Uncovered (143): Soundless

Who says you can’t judge a book by its cover? While it’s not the only factor in picking up a book, a pretty cover doesn’t hurt. Uncovered is a weekly post where I show some cover love. Enjoy!

I am really excited about today’s featured cover. As long time readers might know, Richelle Mead is one of my favorite authors. I love her adult as well as her YA novels and I eagerly await each new release. Earlier this year, Mead surprised us all by revealing that her next book would be Soundless, a fantasy based on Chinese folklore! She then then topped it off by revealing the gorgeous cover that you see here. I am going to just come out and say it – it’s really cool to see some diversity on a YA cover, which is kind of rare. While you may think that of course a book based on Chinese folklore would have  someone who looks like they could be Chinese on the cover, this isn’t always the case. I think that book publishers are sometimes afraid of putting diverse characters on covers in fear that they will alienate readers, which is a totally lame excuse.  I think this cover is gorgeous and will appeal to a lot of people. This actually does remind me of old Asian myths with the long, flowing dress and the scenic mountain backdrop. I imagine that she is wielding a sword or is casting a spell with this pose. I do wish her eyes were a little more lively but, overall, I really like this one. It’s definitely a cover that I would want in my library.

What do you guys think of this one? What are your favorite books with diverse characters?