ANTIGODDESS Cover Reveal + Guest Post by Kendare Blake

I don't really like horror-ish books. Actually, horror-ish books would be terrible for me, because I am such a scaredy-cat it's hilarious. (Unless you're me.) But there is one horror-ish book/series that I loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooove, and hey, if I, as a horror-NO reader can fall in love with a horror-ish series, then I think it's pretty obvious that that series is absolutely amazing.

It's Anna Dressed in Blood and the creepalicious (<--always wanted to use that word) sequel, Girl of Nightmares, by Kendare Blake. (Here is my starred review of Anna!)

Yeah yeah yeah, I know, you want to see the darn freaking cover already. But before I can reveal it, you should probably know what Antigoddess is.

Antigoddess is Kendare's new series's first book. Here's the synopsis:

Antigoddess
By: Kendare Blake


Old Gods never die…

Or so Athena thought. But then the feathers started sprouting beneath her skin, invading her lungs like a strange cancer, and Hermes showed up with a fever eating away his flesh. So much for living a quiet eternity in perpetual health.

Desperately seeking the cause of their slow, miserable deaths, Athena and Hermes travel the world, gathering allies and discovering enemies both new and old. Their search leads them to Cassandra—an ordinary girl who was once an extraordinary prophetess, protected and loved by a god.

These days, Cassandra doesn’t involve herself in the business of gods—in fact, she doesn’t even know they exist. But she could be the key in a war that is only just beginning.

Because Hera, the queen of the gods, has aligned herself with other of the ancient Olympians, who are killing off rivals in an attempt to prolong their own lives. But these anti-gods have become corrupted in their desperation to survive, horrific caricatures of their former glory. Athena will need every advantage she can get, because immortals don’t just flicker out.

Every one of them dies in their own way. Some choke on feathers. Others become monsters. All of them rage against their last breath.

The Goddess War is about to begin.

-Summary from Goodreads
Release Date: September 10th, 2013
Publisher: Tor Teen
Pre-order: Mrs. Nelson's (support indie stores!) || Book Depository

JADJGA;RJGJ;JGA.


AND DUDE. Just wait until you see the cover-

 
I love the awesome contrast between the white feather and the blood. The ripple in the water is so cool. Not to be negative or anything (just throwing it out there), I think I would've liked the feather to be a teeny bit stained with blood at the bottom, just to make it clearer that the blood is falling from the feather, but seriously? It's awesome as it is. I am just me. Le sigh.

So! What did Kendare have to say about this coolio cover?

The first time my editor and I talked about the cover of ANTIGODDESS was over lunch at ALA this past June. It was the first time she and I had met face to face, and I was worried I would make an ass of myself. Because self-ass-making is pretty common for me. And sure enough, I blurted out that I loved her. I actually said, "I love you." And I barely say that to my mom.

But I had a good reason. Well, sort of. When she started talking about the cover,I was paralyzed with fear, afraid her idea would be something I couldn't immediately visualize and I'd get caught with the look on my face. You know the look. The look you have when you get a sweater with a cat on it from your aunt, or a waffle-maker from your boyfriend for your birthday and he's the only one who eats waffles (true story). Only,I didn't get that look. Because the image she described was as close to the one I pictured as possible without creepy levels of clairvoyance.

She wanted to go with one iconic image. Something bold. Wasn't sure what that image might be. Turns out, it's a bleeding feather. We both wanted something that would convey the darkness of the story, the ominous action, and if at all possible, badassery. I think the pristine white of the feather hints at some innocence as well, and some sweetness. Which is in the book too, believe it or not.

Well, Kendare, it is bold alright. :D

So, what do you think of the cover? Will you read the book or will you read the book? ;)