Cursebreakers Series Covers
The Cursebreakers series, including the Kirkus Star-winning debut Cursebreakers and the sequel Angel Eye, was written by Madeline Nakamura and published by Red Hen Press. The novels are described respectively as “a thrilling ride of magic and conspiracy” and “a queer, smart, bewitching read.” In my design for the sequel and redesign of the debut, I changed the visual direction to be in line with the series’ dark tone and adult audience while maintaining the sense of magic.
Since the project started as just the sequel, the original direction was to continue the style of the first book Cursebreakers. However, the design of the of the first book was more appropriate for a younger market than the book’s audience, and so the design completely changed course.
Initial Angel Eye direction
Original Cursebreakers cover
After making a few new initial comps based on the background texture, I was tasked with creating a cover with a completely new direction featuring intricate linework and crossed swords. To suggest a sinister magical conspiracy, I included mystic symbols in the design like the eyes and the hilts shaped like angels of death. To fit with the gaslamp fantasy world of Cursebreakers, I was inspired by Art Deco motifs as a way of placing the setting in the not-so-distant past.
Once the new direction for Angel Eye had been determined, it was decided that a new edition of Cursebreakers would be made with a cover in the same style. For the new Cursebreakers design, it was important to make it distinct while still similar enough that the connection between the books is apparent. Based on one of the keywords for Cursebreakers being “Greco-Roman,” I took inspiration from Greek key borders interpreted through the same Art Deco-inspired style.
In addition to the linework style, other points of continuity were the typography, the featuring of a thematic sword with reversed colors from the background, and the use of a gold color for the design, adjusted in relation to the background colors. As for points of contrast, besides the details of the exact forms of the linework or swords or the content of the typography, the distinct change of the background from red to teal completely distinguished the books.