Did you hear that?
That slight breeze that passed by your ears was my enormous sigh of relief to FINALLY be able to share the cover for The Darkest Minds!
The team at Disney*Hyperion went through so many different options and ideas (that’s a story for another blog post!), and I’m SO thrilled with the final result. I had it in mind to make you guys jump through all of these hoops and figure out some secret code that involved a radio frequency but… um… I kind of just want to show you my awesome cover. Is that okay with all of you?
So, without further ado, here she is:
It comes out 12/18/12! How great is that timing? You can gift it to all of your loved ones for the holidays (nothing says “I love you! Happy holidays! like the gift of telekinetic teenagers, trust me), and you have three solid days of reading before the apocalypse. So SUCK IT Mayans!
Here the description:
When Ruby wakes up on her tenth birthday, something about her has changed. Something alarming enough to make her parents lock her in the garage and call the police. Something that gets her sent to Thurmond, a brutal government “rehabilitation camp.” She might have survived the mysterious disease that’s killed most of America’s children, but she and the others have emerged with something far worse: frightening abilities they cannot control.
Now sixteen, Ruby is one of the dangerous ones.
When the truth comes out, Ruby barely escapes Thurmond with her life. Now she’s on the run, desperate to find the one safe haven left for kids like her—East River. She joins a group of kids who escaped their own camp. Liam, their brave leader, is falling hard for Ruby. But no matter how much she aches for him, Ruby can’t risk getting close. Not after what happened to her parents.
When they arrive at East River, nothing is as it seems, least of all its mysterious leader. But there are other forces at work, people who will stop at nothing to use Ruby in their fight against the government. Ruby will be faced with a terrible choice, one that may mean giving up her only chance at a life worth living.
What I love most about this cover is that every part of it reflects some element of the story. The Psi symbol being the biggest and most obvious since it is, you know, the biggest and most obvious symbol in the book, but look at it again! Seriously scroll back up and check out the barbed wire of the rehabilitation camps, the oil slick on the road hinting that there’s a major journey taking place–GUYS EVEN THE ORANGE IS IMPORTANT!! It is a thoughtful, bad ass cover, and I’m so happy to call it mine.
(As an aside here, that is wet paint on the Psi symbol. My mom was convinced it was magma, but, unfortunately, I still haven’t found a way to work magma into the story. Alas!)
SO, my friends, here is the deal: in celebration of finally being able to share my cover with the world, I’m hosting a giveaway! The ideal prize here would have been signed galleys of The Darkest Minds, but, alas again! They’re just not back from the printer yet (this is actually better for you, because it means MORE CONTESTS)! Instead, can I tempt you with a host of other people’s awesome galleys?!
The galley pack includes:
- The Book of Blood and Shadow by Robin Wasserman
- Starters by Lissa Price
- Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore
- Slide by Jill Hathaway
- 127 Hours by Johan Harstad
- Amelia Anne is Dead and Gone by Kat Rosenfield
- Zoe Letting Go by Nora Price
- Welcome Caller, This is Chloe by Shelley Coriell
- DJ Rising by Love Maia
- Seraphina by Rachel Hartman
- Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
- Monstrous Beauty by Elizabeth Fama
- Never Fall Down by Patricia McCormick
(That’s a pretty good mix of fantasy, sci-fi, thriller-adventure, paranormal, dystopian, and even realistic fiction, if I do say so myself.)
***AND/OR! If you leave me a comment here on AB.com or on LJ telling me you preordered The Darkest Minds, you’ll be entered to win in a separate giveaway for $30 gift card to the bookstore/retailer of your choice. So you can pre-order another copy! (Just kidding. Go buy WONDER.) ***
The rules are pretty simple, and I think you guys know the drill–tweeting about it, following me on twitter, blogging about it, posting it on Facebook all allow you to earn points. Use the nifty form below to enter, please!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Whew. I think that’s it. Let me know what you think about the cover in the comments (Was it what you were expecting??), and enter, enter, enter!!
If you enjoyed this article, please consider sharing it!
LOVE the cover! So many cool elements happening here. I’m obsessed with the extra dimension the barbed wire gives it — makes it look like the rest of the cover recedes back from it. I can’t wait to read this!!!
Thanks lady! <3
Alexxxxxx I love itttttt. I am so super excited to read the final draft!! (And I’m so happy it’s coming out at a time when I’ll actually be able to sit down and read!)
Happy leap day!
It’s going to be so weird for you to read the final product! A lot has stayed the same, but things have been rearranged–and there’s plenty of new material, too!
LOVE the cover! Can’t wait to read!
Thank you, Briana!
Congrats on finally being able to share the cover! I think it looks edgy and is perfect for the premise that you posted.
It really does fit the book well! I’m so excited for people to take a closer look at it after they’ve read it…
I’ve been waiting for THE DARKEST MINDS since the book deal — but I’m so much more excited now because the cover is absolutely GORGEOUS. Still 10 months to go!
Thank you, thank you! Ten months feels like SO much time, but I should have galleys soon!
The cover looks great — and the description is enticing — can’t wait to read it!
Thanks, Robin!
Love the cover! I’ve been wanting to read The Darkest Minds since I came across it last year. December is too far away!
So happy you love it!! I’m excited for you to finally be able to read the story
I love that you pointed out all the details of the cover. I never would have noticed all of them! More authors should do that. (Though I’m with your mom. Still looks like magma to me. You’re sure there isn’t a freak volcano eruption somewhere in here?)
One of the reasons I love the cover and new title is that they take on a whole new meaning after you finish reading the novel itself! So thrilled you like it!
LOVE it! I can’t wait to read the book. Congrats! And thanks for contest!!
Thank YOU! So happy you’re into the cover
I love this cover! So dark and gritty. I can’t wait to read this!
Thanks for the cool contest!!
Thank you for entering!! And for the sweet words about the cover!
omg This sounds SO AWESOME. How did I also find out about it?! D: *Wants*
Thank you! I’m pretty fond of this book, I must say
I can’t wait for you guys to read it!
Love this cover!! Can’t wait to read this!
Thank you so much!!
[...] Fama, and more! — which are some highly anticipated books! Go check out the original post and enter! Share this:EmailPrintShare on TumblrLike this:LikeBe the first to like this post. This entry was [...]
HOLY DAMN that’s an amazing cover!!! CONGRATS!
Haha, thank you! Can you believe it’s the same cover artist that did BRIGHTLY WOVEN’s cover?!
The cover is amazing! I absolutely love it. It’s so intriguing! Major congrats!
P.S. – I’d love to enter the giveaway.
Entered! Thank you, Sydney!
It wasn’t what I was expecting, (because I had no idea what to expect, other than a silhouette on a road, y’know), but this is WONDERFUL! I really love it, and I’m super excited for the book!
It’s funny you should say that! We did try out a number of covers that featured roads (similar to AMERICAN GODS), but this one ended up being the most striking. So glad you like the finished product!
First thought: Ooh, shiny.
Second thought: Wow, reminds me of Percy Jackson.
Third (after finally reading the rest of the post): …That does look like magma.
Don’t hurt me.
Congrats! I had no idea you had another book in the works, and now I’m really psyched to get my hands on it. You are a total inspiration to me because you’re a young author, and I’m still clacking away at my novel hoping to get it out there someday. ><
Your comment totally cracks me up! I know one of the things the cover artist really battled with was trying to ensure that the Psi symbol (Ψ) didn’t look too fraternity–we all wanted it to look like some teenager had come along and left it there in a hurry.
Totally get where you’re coming from with the Percy Jackson connection, though!
Thank you for your sweet words! Keep writing what you love and you will DEFINITELY get there!
Oh, I love the cover! I cannot wait til December to finally be able to read
I’m setting aside two galleys for you and Khy when I finally do get them! < –*playing favorites*
That’s a fun plan indeed.
Also, love the cover! I hope they continue with a similar look for the sequels because this one has a totally awesome epic fantasy feel.
It wasn’t what I expected at all, but I think it’s absolutely gorgeous! 12/18/12 is so far away. I can’t wait!
How fabulous!!!! LOVE the cover, can’t wait!!!
Whoops, I accidentally added my twitter status to the FB “like” entry. Also, if you want to check out my tumblr, it’s in the “website” link.
[...] Alexandra Bracken is having a contest to celebrate the cover reveal over at her blog. Share [...]
Oh My God! The cover killed me! I blogged it yesterday as I said on twitter! yay!
http://dazzlingreads.blogspot.com/2012/03/cover-dazzle-darkest-minds-by-alexandra.html
3 days befor the apocalypse is more than enough for me to devour your upcoming novel! OMG!! I cant wait! WHy December? why soooooo freaking late? sniff! not fair! not fair at all sniff sniff!
However, this one will do as an amazing Christmas gift in advance huhuhuh!! ALso, Im so glad that the cover reflects the book so well =D yay!!
WIsh you a lovely weekend! let’s keep buzzing about The Darkest Minds! woooohoooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!
Natalia
★Dazzling Reads:YA book reviews★
Awesome cover! Can’t wait to read it.
Super excited for you!
It’s me again.
Just want to say that I’ve pre-ordered a copy of THE DARKEST MINDS through Amazon! Can’t wait to have it in my hands in a few months!
Alex, that cover is amazing! I’m so glad you finally got to reveal it, I’m really happy for you. Plus a release date to look forward to as well, what a special leap day it is.
Thanks for the ARC contest, some of these are books I can’t wait to read. Of course, yours tops the list, so I’m on the lookout for that giveaway! Can’t wait.
Hope you’re well!
PS. Just did a cover reveal, but will do one for this on the blog soon.
OH. MY. GAWD. It finally has a cover and.. I don’t know what to say! Alex, don’t you know that I’ve been waiting for the cover and premise of The Darkest Minds when I started following and stalking you on Tumblr? Congratulations Alex!
What a GORGEOUS Cover! And so unlike the typical YA cover (girl in a pretty dress). So excited to read this–and thanks for the giveaway!
Reading Brightly Woven now, great book. Looking forward to the release of your new book in December! The cover looks great!
Love the cover!! I love it when book covers are symbolic and how each detail means something. Absolutely can’t wait to read this!!
Thanks for the giveaway!
Nice cover Alex, I look forward to the book! Congratulations…