, too. In fact, this cover has a VERY “Shakespearean” look to it! Ophelia from “Hamlet” also comes to mind here.
I don’t like the UK cover at all. In fact, it looks a bit confusing to the eye. I had to look very closely to make out the what the images were. Another problem with it is the title. Every reader with a smidgen of book knowledge knows that hemlock is a poison. (Remember poor Socrates?) So I think it’s redundant for the word “deadly” to have been added to the title.
All in all, it’s the US cover, hands down! Thanks for sharing!! Happy Saturday!! : )
Maria @ http://anightsdreamofbooks.blogspot.com/
Thanks for stopping by Maria! I love the US cover a lot too and i understand what you mean about the UK cover.
Thanks for stopping by!
I love the US cover. It’s exactly how I would imagine someone to look if she were to be considering whether to take hemlock (and kill herself) for the greater good, or something. Sure makes me wonder why she feels that way. I wouldn’t have seen the wolf on UK cover if you hadn’t mentioned it – I usually like hidden images like that but this one was too subtle for me. Already knowing that hemlock is deadly (thanks, Socrates) adding “Deadly” in the title seemed overdone, but I do like the tagline on the UK cover, so my preference would have been the US cover plus the line “Beware the wolf within”. Sorry to ramble, whenever people give me two choices I have to favor one and analyze why (psychology major, haha). Great picks. Looking forward to seeing how you like the book.
Here’s my Shelf Candy.
Annie @ CandleLit Library
Great point of view here and yes, I like the tag line too
I think WE all should find out inner wolf. LOL!!
I can’t wait to read it and post a review, thanks or stopping by!
The US cover is more beautiful, I think, but the UK cover does make the story look like it has more substance. Still, I’m a sucker for a gorgeous dress and I love the colors on the US cover, so I think I prefer that one overall. I really can’t wait to read this book! 🙂
Thanks for stopping by Sam! Both covers have good qualities and its great to hear everyone’ views on their differences!
I wonder why the publishers use different covers for the UK and the US? I prefer the UK version, just love the Autumn colours of red against the sunlight streaming through the trees in the background.
I wonder that too a lot Emma. They had different release dates too if I remember correctly. I love autimn colors too so I can also appreciate the beauty of the UK cover. Yet the look of the US cover calls to me…. either way I think both covers are gorgeous. thanks for coming by!
Wow! Cute covers! Thanks for sharing..didn’t know this book exists. 🙂
Vidya @ Books Are Magic