The Friday Face-Off: Desert Setting

Welcome to The Friday Face-Off, a weekly meme here at Books by Proxy. Join us every Friday as we pit cover against cover, and publisher against publisher, to find the best artwork in our literary universe. You can find a list of upcoming topics at Lynn's Books.

This week's topic is:
‘nomad is an island’ – A cover featuring a desert landscape

This ended up being way harder than it should have been. I had a lot of great books with desert settings pop into my head right away (Master Assassins by Robert V.S. Redick, Throne of the Crescent Moon, etc.), but they all either, 1) didn't have a desert setting depicted on the cover; or 2) only have one or two covers. In the end, I finally stumbled upon two different books I could use and since I have absolutely zero decision-making capabilities, I'm just doing both! The first is What is the What by Dave Eggers, a compelling story about a Sudanese child refugee who eventually immigrates to the United States, and the second is The Girl Who Rides Like a Man by the incredible Tamora Pierce, part of her Song of the Lioness series.

What is the What by Dave Eggers

  

2007 US Vintage || 2007 Dutch || 2013 German

  

2009 French || 2008 Catalan; Valencian || 2009 Portuguese

The Girl Who Rides like a Man by Tamora Pierce

1992 Random House || 1986 Atheneum Books || 2001 German

1992 Red Fox || 2010 French || 1993 German

My choices:

More difficult decisions. For What is the What, I like the Vintage and Portuguese editions. There's something I really like about the up close outline of the character's face with the desert  tree in the back, but I feel like the Portuguese edition showcases the themes of the book better, such as it being a journey he's on alone. 

For Tamora Pierce, I love both the 1986 Atheneum edition and the French, but I have to say I'm really drawn to the French one--and yes, it's mainly because of that gorgeous horse. I find it amusing that the covers have different colored horses because I'm sure her horse's fur is specified (I genuinely do not remember what it looked like, haha.)

  

Which covers do you like best?

What is the What: Amazon | Book Depository | IndieBound

The Girl Who Rides Like a Man: Amazon | Book Depository | IndieBound

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Waiting on Wednesday: Tempests and Slaughter by Tamora Pierce

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights exciting upcoming releases that we can't wait to be released!

I remember when my sister and I read Tamora Pierce books years and years ago and absolutely loved them. We devoured her books and I still view her as one of my earliest fantasy introductions and loves. I cannot wait to read something new from Tamora Pierce!

This week's upcoming book spotlight is:

Tempests and Slaughter by Tamora Pierce
Publication Date: February 6th, 2018

Random House Books for Young Readers

Pre-order: Book Depository | Amazon

From Goodreads:

Note: **"Act fast! The first printing of the hardcover includes a collector’s edition poster!"**


"Kyra is the youngest Markswoman in the Order of Kali, a highly trained sisterhood of elite warriors armed with telepathic blades. Guided by a strict code of conduct, Kyra and the other Orders are sworn to protect the people of Asiana. But to be a Markswoman, an acolyte must repudiate her former life completely. Kyra has pledged to do so, yet she secretly harbors a fierce desire to avenge her dead family.

When Kyra’s beloved mentor dies in mysterious circumstances, and Tamsyn, the powerful, dangerous Mistress of Mental Arts, assumes control of the Order, Kyra is forced on the run. Using one of the strange Transport Hubs that are remnants of Asiana’s long-lost past, she finds herself in the unforgiving wilderness of desert that is home to the Order of Khur, the only Order composed of men. Among them is Rustan, a young, disillusioned Marksman whom she soon befriends.

Kyra is certain that Tamsyn committed murder in a twisted bid for power, but she has no proof. And if she fails to find it, fails in her quest to keep her beloved Order from following Tamsyn down a dark path, it could spell the beginning of the end for Kyra--and for Asiana.

But what she doesn’t realize is that the line between justice and vengeance is razor thin . . . thin as the blade of a knife."

What do you think about this upcoming release? What are your anticipated upcoming releases?

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