WHERE WOLVES WHISPER
Book Cover Design | YA Dark Fantasy Thirller / Gothic Survival
Where Wolves Whisper is a dark YA thriller that reimagines the Red Riding Hood myth with psychological tension and folklore horror. I approached this cover as more than a literal scene—it needed to evoke the entire arc of Lunaria’s transformation and the haunting tone of the narrative.
COVER DESIGN
The story deals with memory, survival, and what’s left behind when someone returns from the woods changed. I wanted the cover to communicate both loss and power—a girl who has endured something unspeakable, and who now carries the story in blood, fur, and silence.
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Her posture is guarded but ready. The wolf pelt she wears acts as armor, but also as evidence. She is surrounded by glowing, watchful eyes—tied to the forest and its predators, but also perhaps her own creation.
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The palette blends desaturated greens and deep shadows with rich reds—using contrast to draw focus to the character’s expression, weapon, and the apples she carries. These visual elements together reflect her identity: a survivor no longer content to hide, and a warning disguised in red.
CHARACTER DESIGN
Lunaria’s design is central to the narrative—she’s both the heart of the story and the visual metaphor for its themes.
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I based her look on the idea of survival through transformation. Her wolf pelt functions as armor, trophy, and identity. Her spear is handmade, brutal, and utilitarian—a far cry from the red cloak of traditional versions. Her face bears scars, not as decoration, but as record.
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She’s barefoot and bloodstained, balancing mythic archetype with gritty realism. Her gaze had to hold quiet strength and a trace of something no longer entirely human—like the forest left its mark beneath her skin.
THUMBNAIL SKETCHES
I tested whether Lunaria should be alone, flanked by wolves, or facing the viewer directly. Ultimately, I chose an over-the-shoulder composition to imply both movement and tension—she’s aware, watching, never still.
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A limited value range was tested in black-and-white thumbnails, then pushed further through color iterations to heighten mood without losing detail. The glowing yellow eyes became a subtle storytelling device: at first ambient, then active.
The thumbnail stage focused heavily on framing, symbolism, and emotional impact.
I explored:
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Poses of vulnerability vs. defiance
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The role of the wolf pelt (companion, threat, disguise)
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Variations in eye contact and expression
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Use of repetition (apples, eyes, trees) to create tension
The Apples
Visually striking and thematically rich, the apples symbolize innocence, temptation, and loss. Unlike fairytales that center them as a trap, here they’re reclaimed—trophies, offerings, or something far stranger.
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The Eyes
The glowing eyes in the background hint at multiple interpretations: predators, spirits, the forest itself, or manifestations of Lunaria’s past. They create constant tension, implying she’s never truly alone… or never entirely safe.
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The Spear
Primitive, handmade, and bloodied, the spear shifts her from hunted to hunter. It also echoes the structure of a fairytale weapon—but stripped of magic, grounded in survival and pain.
TOOLS USED
This project was developed using an integrated digital workflow that supported narrative design from concept to completion. Initial sketches focused on character, posture, and symbolic detail—building a visual story around Lunaria’s transformation and the mythic tone of the book. From there, I moved into professional painting and layout tools to deepen the atmosphere, refine composition, and prepare the artwork for full-wrap print. Each stage of the process, and each tool used, contributed to translating emotion into image.
Adobe Fresco
Brainstorming
Thumbnail sketches
Composition exploration
Lighting Studies
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Procreate
Full Digital Painting
Digital Rendering
Brush Textures
Atmospheric Effects
Adobe Photoshop
Color Correction
Tone Adjustment
final Polish
Adobe InDesign
Spread Layout
Typography
Print Formatting
Proof Mockup