A New Look for “The Novice of Thanatos”

If you’ve been following my journey, you might notice something different about The Novice of Thanatos. Yes—I changed the cover! It was not a decision I made lightly. I’ve been promoting the book with the old cover for almost two months. When I first released the book on March 7th, the dark, medieval-inspired design was good but not great. I initially pulled it together while still writing the story. However, on a whim, I started tinkering and found something better just before release. At that point, it seemed ridiculous to change as the book was about to launch. So, I sat on the new design and just went forward with what I had. But the new design wouldn’t leave me. As weeks passed, sales were poor, and feedback trickled in. I realized that the original cover wasn’t capturing the eye—or conveying the story’s dark and swirling, supernatural elements—quite as strongly as I had hoped.

After reflecting on the book’s atmosphere and talking to fellow authors and readers, I decided to make the leap to the new cover. It features a dramatic swirl (the Threshold), an eye-catching red cloak (referencing the Red Cloths), and a bolder color contrast that more clearly signals the story’s dark fantasy/ horror roots. In a crowded online marketplace, a strong first impression can make all the difference—and I wanted to be sure I was putting my best foot forward.

Switching covers soon after release isn’t easy; as I said, I’ve already been promoting the old design. But I believe in treating this as an opportunity rather than a setback. Think of it as a “cover relaunch”: a chance to generate new excitement and show off the book’s eerie, spellbinding vibe more accurately. If you liked the first cover, I hope you’ll find the update just as compelling—or maybe even more so!

At the end of the day, I’m glad I followed my instincts. It’s still the same story inside—the tale of a novice coming of age as he ventures to Thanatos—but now the outside packaging matches the dark memoir you’ll find within its pages. Enjoy, and let me know what you think below. The joy of indie publishing is that nothing is really set in stone, so if you disagree with my choice, voice it!

Cheers!