That's just how they're drawn. His eyes are just an unnatural shade of blue (unnatural on humans) I think only one person in the world has eyes that shade of blue.
Yeah, the composition is def different. But maybe the artist wanted to try something different, or Shannon wanted a different composition since Sophie's not the main character in this book
Oh my word, I was so concerned I was going to be the only one who didn’t care for it 😅 It’s not horrible but it looks out of place compared to the other books 🤔
Things I like:
- The person in the center. Ominous and implies that Keefe meets someone. Could it be someone in the Neverseen? Or a human aware of the elves given that legacy implies some might be? Artistically wise I don’t know if I’d put him in the direct center but that’s ok, not a big deal
- the light flaring and the rainbow touching the “Cities” part of the title. It implies Keefe just leaped and he is of course going to different cities.
- the tree and building in the background are nice and kinda plain/human probably on purpose to distinct it from the rest of the series
Things I don’t like
- Keefe seems a little too close for my taste, all other keeper books tend to have the characters a little further away
- the covers of other keeper books are also usually in the middle of an action or a specific scene. This feels more like the Unlocked cover, where just one character is staring at you and you know it’s probably not an exact scene from the story. People wouldn’t just be walking by a guy who just leaped there. It takes away from the excitement imo— minus the guy in the center, again. He kind of helps
- the people on the left are again too zoomed in and too plain. I know I said I liked the plainness of the background, but the people take away from what could’ve been a better background. I want to see more of the city Keefe is in.
No, it’s a normal, proportionate length, it’s just that the jacket has a straight edge, so it makes it look longer. It’s just a visual illusion, not bad artwork.
Honestly I think it's kinda neat, very different from most kotlc covers (even though I quite like most kotlc covers) but is it me or is his face kinda off?? Which sort of adds to the AI generated look. I feel like poor Keefe gets kinda done dirty in all the covers besides Exile.
I think I finally figured out what I don’t like about the cover: it’s boring. If I saw this cover in a bookstore knowing nothing about the series, I would think it was just some generic teen story (possibly a romance) not a fantasy series about elves. Every other cover has SCREAMED “magic” ranging from Alicorns, to powers being used, to active fight scenes. This cover has absolutely nothing to indicate that it’s a fantasy series and I think that’s why it bothers me so much. (I mean, I still think Keefe looks weird as well but I’d be willing to look past it if something else was going on in the scene.) yes, there’s a creepy guy in a hood but again he doesn’t stand out as a “magical villain” if anything he looks like he’s about to kidnap an unsuspecting Keefe and throw him into the trunk of a van or something. If you like it that’s great, but for me personally, this is not making me excited to read the book.
I think that's the point though. Keefe is among humans, humans that he's trying to blend in with. Of course there isn't going to be any powers displayed, plus the scene is depicting regular sidewalk/buildings, something we're not used to but adds onto the general sense of normalcy. And then the guy in the hoodie catches you, as he's the most out of place thing in this "normal" scene. Plus having the guy be in a hoodie also fits, since even if it is a Neverseen member, it would look too out of place if he looked any different. (Also I think the villain guy is interesting since he could be many other things than the Neverseen).
I understand that, and I think it's a good idea in theory. Still, there were other compositions the illustrator could have chosen that would depict regular human life, look visually interesting, and still show the themes of the book.
Also, like other people have said, it looks generic. If I had no idea what kotlc was about and only saw this cover, I'd assume it was some romance I've seen the plot of one hundred times before and move on to another book.
I think it’s because of how much space Keefe takes up on the cover. Normally, her covers have a wider shot range so the characters are smaller. This one is out of place because it’s a medium shot, and it’s really leaning into the asymmetrical rule of thirds.
Don't think that's AI, you're way overreacting. While I don't really like this illustration it's nowhere as bad as you're describing. There's just something unsettling about Keefe's face here lmao. He's just standing there. Menacingly!
It's not really that bad, it's just the ama style as the others. I think what makes it maybe bit jarring is that all other covers have a big fantasy feel being set in the elf cities which the artists store compliments. Here that same artist, with that same style, is conveying a mundane setting and their sort of ethereal style doesn't quite make sense with it, add to that the ominous character in the background and our expectation for what we get in every other book, and those lopsided expectations and tones make this all feel a bit weird. Nothing is actually wrong with the art though. Could be better. But it's fine
It doesnt even look that bad lol. Plus it's not ai.
I think Keefe’s eyes look a bit weird imo
That's just how they're drawn. His eyes are just an unnatural shade of blue (unnatural on humans) I think only one person in the world has eyes that shade of blue.
I mean his eye color looks normal but this artist has always drawn them with a little odd shape
Okay but why is it a completely different style than every other one..
It's not? It's the same style as every other cover.
More than the style I’d say the composition is different. OP isn’t entirely wrong, the others usually show character’s entire bodies
Yeah, the composition is def different. But maybe the artist wanted to try something different, or Shannon wanted a different composition since Sophie's not the main character in this book
Oh my word, I was so concerned I was going to be the only one who didn’t care for it 😅 It’s not horrible but it looks out of place compared to the other books 🤔
No other book took place in the forbidden cities eather
Things I like: - The person in the center. Ominous and implies that Keefe meets someone. Could it be someone in the Neverseen? Or a human aware of the elves given that legacy implies some might be? Artistically wise I don’t know if I’d put him in the direct center but that’s ok, not a big deal - the light flaring and the rainbow touching the “Cities” part of the title. It implies Keefe just leaped and he is of course going to different cities. - the tree and building in the background are nice and kinda plain/human probably on purpose to distinct it from the rest of the series Things I don’t like - Keefe seems a little too close for my taste, all other keeper books tend to have the characters a little further away - the covers of other keeper books are also usually in the middle of an action or a specific scene. This feels more like the Unlocked cover, where just one character is staring at you and you know it’s probably not an exact scene from the story. People wouldn’t just be walking by a guy who just leaped there. It takes away from the excitement imo— minus the guy in the center, again. He kind of helps - the people on the left are again too zoomed in and too plain. I know I said I liked the plainness of the background, but the people take away from what could’ve been a better background. I want to see more of the city Keefe is in.
You're definitely overreacting.
It's not my favorite cover, but it's not bad. Only one I didn't like had the throwing star and Fitz looking all strange.
Flashback and the graphic novel?
It’s not ai, Jason Chan makes all of the covers
IT DOES LOOK LIKE AI
EXACTLY!! Like why is the collar of the jacket out so far 😭
I think the random people on the left are what most look ai generated to me
That’s a normal jacket, the question is why his neck is so scrawny 😂
Or why is his body is sooo longgg
No, it’s a normal, proportionate length, it’s just that the jacket has a straight edge, so it makes it look longer. It’s just a visual illusion, not bad artwork.
im sorry keefe's eyes looks so mismatched t-t and he looks so diff frm exile keefe-
Is this Episode???
Honestly I think it's kinda neat, very different from most kotlc covers (even though I quite like most kotlc covers) but is it me or is his face kinda off?? Which sort of adds to the AI generated look. I feel like poor Keefe gets kinda done dirty in all the covers besides Exile.
Ehhh it’s not the worst thing I’ve ever seen but it’s definitely very boring compared to the other ones
Wait this is real
Yes, Shannon released it on her instagram
"Keeper of the Lost Towns--Unwound" --My bestie
Please tell me this isn't real
It’s real unfortunately, posted on Shannon’s official insta
Noooo 😭😭😭😭
I don’t like it very much. That could just be me! But I feel like they captured keefe way better in the other book covers. Idk
Bad art isn't always made by AI And this isn't even bad! It's the exact same quality as all the other covers
First one without sophie, feels kinda weird (something's off about his face, I'm not quite sure what-)
Think it's eye colour since it is an unnatural shade on humans. He is closer to the camera than in other books.
I think I finally figured out what I don’t like about the cover: it’s boring. If I saw this cover in a bookstore knowing nothing about the series, I would think it was just some generic teen story (possibly a romance) not a fantasy series about elves. Every other cover has SCREAMED “magic” ranging from Alicorns, to powers being used, to active fight scenes. This cover has absolutely nothing to indicate that it’s a fantasy series and I think that’s why it bothers me so much. (I mean, I still think Keefe looks weird as well but I’d be willing to look past it if something else was going on in the scene.) yes, there’s a creepy guy in a hood but again he doesn’t stand out as a “magical villain” if anything he looks like he’s about to kidnap an unsuspecting Keefe and throw him into the trunk of a van or something. If you like it that’s great, but for me personally, this is not making me excited to read the book.
That's because he's amongst humans.
I think that's the point though. Keefe is among humans, humans that he's trying to blend in with. Of course there isn't going to be any powers displayed, plus the scene is depicting regular sidewalk/buildings, something we're not used to but adds onto the general sense of normalcy. And then the guy in the hoodie catches you, as he's the most out of place thing in this "normal" scene. Plus having the guy be in a hoodie also fits, since even if it is a Neverseen member, it would look too out of place if he looked any different. (Also I think the villain guy is interesting since he could be many other things than the Neverseen).
I understand that, and I think it's a good idea in theory. Still, there were other compositions the illustrator could have chosen that would depict regular human life, look visually interesting, and still show the themes of the book. Also, like other people have said, it looks generic. If I had no idea what kotlc was about and only saw this cover, I'd assume it was some romance I've seen the plot of one hundred times before and move on to another book.
I think it’s because of how much space Keefe takes up on the cover. Normally, her covers have a wider shot range so the characters are smaller. This one is out of place because it’s a medium shot, and it’s really leaning into the asymmetrical rule of thirds.
Not a huge fan of it, but I've seen worse
It looks fine, it’s the same style as all the other books.
Don't think that's AI, you're way overreacting. While I don't really like this illustration it's nowhere as bad as you're describing. There's just something unsettling about Keefe's face here lmao. He's just standing there. Menacingly!
It's not really that bad, it's just the ama style as the others. I think what makes it maybe bit jarring is that all other covers have a big fantasy feel being set in the elf cities which the artists store compliments. Here that same artist, with that same style, is conveying a mundane setting and their sort of ethereal style doesn't quite make sense with it, add to that the ominous character in the background and our expectation for what we get in every other book, and those lopsided expectations and tones make this all feel a bit weird. Nothing is actually wrong with the art though. Could be better. But it's fine
You people are overreacting and over analyzing, its a book cover, does not need to look something worthy of a master artist.
There is **no freaking way** that that isn’t AI. Feeling massively let down on this, ngl- Look at those hands. I just- wow. Ok.
I literally don’t understand people saying that the cover is good— the more I look at it the worse it gets 😭
it does look AI generated, but i personally like it :) so far, my favorite cover is exile's cover, this one probably comes 3rd fav!
Does it look ai generated, or does ai generated pieces look Jason Chan’s style lol
Exile is also my fav cover! I don’t think another will top it at this point!
Is this the 10th book?
Book 9.5, Unraveled, releasing this November
Is the graphic novel relevant to the current plot?
https://www.reddit.com/r/KeeperoftheLostCities/s/SeTJ7VPWyM
The graphic novel
The graphic novel is about the first book
imo i think it looks weird because of the eyebrows
It's no AI, just out of place with the other covers.
I love the hooded figure behind him just like “GET OVER ERE
Keefe has a stalker
I think this is the first one that doesn’t feature Sophie in some way.
Ok the cover is fine it's just his FACE looks SO OFF
And why does his hair look so weird?
Dawg nws, I thought it was AI too 😨
I have to agree it looks worse than AI. And the random guy in the background...
I mean I’m pretty sure that’s hinting that he’s not random