The Trials of Apollo: The Dark Prophecy By Rick Riordan Gets A Stunning Cover (Thank You Very Much, Jon Rocco)

I am not joking award! It is that time of the year again when another cover of a book by Rick Riordan is unveiled. This time it is for the second outing of the Trails of Apollo, The Dark Prophecy. The cover features Apollo, also known as Lester Papadopoulos, astride a might griffin, griffon, or gryphon. And what are weird are the almost spaceship like structure in the background and a legion of war-ready ostrich on the foreground.

Artist Jon Rocco, who did all of the other Rick Riordan book covers, has surpassed himself once again. I always thought that his arts for the Magnus Chase books were the best, but then here comes another that wiped out all my presumptions. On the other hand, you can read an excerpt over here.

Check out the cover of The Trials of Apollo: The Dark Prophecy by Rick Riordan.

Synopsis

Zeus has punished his son Apollo--god of the sun, music, archery, poetry, and more--by casting him down to earth in the form of a gawky, acne-covered sixteen-year-old mortal named Lester. The only way Apollo can reclaim his rightful place on Mount Olympus is by restoring several Oracles that have gone dark. What is affecting the Oracles, and how can Apollo/Lester do anything about them without his powers?

After experiencing a series of dangerous--and frankly, humiliating--trials at Camp Half-Blood, Lester must now leave the relative safety of the demigod training ground and embark on a hair-raising journey across North America. Somewhere in the American Midwest, he and his companions must find the most dangerous Oracle from ancient times: a haunted cave that may hold answers for Apollo in his quest to become a god again--if it doesn't kill him or drive him insane first. Standing in Apollo's way is the second member of the evil Triumvirate, a Roman emperor whose love of bloodshed and spectacle makes even Nero look tame. To survive the encounter, Apollo will need the help of son of Hephaestus Leo Valdez, the now-mortal sorceress Calypso, the bronze dragon Festus, and other unexpected allies--some familiar, some new--from the world of demigods. Come along for what promises to be a harrowing, hilarious, and haiku-filled ride....

The Trials of Apollo: The Dark Prophecy by Rick Riordan will be released on May 2, 2017.

Red Sister (Book Of The Ancestor) By Mark Lawrence Gets Its Official US Cover

A few weeks ago, author Mark Lawrence has teased us with a snippet of the cover art for his upcoming novel, Red Sister. Avid fans were ecstatic and excited to see the whole thing, of course. Now we don't have to wait any longer as the official cover for the said book (US edition) has been unveiled.

The cover art was crafted by Bastien Lecouff Deharme. Jason Chan did his previous book covers and since the new novel is not set in the same universe as his previous books the publisher wanted to give it a different look and feel. And they definitely give it it's own identity. I hope readers will not become skeptical about his new series, instead this should open up a new opportunity and readership.

Check out the cover of Red Sister by Mark Lawrence.

Synopsis

The international bestselling author of the Broken Empire and the Red Queen’s War trilogies begins a stunning epic fantasy series about a secretive order of holy warriors...

At the Convent of Sweet Mercy, young girls are raised to be killers. In some few children the old bloods show, gifting rare talents that can be honed to deadly or mystic effect. But even the mistresses of sword and shadow don’t truly understand what they have purchased when Nona Grey is brought to their halls.

A bloodstained child of eight falsely accused of murder, guilty of worse, Nona is stolen from the shadow of the noose. It takes ten years to educate a Red Sister in the ways of blade and fist, but under Abbess Glass’s care there is much more to learn than the arts of death. Among her class Nona finds a new family—and new enemies.

Despite the security and isolation of the convent, Nona’s secret and violent past finds her out, drawing with it the tangled politics of a crumbling empire. Her arrival sparks old feuds to life, igniting vicious struggles within the church and even drawing the eye of the emperor himself.

Beneath a dying sun, Nona Grey must master her inner demons, then loose them on those who stand in her way.

Red Sister (First Book of the Ancestor) by Mark Lawrence will be released on April 4, 2017.