Feedback for Bellerophon--Greek myth retelling, new version post 14

So, the words are all done for Bellerophon, and this is the first round of covers. I have some reservations, but I'd rather not voice them prior to critique.

DDD sent me the first two options; I played around in Photoshop to try to make some hybrids for options 3 and 4. As an aside, all versions have a DDD watermark which won't be part of the final image.

Version 1:



Version 2:



Version 3:




Version 4:



Any thoughts or ideas greatly appreciated.

Thanks everyone--especially for responding so quickly. I'm on a time crunch on this with DDD since they close in a few weeks for Christmas break.

Option 2 it is. I've requested a less spotty gradient (it looks like an old lithograph to me, which would be appropriate if this thing was set in the 19th century, instead of 1200 BC). I also requested the same author font color as option 1, so that should contrast better, and also to move the layers so that the title font seems to be sitting on top of the gradient, rather than the reverse, which is how it is now.

Nobody brought it up, but I dislike the subtitle font--it feels too similar to the author font, and it just looks meh to me. I asked for a different font there, preferably something that doesn't have "of" in all caps, or at least not all caps that are the same size as everything else.

I'll post the revision when it comes back (usually a day or two). Thanks again.

Wow! Thanks, everyone.

As far as my name goes, or at least the placement of it, part of the problem is that it's so long. Sixteen letters plus the space in the middle. And I don't honestly know how important a consideration this is, but when it comes to the author's name, DDD advises keeping the same font and the same placement for all my books. I figure they've done way more covers than I ever will, so I'm inclined to stick with their advice, at least for now. I do know that name recognition is hard to get, so if this makes it any easier, I'm all for it.

Concerning the spottiness, I suppose we'll see how the next version comes out. Right now it bugs me. But I'm trying to be flexible about this sort of thing, and I'm feeling mildly successful since I went with a photograph instead of one of my paintings because it's better branding.

As an aside, I painted not one, but two covers for this thing. And both of them made my book appear to be MG. Grrr. This cover has turned into such a quest, but I did learn some stuff from it, and I suppose that sort of thing should be expected. Everything seems to have its very own learning curve.

Concerning whether or not the title font is on top of or under the gradient, we can see how the next version looks. Maybe the title is already in front, like Riv suggested. I can probably get away with another round of revisions. I've already told Kim that I'll pay them whatever's fair, even if it goes over their quote.

As another aside, one thing I really like about them is that they've knocked the price down when it goes quickly, so this principle seems to be working both ways. I really like DDD, in case anyone's looking for a cover designer. You can certainly find cheaper covers, and they're scheduling for June right now, so you have to think ahead, but I can have extended conversations about branding and other stuff, which helps a lot.

Okay, new version. What does everybody think of this one?

Thanks so much, everyone! I'm going to sleep on it, but I think I'll email DDD back in the morning and tell them that this one is a go.