It’s that time again! Time to highlight some of my favorite fantasy covers!

This week I’m looking at some fantasy covers which feature inanimate objects: swords, spears, castles, cityscapes, landscapes.  That sort of thing.  No covers with armed guys or girls, badass villains, or mysterious assassins posing all cool-like on the front.

Now, to forewarn everyone, I’m going to allow covers which have people in them.  Honestly, it is pretty difficult to find only inanimate objects portrayed.  So if a cover’s main feature is an inanimate object it will be considered, even if there are people in the image somewhere.

THE FAITHFUL AND THE FALLEN

Probably my favorite covers in this variety.  Paul Young doing an amazing job with the first three covers, while James Annal continued on with the coolness with Ruin.  Just a beautiful series of covers.

MISTBORN SERIES

These UK covers from Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn series really strike a cord with me. Sam Green producing some amazing pieces here.   If pressed I’d still say The Final Empire is my favorite cover, but they all are striking illustrations. I’ve read they are also the author’s favorites, so I suppose I’m in good company with this pick.

SHATTERED SEA

While I didn’t love the series, I’ve always thought these were some outstanding covers.  Mike Bryan thrilling readers with his ice, water, and fire images, which really captured the tone of each Joe Abercrombie story.

ECHOES OF EMPIRE

Mark T. Barnes created a complex fantasy world with strange races and ethereal beings.  Stephan Martiniere capturing the true essence of this world in his stunning landscapes.

THE CRIMSON EMPIRE

I know, I know, there doesn’t seem to be any inanimate object on these covers.  True . . . unless we view the silhouettes in the background as such.  And I’m going to, because I really like what Lauren Panepinto did with these covers.

THE GATES OF THE WORLD

Okay, okay, The Brass God might be more focused on that strange, golden robot at the forefront, but Alejandro Colucci’s artwork is just too damn good not to find a way to feature.

THE RAGE OF KINGS

You have to admit those are two pretty damn clever and cool covers.  Lee Gibbons gets a big thumbs up from me.

TYRANTS AND KINGS

Doug Beekman’s covers for John Marco’s trilogy were all about the dynamic landscapes behind the people in the foreground.  Honestly, the grand castles and stunning mountains are what pops out of these, not the riders.

THE KING’S BLADES

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

I’ve always liked these covers from Dave Duncan’s fantasy series, The King’s Blades.  They are simple yet effective.  Hal Just, Paul Robinson, Boris Zlotsky, and Stephen Hickman taking turns creating each one.

Well, that is it for this week.  Hopefully, you discovered a few books you had never heard of before, or an artist or two that have now become one of your favorites.  Until next time, keep judging books by their covers!