Cover design - your input, please!

[Nik]

Guys,

Fresh, still hot from the designer's oven:
https://www.goodreads.com/photo/autho...
What do you say? Do you dis/like it? Any comments?
You can slam your fists into it, if it deserves it, no need to 'cushion' your comments.

Thanks in advance for any feedback, if you care enough to provide one

[J Russ]

I like it.

Next, I am going to update my cover to say "A Thriller" since some shelf browsers need quick information. It does not follow your other books, so is it the first in the series? No, it is the second. So will you update the first to follow this look and feel?

Tell me the reasons you went this direction. I an truly interested.

Russ

[Yelena]

I think it looks amazing

[Quantum]

J. Russ wrote: "It does not follow your other books, so is it the first in the series? No, it is the second. So will you update the first to follow this look and feel?

Tell me the reasons you went this direction."

to improve sales, no? ;) or do you mean something more specific?

aesthetically, it looks excellent. consistent color palette, good use of highlighting and text gradients; emphasis on title; creative formatting of title.

it will definitely drive more sales than your current 2 covers.

i'd resize it to the amazon sizes (browsing & the buy page) and see if your author name and the flavor text at the bottom are big enough to see--particularly in browsing mode. the man might be too small too.

it would be good to view your blurb with the cover to see how they work together.

[Nik]

J. Russ wrote: "So will you update the first to follow this look and feel?
Tell me the reasons you went this direction. I an truly interested.
Russ..."

Thanks, Russ. 'Thriller' word and helping browsers in general seem important.
It's the third book actually, but I'm hesitating whether to present it as part of the series on the cover or just on the inside to promote it as a standalone of a sort. The books are a bit different genre wise therefore I'm experimenting with linking and unlinking them, not that it helps tremendously with the sales -:)
I like the covers of the first 2 books and the designer basically expressed my ideas in a linear graphic form, BUT...
Then someone presenting him as a publishing guru (and maybe he is, I have no idea), mentioned that he feels my covers very well, but they don't look professional. Legit opinion. So I ran a short poll here on GR, asking the guys what they thought and although there were a few positive voices, most were quite critical about the covers. BUT... each new cover would cost me 200 bucks, so I want to see first whether a different cover (more mainstream, more professional, less standing out) would make a difference on sales or gain different traction upon touchdown on Amazon.
If I see any difference, I might re-design, if not, I can continue enjoying bad sales with old covers, that I like, no problem -:)

[Nik]

Yelena wrote: "I think it looks amazing"

Thanks, Yelena.

[Nik]

Alex G wrote: "J. Russ wrote: "It does not follow your other books, so is it the first in the series? No, it is the second. So will you update the first to follow this look and feel?

Tell me the reasons you went..."

Thanks, Alex. When I downsize it, maybe the cover does need a little more contrast and the 'flavor', as you call it, disappears completely.
Yeah, I want it 'commercial' this time.
I don't have a blurb yet, but this would be some kind of description:

'Michael, the Oligarch, has dealt with most of the enemies his own harsh way and, with the help of an unexpected and mysterious ally, fulfilled his long-coveted ambition of topping Forbes billionaire's list. Rich, still young and victorious Michael knows how to indulge into all the pleasures this world can offer. And he does so without a second thought.
However those who helped him, have their own plans, where Michael's and his country's role is very different from Michael's expectations. Soon enough he finds out that those, who really dominate the global economy, rule illicitly and stay away from public eye. He needs to confront the ancient cabal in order to survive and to save his country... For good or bad, it's a transgressive, radical, uncompromising, grotesque, action-packed and philosophical read.'
Now, that I'm looking at them (cover + blurb) in the conjunction, doesn't the cover look too 'calm' for the write-up?
And now in the conjunction with the content, the cover may be the best part of the book -:)

[E.P.]

I think it looks really good! I might suggest redoing the text at the very bottom, though. The two phrases linked by a comma look a bit strange to me. Maybe just "The Oligarch Series"?

[Nik]

Thanks, E.P. Yep, you're right, I'll probably change the writing at the bottom. I might announce a guest-star author, I'm hosting there. Haven't decided yet..