Friday Face-Off: Snow
Welcome to The Friday Face-Off, a weekly meme created by Books by Proxy! Each Friday, we will pit cover against cover while also taking the opportunity to showcase gorgeous artwork and feature some of our favorite book covers. If you want to join the fun, simply choose a book each Friday that fits that week’s predetermined theme, post and compare two or more different covers available for that book, then name your favorite. A list of future weeks’ themes are available at Lynn’s Book Blog.
This week’s theme is:
“I wonder if the snow loves the trees and fields, that it kisses them so gently”
~ a cover featuring SNOW
Mogsy’s Pick:
The Wolf Road by Beth Lewis
The Wolf Road features a harsh and gritty frontier-like world ravaged by war. Technology and modern comforts are gone in this post-apocalyptic setting, along with any kind of social infrastructure or protection. It’s everyone for themselves in the cold northern wilderness where protagonist Elka was born, and what’s left of the law here is swift and merciless.
Then one day, when Elka was seven years old, she found herself lost and alone in the woods. Against all odds, she was rescued and taken in by a man known only as “Trapper”. He sheltered Elka, when he could have turned away and left her to die. For the next ten years he took care of her, and even taught her how to hunt and to trap and to survive off the land. And in time, Elka came to see Trapper as her father.
However, all that safety and happiness about to be ripped away. On a fateful trip into town, Elka discovers that the man who had raised her for the last decade is not who she always thought he was. Trapper turns out to be a serial murderer wanted by the law, and unfortunately for Elka, her close association with him makes her an accomplice. Now she is hunted by a ruthless magistrate named Lyon, a hard woman who will stop at nothing to apprehend her prey. And because Elka has discovered his true identity, the man she used to call father is coming after her as well, determined not to leave loose ends.
I loved this book, with its cold and brutal “Western” vibes. Let’s see now if the covers live up to its atmosphere.
From left to right, top to bottom: The Borough Press (2016) – Crown (2016) – Blue Door Fiction (2017) – Broadway Books (2017) – Finnish Edition (2017) – French Edition (2017) – Russian Edition (2017)
Winner:
The original first edition from The Borough Press wins hands down this week. It leads in almost all arenas, depicting a snowy scene which reflects well the cold harsh atmosphere of this gritty tale. I’m not usually a fan of covers featuring overly large text either, but this one managed to do something really cool with the title, incorporating the image of the wolf and its intense gaze. If I saw this book on a shelf, it would definitely draw my attention and make me pick it up.
What do you think? Which one is your favorite?
The BiblioSanctum 
Easily the Russian edition!
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I do like the “Wanted Poster” look 🙂
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I didn’t even know about the book, even in French lol
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I’m glad I was able to put it on your radar!
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I have to go with the Russian one
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That one seems popular!
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Definitely agree with your choice!
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Thanks! It’s quite striking, isn’t it!
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You’re welcome 😊 absolutely!
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Great book and I agree with your choice – I don’t know whether it’s because it’s the cover I just automatically associate with this book but it’s the cover that stands out for me.
Lynn 😀
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It’s the cover that I automatically associate with the book as well. And it’s funny, because I actually own the Crown version! 😀
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On first sight I had not even noticed the wolf “hidden” behind the title! That’s an amazing illustration indeed, and the wolf’s eyes seem indeed to stare straight at you… 🙂
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Yes, and I just love how the yellow of the text brings out the wolf’s eyes!
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Surprise Surprise the French one wins for me – gotta be the paw print. However, the version you chose is truly gorgeous and once I saw the wolf eyes, I feel in love with it as well.
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Ah, I can see why the French edition would appeal to you! 😉
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Ooh I remember reading reviews of this one! I like the cover you pickd too, definitely my favorite one. If I had to pick a second choice I might go with the Blue Door or French editions.
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My second choice would be the Blue Door as well – I just love the color palette 🙂
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Oooh, good pick! I like the cover you chose the best, too. For my pick I’d probably choose a snowy version of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe! An obvious pick but still a fave. 🙂
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That would be an excellent book for this week’s topic!
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I’m with you…I like the hidden wolf face on the cover!
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I love how it just peeks out!
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My favorite is the one you chose! The wolf’s eyes really make the cover, in my opinion. I also like the second cover with the dark red background. All of the covers work!
Have a great weekend, Mogsy. =)
Alyssa @ The Eater of Books!
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I agree, the wolf brings the whole thing together!
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