Today we’re thrilled to be welcoming back Hive favourite, Kai Greenwood, to reveal the cover of his upcoming novel DEEP’S END.

Nils and I fell in love with Kai’s writing when we read Code of the Communer for SPFBO 6; having read the opening of Deep’s End, I’m super excited for the release and for you all to discover Kai’s new world.

Here’s a little about the story:

The town of Deep’s End sits on the edge of Pol Desper, a forest-filled crater which for centuries has been shunned by the townsfolk. Now Deep’s End is in decline, and as greedy eyes focus on the forest’s resources, only two women still believe in the danger that lurks below. As events escalate, a mother and daughter must put aside their differences to save the town.

And here’s the cover:

I love this cover so much! I think it’s so bold and striking in its simplicity of design, yet the bronze leaves and the way the dagger interacts with the font really elevates it. Let’s hear from Kai himself:

I design all my covers myself and although they are finished in Photoshop I do try and use physical art as well. For this one I gathered ivy leaves and scanned them using a cheap scanner. I also sourced relevant images to use as textures on the leaves and lettering.

 

Turning the leaves bronze was a challenge that Google helped with, and this allowed me to bring the border together with the dagger that plays a key role in the story. For the texture on the letters I used an image of the white cliffs of Dover. This is a subtle reference to the chalk hill of Ker Gwith that is important to Derwa and Elestren for reasons I won’t reveal!

 

I’m pleased with how the cover turned out, especially the way the text weaves through the graphical elements.

Deep’s End will be released on 1st May 2022, and is available for pre-order HERE

Kai Greenwood is an acclaimed author of epic fantasy, and semi-finalist in the SPFBO 2020 Fantasy Awards.

For the last twenty years Greenwood has lived and worked within a stone’s throw of J.R.R. Tolkien’s childhood home in the Midlands of England. Greenwood’s work is full of compelling characters and thrilling action set against a backdrop of myth, ancient forests, and misty ruins.

As well as classic influences of Alan Garner, Le Guin and Tolkien, Greenwood’s work has a modern edge comparable in style to Jen Williams’ Winnowing Flame trilogy, Joe Abercrombie and Adrian Tchaikovsky.