By Laura Wallace, Megan Coote, Juliette Tulloch and Tessa Thejas Thomas
For Issue 80, the Cover Evaluation team has selected some of their favourite, cosiest book cover designs that evoke that autumnal feeling and would make the perfect addition to your bookshelf this season.
Weyward by Emilia Hart
Weyward by Emilia Hart is an atmospheric, gothic historical fiction novel that follows three generations of women whose stories are linked by the special gift they share. It is an enthralling tale of female magic and resilience as well as the powers of the natural world.
The cover immediately exudes the feeling of a cosy autumn read. The warm, earthy colours used in the design are indicative of the theme of nature that is woven throughout this novel. There are ripe fruits on the trees ready to be picked – or soon to be rotten. Mushrooms and flowers, insects and leaves; these are all features and products of the earth. The ominous black crow, the largest creature on the cover, is positioned in the middle, signifying the darkness that runs through the book.
This beautifully illustrated cover is one that will fit perfectly in your autumn reading collection.
Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi is the perfect book to pick up on a crisp autumn day with a coffee in hand. The bestseller was translated from Japanese by Geoffrey Trousselot and tells the story of a small café in Tokyo that offers customers a unique experience: the chance to travel back in time.
The paperback design is charming and evokes the cosy coffee shop atmosphere that is central to the book itself. The design is simple, featuring a couple of chairs, a small table with two cups of coffee, a lamp and a fluffy cat. The turquoise background has a faint flower pattern similar to the upholstery on the chair seats which gives the café an old-fashioned, quaint look – indeed, the café is more than a hundred years old.
The UK Waterstones edition has a glittery foil effect on the teal section which gives the cover a magical feel, contrasting with the simplicity of the café design and capturing the hidden magic of time travel.
Coffee shop catch-ups are the epitome of autumn, making this short story the ideal choice for a snug autumnal day.
The Mill House Murders by Yukito Ayatsuji
Yukito Ayatsuji’s The Mill House Murders is a classic Japanese whodunnit, and the perfect cosy crime to add to your list this autumn. The translation by Ho-Ling Wong was released at the start of this year.
The plot centres around Fujinuma Kiichi, the son of an artist, who has been left disfigured following a car accident. A group of acquaintances' visit to Kiichi’s remote Water Mill House is interrupted by a tragic turn of events, including murder, disappearance and stolen art. In the style of a locked-room mystery, it’s up to acclaimed detective Kiyoshi Shimada to investigate further.
The pink mask worn by Kiichi is central to the cover design, creating an ominous impression of the mysterious figure and his secluded home. It is also suggestive of the fact that the murderer at Mill House is living behind their own mask. The fine line details in the background and playful colour palette reflect the nature of Ayatsuji’s vivid novel which is both complex and surprising.
If you’re left wanting more after finishing this book, then check out Ayatsuji’s debut, The Decagon House Murders.
A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft
A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft is one for book lovers who enjoy winding down in the autumn evenings by escaping to a new fantasy world. Saft’s cosy fantasy follows Maggie and Wes in their hunt for the hala, a mystical creature sought after by many. With Maggie’s skills as a sharpshooter and Wes’s alchemical abilities, the two join the Halfmoon Hunt.
The gorgeous cover art, designed by Em Allen, depicts Maggie and Wes in a forest of unruly greenery. The leaves and branches overlap the bold yellow text and capture the dark atmosphere of the forest in which the Hunt takes place. Maggie and Wes, however, are depicted facing each other with their hands touching. This gentle and intimate stance amid the wildness of the forest hints at the possibility of a romantic development between them. Hidden within the long green grass, there is a white fox-like creature which symbolises the legendary hala.
A Far Wilder Magic is the perfect cosy autumn read for anyone looking to escape, join a magical hunt and possibly find love and companionship along the way!