Plot Twist: The Cover Changed
Turns out books really are judged by their covers...
When AyDee and KaeJae were talking about book covers, they were both on the same page: conceptual, a design that had something to do with the book itself.
Which seems par for the course when it comes to the fantasy/romantasy genre.
So, when they went out with this cover, they loved it.
It’s simple.
There’s meaning behind the Crescent Coin and what it stands for—at the beginning of the book and at the end as well.
But, well, we all know what happens when you assume. 🥴
It’s not so much the “ass” thing, but more about… public opinion.
The publisher was noticing the covers that were getting the most hits on NetGalley were books with couples on them.
🤔
🤨
Color us… unexpected. If that word was literally a color, they would say yellow-orange. They threw some ideas around and voila, the new cover for Shadowmarked.
AyDee loves that Nyra is represented with short hair, because she wears her hair short (shorter, really) in the book.
They both love the glowy, apothecary vibes. Nyra owns an apothecary (although there are no ravens or skulls to be had in her place 😜), so they like that this element was included.
And they love Big Ben and the London skyline in the background, because, yes, the story takes place there.
The fact that the publisher changed the cover will always be a surprise to AyDee and KaeJae because they feel like they were going with the trend. They were going with what’s out there with some of the more popular books in this genre.
But based on data, they had to pivot.
And they’re not mad about it.
But to AyDee it makes sense. Because she does judge a book by its cover.
She typically reads contemporary romance and the kind of covers that catch her eye are the ones with the hawt as fuck half-naked faceless (torso shot)/headshot dude.
Not a couple.
Not illustrated or cartoony.
Romantasy is new genre to the ladies and they’re still learning the rules guidelines expectations something about it this genre.
Sometimes you have to kill your darlings.
And that includes book covers.
Cause a little mayhem,
Midlife badass incoming on 4/28/26. Available for pre-orders and early reviews now!
