We’ve been on tenterhooks waiting for Gwenda Bond’s debut Blackwood (coming from Strange Chemistry in September, the new Angry Robot’s YA imprint). The story takes place at Roanoke Island, the setting of one of the biggest historical mysteries ever with its missing colony and we simply can’t wait to read it. As such, we are most delighted to be unveiling the awesome cover as well as running an exclusive ARC giveaway. Check it out!
THE SMUGGLERIFIC COVER:
THE SUMMARY:
On Roanoke Island, the legend of the 114 people who mysteriously vanished from the Lost Colony hundreds of years ago is just an outdoor drama for the tourists, a story people tell. But when the island faces the sudden disappearance of 114 people now, an unlikely pair of 17-year-olds may be the only hope of bringing them back.
Miranda, a misfit girl from the island’s most infamous family, and Phillips, an exiled teen criminal who hears the voices of the dead, must dodge everyone from federal agents to long-dead alchemists as they work to uncover the secrets of the new Lost Colony. The one thing they can’t dodge is each other.
A WORD FROM GWENDA BOND AND ARC GIVEAWAY:
When my editor Amanda first sent me the cover concept, I thought she was clearly a genius. You see, my main character Miranda Blackwood’s father has a strawberry-colored, snake-shaped birthmark on his face–a birthmark that is a very visual symbol of the Blackwood family curse much whispered about on this Roanoke Island. But then, of course, there are the typical author doubts. What if it skews Eve (as in Adam &), what if she looks naked and heavy metal, what if she seems to be, er, romancing said snake? Clearly these fears were entirely unfounded.
I love this cover. I think it gets across the sense of the mystery Miranda and Phillips must figure out together–the disappearances, then and now–and is a perfect representation of Miranda’s struggle with her family’s history. Plus, something SPOILERY that I hope will make it even cooler for readers. Speaking of which! Comment below to win an ARC and find out the solution (mine, at least) to the centuries-old mystery of the Lost Colony….
Comment below – let us know what you think of the cover – to be entered to win an ARC of Blackwood. The giveaway is open to ALL and will run till Saturday April 7 11:59PM (PST). Good luck!!
206 Comments
Nymeth
March 29, 2012 at 1:45 amI love the colour scheme, the font and the final composition. And it’s awesome that the cover will gain a new layer of meaning once people have read the book – I always love it when that happens. I’m dying to read this book, so please throw my name in the hat!
Dana
March 29, 2012 at 2:16 amGreat cover! Also- you definitely piqued my interest with the mention of spoiler… is it the snake?? Hope I’d win this.
Staraice
March 29, 2012 at 3:08 amIs 114 the spoilery thing which will become clear?
I’m actually not usually a fan of covers with people on them. However I love the colour scheme, and the way her windswept hair fades into shadows.
J.M. Blackman
March 29, 2012 at 3:17 amLove the cover; love that the author loves it and would love to win the ARC! Fingers crossed!
Stuart
March 29, 2012 at 3:29 amGreat cover, the snake is nicely woven into the artwork.
Stephanie Burgis
March 29, 2012 at 3:41 amI adore this cover and can’t wait to read the book! Please enter me in the giveaway. 🙂
Stephen West
March 29, 2012 at 3:49 amLove the look of snakes, especially the geometry of the scales, which shows up well here. The triangle formed by her jawline and hairline is subtly continued across the page, giving a pleasing symmetry. The supersaturated colour works well with the distressed stencil font. It’s a lovely cover.
I hope the hidden secret in the cover isn’t too gruesome, I couldn’t bear to look at the cover of Use of Weapons after I’d read it!
Chris Morris
March 29, 2012 at 4:09 amThat’s a really striking cover. Sounds like an interesting book too.
RK Charron
March 29, 2012 at 4:13 amLove the cover Gwenda!
Staraice = The 114 is the number of people who vanish.
All the best,
RK Charron
Chris Cevasco
March 29, 2012 at 4:30 amThe cover turned out great, and the book sounds fascinating!
Mandivenard
March 29, 2012 at 5:01 amSuch a dramatic and eye catching cover and the colors are beautiful together.Please enter me in the giveaway,thanks.
MarieC
March 29, 2012 at 5:22 amEye catching cover! count me in!
Steph
March 29, 2012 at 5:29 amIntriguing cover — love the colours. Can’t wait to read the book!
mima tipper
March 29, 2012 at 5:35 amVery excited for Gwenda’s debut, and happy for even the chance of an ARC”)
Clete Barrett Smith
March 29, 2012 at 5:39 amCongrats, Gwenda! Can’t wait to read the book!!!
Suz Glo
March 29, 2012 at 5:44 amI love it when the cover of the book really relates to the story. And the colors and imagery of this cover really made me want to stop and study it a moment. That’s always a good thing,right? Thanks for the giveaway —
Jenn Hartley
March 29, 2012 at 5:44 amI love the cover, esp. the colors. The effect of her hair spread across the background and the snake turning into a tattoo really make it appealing. Reminds me of artwork from CLAMP’s xxxHolic series.
Jason Erik Lundberg
March 29, 2012 at 5:47 amThe cover is wonderfully evocative, from the color palate to the snake imagery to the beautiful model. If this was in the bookstore, I’d definitely pick it up to see what it was about.
I’ve been excited about this book for a long time, since Gwenda first blogged about writing it. As a resident of North Carolina for nearly 20 years (though I’m no longer there), I was ingrained with the mystery and tragedy of the Lost Colony from an early age, and I love that Gwenda has used this has the setting for her novel. Really looking forward to reading it.
I’d love to be entered into the ARC giveaway, but I do live in Singapore, so I understand if the prohibitive postage might make me ineligible.
Erinn
March 29, 2012 at 5:52 amAs the owner of a snake ring, I am immediately drawn to this cover. Finding that it’s about Roanoke makes me want to reach through my computer and get started.
sue
March 29, 2012 at 5:56 amOh my Golly!! This is definitely a book I must read. The cover is definitely one that would make me pick up this book without hesitation. Roanoake Island? Always fascinated by that mystery. Please enter me in the giveaway!
sienny
March 29, 2012 at 6:05 amnice.. it’s creepy because of the snake, but overall nice
Jodie
March 29, 2012 at 6:09 amI love the cover, but especially the font, which looks like graffit stencil.
Celia
March 29, 2012 at 6:10 amI really like the green color and the way its reflected in her hair.
Ashley Chattaway
March 29, 2012 at 6:11 amYou had me at Roanoke Island. Can’t resist a book about the Lost Colony – this one sounds fantastic!
Katy Upperman
March 29, 2012 at 6:23 amSo striking! I think it’s gorgeous, and I’m equally intrigued by the synopsis. 🙂
Juliana
March 29, 2012 at 6:29 amWhat a beautiful cover and absolutely intriguing. There’s a twist to this book that seems very original- I love it.
Eric Francis
March 29, 2012 at 6:31 amCongrats, Gwenda! Clearly, Christopher married up! 😉
amber
March 29, 2012 at 6:34 amOh…. I grew up a bit north of Roanoke, so this sounds like an absolutely fabulous book to me! The cover is fantastic 🙂
Christine
March 29, 2012 at 6:35 amI esp. like the font! This book sounds awesome.
Ginger J
March 29, 2012 at 6:38 amSo looking forward to this! I love the texture on this cover. Intriguing!
Doni Molony
March 29, 2012 at 6:39 amThe cover is stunning and the book sounds like a great read. I’m feeling lucky. Throw my hat into the ring!
max
March 29, 2012 at 6:45 amYay! WTG Gwenda!
Emma
March 29, 2012 at 6:47 amI adore the cover! Love the font, colours, the way the snake turns into a tattoo. It makes me want to read the book before reading the description 🙂 But even more-so after reading it! Sounds fascinating!
Shannon
March 29, 2012 at 6:52 amI especially like the snake.
Mark Rowland
March 29, 2012 at 6:53 amI like the color scheme and font. The snake seems oddly reminiscent of Freedom Cobra 😛
Kathleen Foucart
March 29, 2012 at 6:58 amWow! Amazing cover and so different! Book sounds awesome, can’t wait to read 🙂
Linsey
March 29, 2012 at 6:59 amThe image is great, but what I really love is the colors – the red of the snake against her pale skin and the green in the back ground – it’s all very eye catching. If I still worked at a bookstore I would definitely give this some real estate on the front table or on an end cap to draw in readers.
Natasha McNeely
March 29, 2012 at 7:00 amThis sounds like a great book and I’m looking forward to getting my hands on it! As far as the cover goes; I think it looks great, particularly how the fonts fit the more rough edge of the cover.
Erin E. Moulton
March 29, 2012 at 7:01 amThe cover is gorgeous! I am loving the font choice, especially! Yay, Gwenda!
RJ Huneke
March 29, 2012 at 7:02 amI LOVE the Roanoke mythology! Can’t wait to read!!
Stacie
March 29, 2012 at 7:04 amAwesom cover… Can’t wait to read it!
Paige
March 29, 2012 at 7:05 amThis looks fabulous! And my guess is that the spoiler might have something to do with the fact that the snake depicted is a non-venomous king snake, rather than a more dangerous coral snake. Can’t wait to find out if I’m right!
Stacie
March 29, 2012 at 7:05 amAwesome cover… Can’t wait to read it!
laurie
March 29, 2012 at 7:06 amIt’s striking Gwenda, I don’t want to wait that long to read it:0)
karen b
March 29, 2012 at 7:08 amI like the cover a lot — I think the colors work well with the imagery, and the image itself is nice and mysterious. And ROANOKE, no way, LOVE. Glad I stumbled over this; I’ll be reading it whether I win a copy or not!
April Books & Wine
March 29, 2012 at 7:09 amI never ever enter contests but am making an exception that rule for this.
I love all of the green!
AND Roanoke?
YES PLEASE!!!
Shveta Thakrar
March 29, 2012 at 7:16 amHeck, yes! I’m so excited for Gwenda. Count me in!
Kristan Curry
March 29, 2012 at 7:18 amCan’t wait to read this! Sounds wonderful!
Rebecca
March 29, 2012 at 7:18 amThe cover is gorgeous and the Roanoke mystery is fascinating. This sounds great!
Brad
March 29, 2012 at 7:19 amThat’s a really eye-catching cover! But the snake creeps me out a little.
Thanks for hosting the giveaway! 😀
Victoria Houston
March 29, 2012 at 7:24 amHaunting, romantic — love it. Want it. Plus Gwenda has heroically read some of my books. But if I don’t win it, I’ll buy it!! And mention it all over the northern Midwest. Please put me in the giveaway.
Erin
March 29, 2012 at 7:26 amI’m really looking forward to this book. Congratulations, Gwenda!
Misti
March 29, 2012 at 7:29 amI like the cover. Now I’m interested in reading the book to see how well I think it fits.
Lizzel B
March 29, 2012 at 7:30 amI’m usually not a fan of faces on YA books, but the snake is actually pretty cool. Plus, I really dig the numbers scratched onto the background here and there.
Katie
March 29, 2012 at 7:32 amCool cover. The snake doesn’t look as good as it could, but it’s still a gorgeous cover.
Helen
March 29, 2012 at 7:34 amNeat cover! Love the fact that it looks like a tattoo until you see it over her shoulder.
Amy K
March 29, 2012 at 7:37 amThis book sounds great and the I think the cover is pretty cool 🙂
Becky
March 29, 2012 at 7:39 amI don’t really like people on book covers because I prefer to form my own judgment of what a character looks like from reading the text. However, this is a nicely done cover, and the fact that the author likes it is a plus!
Vanessa
March 29, 2012 at 7:47 amOne of the few covers I’ve seen lately that isn’t insipid. Instead, it is vivid and screams “READ ME.”
Melissa Weber
March 29, 2012 at 7:49 amLooks great! Win a copy of ARC?? Somebody is going to be lucky! Will keep my fingers crossed:)
Rachel
March 29, 2012 at 8:00 amGorgeous cover – very mysterious and intriguing – makes me definitely want to read the book!
AD
March 29, 2012 at 8:02 amHauntingly beautiful. I love the play of hair across the cover. There is a “dark” characteristic about this cover, but in an intriguing way. I cannot wait to read this book!!
Kat
March 29, 2012 at 8:10 amGorgeous. I love it. Proves that cover art can be sexy without odd poses, gratuitous bare skin and tramp stamps. Lately, I’ve made a point of not buying books with offensive covers. This book I would absolutely buy based on that cover.
Kaethe
March 29, 2012 at 8:15 amI love the cover. And I love books about The Lost Colony, so now I’m totally stoked.
ForeverReading1
March 29, 2012 at 8:27 amI like the cover, especially the way the snake’s head looks tattooed into her face. I don’t read many YA books, but this book with a mystery/history twist sounds good.
Sherry
March 29, 2012 at 8:29 amI think the cover is awesome! I’m completely intrigued by this book and can’t wait to read it!
Sherry
March 29, 2012 at 8:31 amI think the cover is awesome! I’m completely intrigued by this book and can’t wait to read it! 😆
Laura D.
March 29, 2012 at 8:51 amI like the cover and its cool that the author likes it too. Looks like an interesting read, can’t wait. 😀
Stephen Zoldi
March 29, 2012 at 8:54 amI like the cover and look forward to reading it. I just recently began to read YA titles. Sounds good.
Justine
March 29, 2012 at 9:06 amThere’s a spoiler depicted on the cover? Intriguing!
I like the color contrasts of green, red, and black on the cover.
Delphi Psmith
March 29, 2012 at 9:19 amGorgeous, but am puzzled about the red snake. Doesn’t look like anything I’ve ever seen in Virginia LOL!
Marie-Claude Rajotte
March 29, 2012 at 9:19 amThe cover is so pretty!!! And I love the snake!!!
Jenny Schwartzberg
March 29, 2012 at 9:28 amThat’s a scary cover. I think it will appeal to a lot of readers. I don’t like snakes so I might not have picked up that book due to the cover. However the synopsis looks really intriguing so I will look at it once it becomes available. Roanoake’s inspired quite a bit of speculation over the centuries but not very much YA fiction. There’s some out there but I’m blanking on the titles. I would love to win a copy!
Melysah
March 29, 2012 at 9:38 amI like the cover. I think the colors match the story. It’s very Girl with the
DragonSnake Tattoo-ish.Jodie Fletcher
March 29, 2012 at 9:45 amThis will definitely jump off the shelves! Fascinating and creepy cover. Can’t wait to read it!
Bohemienne
March 29, 2012 at 9:51 amI love it! It’s such a refreshing, raw, gritty change to the over-polished Vogue look of so many YA covers. And definitely gives me good sort of chills as to what the book’s content will be like. 😀
Jennifer @ A Librarian's Library
March 29, 2012 at 10:00 amThis cover has a very sinister feel to it that is eerie and inviting at the same time. Enter me, please!
Emilia
March 29, 2012 at 10:06 amWow, the cover and the description sound amazing! I love when author incorporate historical mysteries into novels.
Sheila
March 29, 2012 at 10:16 amNeat cover. Randomly, I like the little box that says “Strange Chemistry.” I like the fonts too!
Lindsey Carmichael
March 29, 2012 at 10:16 amThat cover is SO PRETTY. The insides sound good too!
Kate
March 29, 2012 at 10:31 amSnakes kinda freak me out, but this is cool, if it goes along with the contents. So frequently, book covers do not match what is in the book at all.
dellan
March 29, 2012 at 10:35 amcover is great – snake is SCARY
Lisa
March 29, 2012 at 10:37 amThe snake looks a bit smudgy on her face, but I like the colors.
Rachel R.
March 29, 2012 at 10:44 amI absolutely love the cover, and the summary is awesome. Can’t wait to read this.
ANna
March 29, 2012 at 10:51 amLove the cover (the font makes it look modern, while the rest looks old-fashion…the juxtaposition is striking!). And I just learned about Roanoke…that would be so cool to see Bond’s take on the real reason for the disappearance!
Yeti
March 29, 2012 at 11:24 amBeautiful and striking cover, and a plus for having a snake on it as reptiles rule!
veronika
March 29, 2012 at 12:13 pmMy favorite part of the cover is the font–but I also love the colour. I’m looking forward to this one!
Christina
March 29, 2012 at 12:32 pmwow, this is such a unique setting for a YA book, and that yowza cover will definitely draw teens who might have shied awy from a typical historical fic cover. can’t wait to read it and share it with my library’s teens!
Diana M
March 29, 2012 at 12:43 pmI love the cover, especially the snake. Thanks for the giveaway.
Penny
March 29, 2012 at 12:44 pmoooh I love this cover! It would definitely catch my eye if I stumbled upon it in a bookstore.
Jana @The Book Goddess
March 29, 2012 at 12:53 pmLooks very haunting and creepy yet intriguing! The cover definitely draws you in! 🙂
k.bird
March 29, 2012 at 1:00 pmCan’t wait!
Andrea Chettle
March 29, 2012 at 1:15 pmI have to admit I hadn’t heard of this book before but as soon as I saw the cover I was drawn in and had to know more. Now I have to read it That is exactly what a good cover should do and this is a great cover
Thanks
Memory
March 29, 2012 at 1:24 pmI adore the cover. The contrast between the red snake and the green background (and the girl’s green-black hair!) is phenomenal. It’s enticing.
Kristy Gates
March 29, 2012 at 1:27 pmI had not heard of this book until. I love the sound of the plot, and the cover is beautiful! 🙂
Linda W
March 29, 2012 at 1:29 pmWow! It’s so dynamic!!! 😀
Erica
March 29, 2012 at 1:30 pmI like the way the way the cover hints at the story & especially like that small 114 that seems to be scratched into the lower corner. The fonts seem to be very fitting to what little I know of the story, too.
Sarah
March 29, 2012 at 1:41 pmThis is one of the first things I saw as my eyes are recovering from an exam and dilation, and it’s incredibly haunting. I think it may be sticking with me all day!
misty
March 29, 2012 at 1:48 pmThe cover definitely stands out from the crowd! The story sounds very interesting as well.
mary anne
March 29, 2012 at 1:52 pmAt first glance it looks like a lot of the trendy covers you see today, but the snake and the style pull it away and make it much more distinctive. I like it.
Anonymous
March 29, 2012 at 1:52 pmHow gorgeous! And the snake is very different. =)
LeAnn
March 29, 2012 at 1:57 pmSpooky! I think it looks spooky and awesome at the same time. I love the snake and want to know more.
JenP
March 29, 2012 at 2:31 pmStunning cover–great color contrasts.
Kendra
March 29, 2012 at 2:38 pmgreat cover!
SMD
March 29, 2012 at 3:08 pmI really like the font, actually. I get really bored with standard, straight-lace fonts, or fonts that look produced to be “weird.” The font here looks like it was painted in from a stencil or something, which gives it a nifty look.
Then again, I could be talking out of my toosh.
Na S.
March 29, 2012 at 3:38 pmWhat an eye-catching cover. There is a lot of details and I find the snake wrapped around the snake interesting. I wonder how that fits into the story.
Charlotte
March 29, 2012 at 3:39 pmIt’s nice to see an attractive cover that doesn’t have a DRESS. I am wondering what on earth is up with her shoulder though…it looks like it’s kind of cracking apart.
Stephanie
March 29, 2012 at 3:51 pmThis book is so lovely… I will want to make sure and display this instead of hiding it in the shelves.
Jacqui
March 29, 2012 at 3:57 pmVery unique cover!
Allison
March 29, 2012 at 4:00 pmit looks awesome!
the greens and reds look great together
Charles Tan
March 29, 2012 at 4:33 pmThe colors are appealing (not too dark but not too bright either) and there’s a strong, prominent image to go with the book that doesn’t look derivative.
Small Review
March 29, 2012 at 4:46 pmI love it! It reminds me of the original covers on Amelia Atwater-Rhodes’ Den of Shadows books. I’m not 100% on the title/author font, but overall the cover is very appealing.
Katrina
March 29, 2012 at 4:57 pmOooh, this one looks good! I’ve always liked the whole Virginia Dare mystery.
Karin L.
March 29, 2012 at 5:01 pmI think the cover is very well done. I’m curious about the number at the bottom on the left.
Kari
March 29, 2012 at 5:02 pmIs it bad that every time I see a snake, I think Red on black, friend of Jack?? Hahaha
Looks awesome! I love how I’ve been hearing that part of history popping up everywhere, recently!
Michelle R
March 29, 2012 at 5:19 pmOh, I love the way the snake transitions from 3D to almost a tattoo? Either way, the cover combined with the description adds this to my TBR list.
sarac
March 29, 2012 at 5:24 pmlove love love the cover!
Victoria Zumbrum
March 29, 2012 at 5:24 pmAwesome giveaway. Thanks for the giveaway.
Stephanie K.
March 29, 2012 at 5:27 pmThe cover is gorgeous! The red, green, and black look great together.
Nayana Catoia
March 29, 2012 at 5:34 pmI liked the color the most, but I think it could be a little more original (this model on cover pokerfacing is kindda of getting annoying for me.)
Ana
March 29, 2012 at 5:40 pmThere’s lots to look at in this cover…feels like if you stare at it long enough it’ll move! Very different from a lot of the covers we’re seeing these days!
Shannon H
March 29, 2012 at 5:43 pmI really love the colors, and how the girls face and the snake pop out. Definitely an attention grabber, and with none of the girl-in-fancy-dress-ness that seems to characterize a lot of recent YAs
jenn
March 29, 2012 at 5:49 pmAMAZING. I know nothing about visual art, but I think that cover looks beautiful. =)
Margaret S.
March 29, 2012 at 5:55 pmI like the mixture of edgy and modern (without resorting to cover clichés) with the somewhat retro font and brushy background. Really original with a modern sensibility.
Shelver506
March 29, 2012 at 6:04 pmNot sure how I feel about the chosen font, but I’m digging the live snake-turned-tattoo/birthmark.
Kate & Zena
March 29, 2012 at 6:21 pmI’ve always said, “Not to judge a book by its cover,” but this cover says, “READ ME!!!!”
(Although…the font is a wee hard to read. I get the idea behind it as it’s supposed to be the writing left behind from Roanoke, but for people who aren’t exactly mastermind handwriting readers, that would be a wee hard to read. Just a thought! The males in my family do chicken scratch, so I can read a wide variety of handwriting, so this isn’t hard, but I can understand that for others, this would be hard!)
Amy C
March 29, 2012 at 6:25 pmThe cover reminds me of something from Francesca Lia Block’s writing: something not quite paranormal, yet something not quite gritty reality.
Kimberly B.
March 29, 2012 at 6:33 pmI like it! Although what I really like isn’t so much the snake as it is the lush green and the black hair. Anyway, sounds like a terrific book! Thanks for the great giveaway!
Jen B.
March 29, 2012 at 6:34 pmWhen I first saw the cover, I couldn’t understand what I was seeing. But, I couldn’t stop looking. Now I love it!
Tatiana (The Readventurer)
March 29, 2012 at 6:43 pmIt’s an enticing cover. Hopefully, it is just as awesome inside.
SheWhoMustNotBeNamed
March 29, 2012 at 6:43 pmI like the cover. Very pretty.
Audra Holtwick
March 29, 2012 at 6:46 pmEyecatching is the word i would use to describe this cover
audie(at)wickerness(dot)com
Barbara Elness
March 29, 2012 at 7:00 pmBlackwood sounds like a fantastic story, I can’t wait to hear Gwenda Bond’s solution to the mystery. I think the cover is wonderful, very visually striking.
Barbed1951 at aol dot com
April
March 29, 2012 at 7:07 pmWow. That cover is absolutely amazing. I can’t wait to read this book when it comes out.
Ashley
March 29, 2012 at 7:13 pmThis cover is amazing! I love the colors, the use of the snake, and the font they used for the author’s name. It works so well. I would want to read this without even knowing it was about Roanoke. 🙂
Jasmine Stairs
March 29, 2012 at 7:14 pmThat is a gorgeous cover. It looks very edgy and thriller-y (dangerous) but is still lovely. I’m interested.
Kate
March 29, 2012 at 7:19 pmThat sinuous snake on the girl’s cheek makes my toes curl with delicious creepy fear. So eye-catching and atmospheric. LOVE it!
Scribe Kira
March 29, 2012 at 7:31 pmwell, i am obviously in the minority here, but I don’t care for the cover–mainly because it falls into the category of overdone YA covers (which I have seen FAAAR too many of)
BUT, the book still sounds fantastic and I would love to read it!=)
Llehn
March 29, 2012 at 8:17 pmLove the color combination! Very striking!
Heidi
March 29, 2012 at 8:25 pmOooh, I kinda love when covers are spoilery in a way that you don’t really get until after you’ve read the book. Now I’m more curious than ever! The text. It kind of looks like it was drawn on top of the picture in a way that makes me think of writing ‘WASH ME’ on dirty car windows. Thanks for the giveaway!
donnas
March 29, 2012 at 9:30 pmGreat cover. Really eye catching and stunning.
Lisa Richardson
March 30, 2012 at 1:01 amCover looks awesome, and really conveys the connection between the past and present represented in this book!
Mary Preston
March 30, 2012 at 3:38 amIt’s a gorgeous cover. I would love to read BLACKWOOD thank you.
Nikki Egerton
March 30, 2012 at 4:26 amLove the cover, and the story sounds very intriguing, would love to read it!
Robin in NC
March 30, 2012 at 4:55 amMust admit, I was a little mixed about the cover, 😐 but now knowing the “story” behind the cover, it’s a perfect fit! I’d love to win the book, cause the original Lost Colony story is quite an interesting mystery, but with this new twist…it’s got to be phenomenal! Thanks for sharing!
Anne M Leone
March 30, 2012 at 5:47 amOhhh, intriguing cover. I would definitely pick this one up off the shelf. Thanks!
MOSH
March 30, 2012 at 5:47 amThis wow cover hit straight off my face:I feel attracted and deterred at the same time – attracted sexually (after all Adam was one of my ancestors) and inquisitively,and deterred of the ferocious and villainous image of this cute girl.
I knew some like Miranda,too many of them.I dreamt of killing them and missed them simoultaneously.I have to read it to get more insights, to decipher snaky types like Miranda.
heidi
March 30, 2012 at 6:32 amLOVE the cover. Can’t wait to read this!
Melinda Maiden
March 30, 2012 at 6:38 amI love reading about the Lost Colony, fiction or non-. I look forward to reading this book.
Meg
March 30, 2012 at 6:41 amI like the idea of the snake birthmark and I think the illustrator really hits the mark because it totally CREEPS ME OUT!! Pretty girl, icky snake on her face *shudders*
Lindsay Elizabeth
March 30, 2012 at 7:08 amSounds good.
Marg @ Clockwork Reverie
March 30, 2012 at 11:03 amI’ll be honest. I’m not too crazy about the snake on her face, but other than that, I think the cover is rather nice, and the synopsis is really interesting.
Thanks for the giveaway!
Gerry M. Allen
March 30, 2012 at 11:14 amThe birthmark, the contrasting colors and the blurb typeface all give me the creeps. Great job! 😯
Erin
March 30, 2012 at 12:06 pmThat cover is seriously going to give me creepy nightmares but the premise is too delicious to pass up!
Pippi55
March 30, 2012 at 12:20 pmI think the cover is beautiful. The contrasting colours are awesome, and the snake is honestly creepy.
Aurora
March 30, 2012 at 12:27 pmI love this cover, this is one of the few cover i like with people on it.
Teri C
March 30, 2012 at 1:07 pmI really love the cover, it looks dark brooding and mysterious. Just like I enjoy my reads.
Stephanie
March 30, 2012 at 1:07 pmThe cover is VERY enticing! I love how the colors pop off the page — especially the snake. The typography is great, too.
reading mind
March 30, 2012 at 1:28 pmwow, I want this book!pretty cover!
NicoleL
March 30, 2012 at 1:38 pmI’m so excited for you, Gwenda! Looks beautiful.
Michelle
March 30, 2012 at 2:09 pmThis cover is gorgeous. I love the watery colours and the red of the snake. It gives off a great atmosphere. 🙂
Janine
March 30, 2012 at 2:20 pmI admitto being a person who judges books by their covers (at least while browsing) and this cover would definitely pique my interests.
librarypat
March 30, 2012 at 7:05 pmThe cover is wonderful. Snakes are really wonderful creatures. It is too bad they have such a bad reputation.
The snake on the cover does work to give the impression of threat, danger and the unknown. I love the blurb/summary. This sounds like it will be a great read.
Nova
March 30, 2012 at 11:27 pmI am absolutely taken with this striking cover. I can’t stop staring! Congratulations, Gwenda!
Diana Huffer
March 31, 2012 at 5:27 amI absolutely love this cover! The colors are striking and the blending of the snake and her skin just blew me away! A real eye-catcher! 😀
Edward
March 31, 2012 at 10:03 amSeems suspended halfway between painterly and digital. Love it.
Rebecca
March 31, 2012 at 12:15 pmThere’s so much going on with that cover. I hope all the little pieces connect up in the book.
Betsy
March 31, 2012 at 12:24 pmThe cover is very cool! Even if the description for this book wasn’t great, the cover would be enough to make me pick it up.
Tina
March 31, 2012 at 12:31 pmI love the cover! The snake is so cool looking and I love the font against the green background. It reminds me of graffiti art.
Courtney
March 31, 2012 at 1:51 pmI think the cover is awesome! I love the colors used!
draconismoi
March 31, 2012 at 3:52 pmThat is one of the most gorgeous covers I’ve seen this year!
Chenise Jones
March 31, 2012 at 6:44 pmLove the use of the snake! Paired with the summary of the book, it only makes it sound more badass!
Cristina
April 1, 2012 at 2:49 amIt’s a nice book. I want to read this one.
Kokolo
April 1, 2012 at 7:42 amThe snake birthmark looks great! The cover is really striking.
Giada M.
April 1, 2012 at 10:56 amI love the snake birthmark! Beautiful colors! Thank you for the chance to win an ARC! 🙂
Seth Christenfeld
April 1, 2012 at 8:53 pmThat is most definitely a nifty cover.
Dee
April 2, 2012 at 12:48 amNice cover! C’mon, who hasn’t judged a book by it’s cover? I also think the blurb is interesting so I’m so putting this on my ‘to-read’ list.
Tania
April 2, 2012 at 7:37 amThe cover looks beautiful. I love how the snake is wrapped around her and on her face. It took me a while to notice the 114 yellow tattoo on her arm.
Anna-Kate
April 2, 2012 at 12:41 pmI love this cover, the way the snake is wrapped around her is and then transitions into the birthmark! Really cool! Also, the little description is very intriguing. Possibly one of my new favorite covers.
Hannah
April 2, 2012 at 5:47 pmI love how the snake transitions from a 3-D, living animal (or a fashion accessory, you can never be sure these days) to a flat birthmark. It’s very pretty, and the book sounds wonderful!
kara-karina
April 3, 2012 at 3:47 amThis is an absolutely amazing cover which caught my attention straight away! I think I would have gone for the book even without reading its premise 😉
Danielle
April 3, 2012 at 3:59 amI thinks the cover is really pretty. I like the greens and black colors on the color. The only thing that I’m on the fence about is the snake. Thanks for the great giveaway! 😀
Sofija
April 3, 2012 at 5:39 amI love the cover in general, bet the snake head doesn’t look as good as her body…
librainiac
April 4, 2012 at 6:59 amI love it!
jdp
April 4, 2012 at 7:23 amIt took some looking to realize part of the snake’s head was birthmark colored instead of snake colored. Stupid yucky monitor I’m using. But I *really* love the ‘carving’ font on the cover. 🙂
Ileana A.
April 4, 2012 at 2:28 pmA snake birthmark 😮
That cover is really awesome! I would love to have the chance to read it, plus I want to find out what or who is causing the disappearance of people! I’m intrigued! Thanks for the chance!
Jessica Luby
April 4, 2012 at 7:35 pmThe color choices are perfect. I love choice of the quote at the top. The snake melting into the birthmark is genius. The stamp in the bottom right of Strange Chemistry is intriguing. The distressing on the cover will keep my teens asking for more! ~Lubrarian
Melinna
April 5, 2012 at 12:37 amHmm, interesting 😀
Liyana
April 5, 2012 at 6:15 amAh, the snake makes sense now after reading the author’s comments. Definitely intriguing.
Anita Yancey
April 5, 2012 at 6:22 amI love the cover. I think the snake is a nice touch. Thanks for having this giveaway.
Serena
April 5, 2012 at 3:37 pmThe snake makes sense when reading the author’s comments, but it is a bit odd when just reading the description of the book itself. Other than that, though, I like it.
Tal
April 6, 2012 at 7:43 amI think that it looks interesting 😀
Thank you for the giveaway!
Mary
April 6, 2012 at 9:42 amBeautiful, and excellent fonts, too!
Kat Fisher
April 6, 2012 at 4:27 pmI love the cover. It’s very striking. The snake really stands out and contrasts beautifully with the black and green. I can’t wait to read it.
Haddayr
April 7, 2012 at 9:40 amOMG I LOVE this cover! Love it! I will admit I was dying to read the book already but not I am PINING for it.
Christina Kit.
April 7, 2012 at 9:56 amThe cover is awesome!
And what a cool concept – I always loved the Roanoke mystery:)
ccfioriole at gmail dot com
Mary Petroski
April 7, 2012 at 10:30 amAfter being inundated with romance paperbacks, this is a refreshingly unique cover. Seeing it, I get the sense of an intriguing and perilous journey through the story. It’s very well drawn and I like the airy, less than crystal clear image. Thanks for offering the giveaway!
John McDaid
April 7, 2012 at 2:25 pmCan’t wait to read this book!
Stefan Gore
April 7, 2012 at 3:05 pmI think the colors work well to create a dark and brooding astmosphere. Looks great!
Rachel
April 7, 2012 at 3:30 pmSo excited for this book! Eek!
Justin
April 7, 2012 at 5:15 pmI’m so excited for this book– I can’t remember anticipating a first novel more!
Paul Brimmer
April 7, 2012 at 6:27 pmLooking forward to this book!
Angi
April 7, 2012 at 8:59 pmSounds so very interesting. Looks like something I truely want to read!
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August 23, 2012 at 1:34 pmI remember years ago watching an episode of In Search of with Leonard Nimoy as the host. The episode talked about the lost colony. I look forward to reading this book.
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November 20, 2018 at 12:01 am[…] own fab Gwenda Bond has a debut YA novel in the works, and THAT RIGHT THERE IS HER AWESOME COVER, recently featured on Book Smugglers. Woohoo! And Gwenda is an Agent Sister, which makes it doubly […]