Cover-Judgers Anonymous - Queen of the Dead

Never judge a book by its cover.

If you've read my blog, you've probably heard me refer to myself as a shameless (SHAMELESS!) cover-judger. I know, I'm seeking help. But I don't think I'm the only one out there who does it.

So I invite you, readers, to share your opinion, and maybe we can find a cure for this problem together...or not.

Let the (shameless! SHAMELESS!) cover-judging begin!

In today's edition of Cover-Judgers Anonymous I bring you a favourite series of mine, The Ghost and The Goth.  Here's my problem...I NEED to get myself a copy of this one (my bookcase just won't be complete without it) but they've changed the cover for the paperback, and I CAN'T DECIDE!

After being sent back from the light, Alona Dare - former homecoming queen, current Queen of the Dead - finds herself doing something she never expected: working. Instead of spending days perfecting her tan by the pool (her typical summer routine when she was, you know, "alive"), Alona must now cater to the needs of other lost spirits. By her side for all of this, ugh, "helping of others" is Will Killian: social outcast, seer of the dead, and someone Alona cares about more than she'd like.

Before Alona can make a final ruling on Will's "friend" or "more than friend" status, though, she discovers trouble at home. Her mom is tossing out Alona's most valuable possessions, and her dad is expecting a new daughter with his wicked wife. Is it possible her family is already moving on? She's only been dead for two months Thankfully, Alona knows just the guy who can put a stop to this mess.

Unfortunately for Alona, Will has other stuff on his mind, and Mina, a young (and beautiful) seer, is at the top of the list. She's the first ghost-talker Will's ever met--aside from his father--and she may hold answers to Will's troubled past. But can she be trusted? Alona immediately puts a check in the "clearly not" column. But Will is, "ahem," willing to find out, even if it means leaving a hurt and angry Alona to her own devices, which is never a good idea.

Packed with romance, lovable characters, and a killer cliffhanger, "Queen of the Dead" is the out-of-this-world sequel to "The Ghost and the Goth."

Here's the original hardcover.  I love the pink, I love how pretty and girlie the diner looks, and then poor Will is sitting right in the middle of it.  I love how flirty Alona looks, and how the look on Will's face manages to convey how he's both smitten and annoyed by Alona at any given moment.  In other words, this cover = LOVE.

...and here's the cover for the upcoming paperback.  You see my problem now, don't you, dear readers.  It totally fits the book (the scene is perfect) and Alona's both bubbly and smug (as only Alona can be) and Will has the most long-suffering look on his face EVER.  I love it. (and I love the fact that they kept the same models for Alona & Will)

I'm TORN.  What do you think, my lovelies?  What would you choose?