Hello, hello! Welcome to the cover reveal for Water’s Wrath, the fourth book in the Air Awakens series! As you likely know, I am in love with this series. In. Love. So naturally, when the chance comes around to flail about it, I jump at it.
So that you don’t forget my love for the other books, here’s a quick recap. And if you haven’t read them, off you go. I even have a giveaway happening right now. So extra chances to win, yay!
And now… the cover and info for Water’s Wrath!!
Water's Wrath by Elise Kova Series: Air Awakens #4
Published by Silver Wing Press on April 26, 2016
Pages: 350
Librarian turned sorcerer. Sorcerer turned hero. Hero turned puppet.
The Solaris Empire found victory in the North and, at the cost of her heart and her innocence, Vhalla Yarl has earned her freedom.
But the true fight is only beginning as the secret forces that have been lurking in the shadows, tugging at the strings of Vhalla’s fate, finally come to light. Nowhere is safe, and Vhalla must tread carefully or else she’ll fall into the waiting arms of her greatest foe. Or former lover.
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Pre-order links (and more on the way!)
Cover Reveal Exclusive: Elise’s Thoughts on the Covers’ Symbolism So Far
Six months ago, almost to the day, Air Awakens came out. It was my debut novel as an independent author, no publisher and no agent behind me, and I had no idea what would come of it. Now, six months later, I can’t believe I’m revealing the cover on the fourth book of the Air Awakens series.
I say every cover is my favorite, because it gets harder and harder to pick. Each of the covers, in their own way, has been perfect for the book they belong with. My cover artist, Merilliza Chan, is amazing at taking direction and incorporating my suggestions.
Part of why each cover is perfect is because there are little hints, teasers, and call-outs to the story within. Without giving too many spoilers, here’s a couple notes on each of the Air Awakens covers so far!
Air Awakens
First off, notice how Vhalla’s sash is black. In the book, the sash that goes with her apprentice robes is cerulean. This, combined with her robes slowly turning black around the back of the cover is indicative of sorcery making a mark on her. But she hasn’t yet committed, she has yet to don all-black robes. The wind in her hair and sense of movement is a call-out to her affinity. The book in her hands, is representative of three things: her work in the library, the book she exchanges notes in, and the book she brings to the garden. Which, speaking of, the roses around her… well, if you’ve read the book you know what, or who, those are meant to symbolize. But I told Meril I wanted something ominous, something wicked about them. And the thorns going through them were perfect!
Fire Falling
Here is the first cover we see our dark prince on. Fire Falling is named after three incidents in the book… When Aldrik falls to his knees before Vhalla in the Crossroads, the Rites of the FALLen in the Crossroads for another, and the end of the book. Since two of the three aspects of the title of the book related to Aldrik it was only natural that he had to be on the cover. In Fire Falling, Aldrik is beginning to function as a guiding force for Vhalla and, on the cover, he’s looking over his shoulder at her. He can’t openly admit to their association. Vhalla’s eyes are glowing orange and she’s alight, immersed in flame. This was done to symbolize their Bond and Joining. That not only can his flames not harm her, but that he is connected on a mental and magical level. She is also wearing the armor Aldrik crafted for her.
Earth’s End
Now, the symbolism is beginning to get heavy. Vhalla is alone again on the cover, venturing into the wilderness. She’s almost facing the camera, symbolizing how she is growing into her own and becoming a more realized person. In the sky above her is a fire bird. We literally see this formed in the book, but it also is symbolic of a phoenix, rising from its own ashes. I think this works for Vhalla and Aldrik in their own ways through Earth’s End. The cloak she’s wearing is the one she receives from Tim with slash marks. The watch in her hand was gifted to her. And, in her other hand, we see a special sort of magic… Finally, one other note… Carved into a tree that’s on the back of printed books is a symbol – that is actually the symbol of Shaldan!
Note: You can find Merilliza at Deviant Art and Twitter, as well as her website
About Elise Kova
Elise Kova has always had a profound love of fantastical worlds. Somehow, she managed to focus on the real world long enough to graduate with a Master’s in Business Administration before crawling back under her favorite writing blanket to conceptualize her next magic system. She currently lives in St. Petersburg, Florida, and when she's not writing can be found playing video games, watching anime, or talking with readers on social media. She is the author of the Air Awakens Series as well as the upcoming Loom Saga (Keymaster, 2017).
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Cover Reveal Organized by:
I still haven’t started this series, but have bought the first two on Kindle and hoping to start them soon. Kynn loves the series and her gushing convinced me to buy them as well. My goodness the covers though, normally animated type covers wouldn’t be my thing but they’re absolutely stunning! I’m going to binge read before book four is released so I can fangirl with everyone else. Thanks for sharing Shannon, loved hearing the vision behind each cover (which only would have been made even more awesome with a random object) 😀 😀
THEY’RE ALL SO PRETTY! *drools*
I love the colors.
Those covers are really really amazing! I thought this book is going to be a trilogy, but turns out it’s more than 3 books! I guess that’s more reason to read this series before I get too far behind! 😀 My favorite cover is Fire Falling! I don’t know what’s happening in that book, but it seems like the characters are going into a battle 😀
SQUEE! So excited. I read book 1 recently, and fell in love with this series. I would have to agree with Mary, I love the colors on the cover.
STUNNING COVER IS STUNNING! Elise Kova really hit the gorgeous cover lottery!!
*enters to win all the copies!*
I haven’t started this series yet but I love the covers of all of them!
I actually love all the covers in this series but Water;s Wrath is my favorite! I love blue and I really like how they played with this color. Thank you for the giveaway 🙂
Hm. I’m VERY undecided about these covers. On the one hand, they’re artistic perfection. The technique is flawless. This one perhaps the most so. I’m SO partial to blue, and in and of itself, this picture is stunning. As digital art, these covers are amazing.
As book covers, however… (And this is a massive HOWEVER!)
I HATE that Vhalla is very clearly described as tan/darker-skinned, with dark brown hair and with ‘Eastern eyes’ (in at least one place they’re referred to as slightly slanted, too) and yet the covers insist on depicting her as a… blonde white girl? Granted, I haven’t read Earth’s End yet, so chances are she suddenly fell into a barrel of bleach and now the hair, at least, IS blonde, but still. I hated when Julie Kagawa’s Blood of Eden series’ covers did this, and I hate it again now. Given that these covers are clearly personalized to each of the books’ events, I only wish that the girl on the cover at least distantly resembled Vhalla.
But really, technique-wise, EVERY PROP TO THE ARTIST. They’re stunningly talented.
Merilliza Chan is without a doubt a great illustrator, all the covers have been absolutely stunning. My favorite part of all the covers -yes, all of them- is the semiotics.
Wow this series is totally new to me but look at those covers! Definitely going to check it out!
I love how the cover’s are beautifully designed! They’re so unique and fit the synopsis of the series so well.
Man this cover is seriously gorgeous. I absolutely love the blue tones… I guess it matches the title.
These are gorgeous covers! Love the iridescent quality of it!
I love how much thought has gone into designing all these covers! Haven’t read the books yet, but I WILL, they’re on my TBR, and they’ve been pushed up a bit, because detail with covers…that’s always awesome to hear about!
Okay out of all the covers this one might just be my favourite. I just love the details that go into these covers. Although I am confused by Vhalla’s hair colour cause I’m sure it says it’s a dark brown colour instead of blonde. I’m confused haha.
I made the mistake of reading the synopsis cause I’m only on Fire Falling but the “former lover” mention has me worried. I’m sensing trouble in paradise for Aldrik and Vhalla and I’m not sure how I’m going to cope with it.
Ahhhhhhh I love this series. But I sadly have not gotten a chance to read Earth’s End, and I’m sure that by the time I do read it, Elise will have published the rest of the series hahah. Maybe that will be better, because that Fire Falling cliffhanger was rough.
ANYWAYS. I love this cover!! Especially the colors, because blue is my favorite. Personally, I like ALL THE COVERS, so it is really hard to decide which one is my fave.
Love this series and the gorgeous covers! I love that the title and cover provide clues and you know when you finish the book and then all of it finally makes sense?! Amazing. Now I’m really intrigued and can’t wait to read Water’s Wrath!! I have no idea what’s going to happen next because I still haven’t moved on from that seriously heartbreaking ending of Earth’s End but I’m really glad we don’t have to wait for a year for the sequel. Still, April can’t come fast enough!
I’m really in love with the colours in this cover! Probably my favourite–something about the blue just makes me go *grabby hands*
I really love the progression in the covers of the series. My favorite cover so far is Earth’s End. I do love the coloring on Water’s Wrath. It’s so uniform.