A Tumblr blog started up recently called Honest Book Cover Copy, started by this lady after her brilliant “The Raven Boys” honest cover copy. I liked the way they highlighted the cool things that get left out of back cover blurbs while still being very positive about the books, which is very important to me. So when I saw they were open to subs I decided to try my hand at a Pantomime one (prequel to Shadowplay, whose cover I noticed a few people admiring in the comments last Wednesday).
You can see my honest cover copy in Tumblr form here or below:
Warning: In the spirit of the original honest cover copy, the below is very sweary and very silly.
R.H. Ragona’s Circus of Magic is the greatest circus of Ellada. Nestled among the glowing blue Penglass –remnants of a mysterious civilisation long gone MYSTERIOUS BADASS MAGICAL DOMES – are wonders beyond the wildest imagination. It’s a place where anything seems possible, where if you close your eyes you can believe that the magic and knowledge of the vanished Chimeras is still there. It’s a place where anyone can hide.
INTERSEX TEEN Iphigenia Laurus, or Gene, the daughter of a noble family WHO KEEP TRYING TO FORCE HER INTO SURGERY TO ‘FIX’ HER SO SHE CAN BE MARRIED OFF, is uncomfortable in corsets and crinoline, BECAUSE AIN’T NOBODY GOT TIME FOR THAT, and prefers climbing trees to debutante balls.
SO SHE GETS THE FUCK OUTTA THERE AND BECOMES Micah Grey, a runaway living on the streets, joins the circus as an aerialist’s apprentice and soon becomes the circus’s rising star. HE GETS COOL POWERS AND FALLS IN LOVE WITH BOYS *AND* GIRLS BECAUSE THAT’S JUST HOW MICAH ROLLS. But Gene and Micah have balancing acts of their own to perform, and a secret in their blood that could unlock the mysteries of Ellada.
PANTOMIME IS AN EMPOWERING STEAMPUNK FANTASY WHERE DIVERSE CHARACTERS OWN THE SHOW. IT’S A METAPHOR ABOUT HOW DAMN HARD IT IS FEELING BOTH MALE AND FEMALE BUT YOU DON’T EVEN NOTICE THE SUBTLETIES BECAUSE OF ALL THE CIRCUS FUNTIMES AND SHINY WORLDBUILDING.
ALSO, THERE’S AN AWESOME ANGSTY CLOWN LOVE INTEREST.