![\"Spells](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Spells-for-the-Dead.jpg?w=382\")
Spells for the Dead<\/em><\/a> (2020) Faith Hunter<\/a> (Soulwood) \u2013 Ace<\/strong>\nSupernatural, Mystery<\/em><\/p>\n
Cover art by Cliff Nielson
\nCover design by Katie Anderson<\/p>\n
Every single cover in this series has made by best-of-the-year list.<\/p>\n
They’re gorgeous and they are very clearly part of the same series, although I’ll note Nell has broken out of the circles of of the previous books–which pretty much describes Nell in this book, that she has pretty firmly broken with her past.<\/p>\n
I adore the swirly colors in these covers.<\/p>\n
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![\"Shattered](\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Shattered-Bonds.jpg?resize=636%2C1024\")
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Shattered Bonds<\/a><\/em><\/a> (2019) Faith Hunter<\/a> (Jane Yellowrock) – Ace<\/strong> Cover art by Cliff Nielsen Even in the first books, when they clearly didn’t have a cover budget, Ace managed to portray Jane pretty perfectly. I love that they now consistently have a Native American model for Jane, and I adore how from the start it is clear that Jane is the hero of her own story.<\/p>\n These covers have become more monochromatic as the series has progressed, and the colors have shifted to icy whites and blues.<\/p>\n The Affair of the Mysterious Letter<\/a><\/em>\u00a0(2019) Alexis Hall<\/a> – Ace<\/strong> Cover design by Adam Auerbach<\/p>\n This is a simple but effective cover. The silhouettes which are currently so popular in mysteries are giving you a clue (ha) that in addition to fantasy (see the tentacles) this is also a mystery. And her dress gives you the idea that it’s going to be some Victorian flavor.<\/p>\n It’s simple and good.<\/p>\n A Study in Honor<\/em><\/a>\u00a0(2018) Claire O\u2019Dell (The Janet Watson Chronicles) – Harper Voyager<\/strong> Cover design by Richard L. Aquan I love this cover, and it does a good job of representing the content of the book. The story has so many elements hidden in the shadows it feels precisely like this cover looks.<\/p>\n A Wizard\u2019s Guide To Defensive Baking<\/em><\/a>\u00a0(2020) T. Kingfisher – Red Wombat Studio<\/strong> This is another cover that accurately represents the content: pissed off gingerbread men.<\/p>\n It’s a fun story and this simple cover perfectly illustrates that.<\/p>\n Passing Strange<\/a><\/em><\/a> (2017) Ellen Klages \u2013 Tor<\/strong> Cover art by Gregory Manchess This cover is so very pretty.<\/p>\n It actually depicts a scene from the story, and also (with the shadows in the corners) hits at the mysterious elements of the tale.<\/p>\n Turning Darkness Into Light<\/em><\/a>\u00a0(2019) Marie Brennan<\/a> \u2013 Tor<\/strong> Cover art by Todd Lockwood<\/p>\n Although this cover isn’t as gorgeous as the covers for the Lady Trent books (which are some of the most beautiful covers I saw in probably the past decade) it does have a similar feel to the other related books, while also telling you this story is about different characters.<\/p>\n It also feels like it could well be an illustration of the book the two main characters are translating.<\/p>\n The House in the Cerulean Sea<\/em><\/a><\/em><\/a>\u00a0(2020) TJ Klune<\/a> \u2013 Tor<\/strong> Cover art by Red Nose Studio<\/p>\n This cover is very different from any of the other fantasy covers I particularly liked this year, which is perfect, because it’s very much not like the rest of the fantasy books I read this year.<\/p>\n The colors are bold and eye catching, and the house teetering on the edge of the cliff is a perfect representation of all the main characters in the story.<\/p>\n It’s lovely.<\/p>\n Ace – 3 It looks like this year is a tie between Ace and Tor, which is a good showing for Tor, because Ace usually, well, aces the best covers in any given year.<\/p>\n
\nSupernatural<\/em><\/p>\n
\nCover design by Katie Anderson<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/The-Affair-of-the-Mysterious-Letter.jpg?w=500\")
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\nSteampunk, LGBT<\/em><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/A-Study-in-Honor.jpg?w=510\")
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\nSF, LGBT, Mystery<\/em><\/p>\n
\nCover illustration by Chris McGrath<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/A-Wizards-Guide-To-Defensive-Baking.jpg?resize=683%2C1024\")
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\nYA<\/em><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n![\"Passing](\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Passing-Strange.jpg?w=500\")
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\nHistorical, LGBT<\/em><\/p>\n
\nCover design by Christine Foltzer<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n![\"Turning](\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Turning-Darkness-Into-Light.jpg?resize=667%2C1024\")
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\nHistorical, YA<\/em><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/The-House-in-the-Cerulean-Sea.jpg?resize=657%2C1024\")
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\nLGBT, Alternate Timeline<\/em><\/p>\n
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\nTor – 3<\/p>\n