Beautiful World of Books – The Song of the Shattered Sands

The recently completed Song of the Shattered Sands featured six central novels, one triptych, and a half dozen or so shorter novellas all set in the same world. Well, all set in the same desert, all more or less relating to the overarching plot. While the US covers attempted to capture an image of Çeda as the face of the rebellion against the Kings, the UK covers focused more on her essence. A more indistinct warrior bearing twin sabers, often surrounded by thorns. While the US covers were often more varied in substance, in content, and even in color, I still vastly preferred the UK ones to them. In part the reason was that I found them less cartoonish—and the US Çeda (especially post-Book 3) didn’t meld well with how I imagined her.

When I started this post, I figured I’d showcase the UK versions—my favorite—but I ultimately decided to include both, so that you can compare and come to your own conclusion. Not that I liked ALL the UK versions better, but I definitely preferred them on the whole.

Twelve Kings in Sharakai

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I actually think I prefer the US cover here, but it’s a tough call—there’re both really good. Twelve Kings marks the first and last cover design from Adam Paquette (the US one from DAW). This is Laura Brett’s (the Gollancz one) first of seven main covers in the series; they’re all lovely and work together so well!

With Blood Upon the Sand

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Again, both of these are excellent, but I prefer the cover that is actually crimson, like blood.

Of Sand and Malice Made

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This one is another tough one. I actually own the UK version, but I think I like the US better. This triptych is the only main cover to feature someone other than Çeda, instead choosing Rümayesh (on the US one, at least).

A Veil of Spears

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Here is where the balance starts to shift in heavy favor of the UK covers. You can’t beat the violet tint with indistinct thorns and the dual background moons. The other is by no means bad, but in my mind it just can’t compete.

Beneath the Twisted Trees

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I seem to remember the US cover artist changing between books 3 & 4, but they actually changed it up a bit more than that. Regardless, I like the UK versions of the next two easily.

When Jackals Storm the Walls

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A Desert Torn Asunder

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This is another tough one, but I’m pretty sure I like the US better—the the sheer magnitude it conveys as the final cover in the series.

In researching this, I figured out that the US artist changed quite a bit, beginning with Adam Paquette for Twelve Kings, then to Donato Giancola for With Blood Upon the Sand. Donato Giancola returns for Veil of Spears, and Micah Epstein takes over for the final three books. Maxime Plasse has drawn all the maps needed for the series. While René Aigner handled the interior illustrations of Of Sand and Malice Made, he also collaborated with Shawn King to perfect the cover as well. Meanwhile, Laura Brett illustrated the entire series of Gollancz covers.