Silhouettes Horror Book Cover Design (Evoking horror, sad, and reflection)

Visuals: A darkened room is depicted with a cracked, vintage mirror as the focal point. In the reflection, the protagonist stands with a visibly twisted and eerie version of himself on the other side—a pale, shadowy doppelgänger with hollow, glowing eyes. The background inside the reflection slightly differs, showing a sinister, dim environment with subtle haunting details like faint silhouettes or ghostly apparitions. The overall color palette is black with gradients of gray and glowing orange highlights around the cracks in the mirror, adding an ominous flair.

Typography: The title, "Beneath Their Eyes," is displayed in a sharp, jagged serif font that has a slightly cracked appearance, while the author name, "Dwayne Jules Bali," appears in a smaller, sans-serif font with a minimalist, clean style at the bottom. Both use glowing orange for emphasis against the dark tones, matching the highlighted hues in the cracks.

Layout: The mirror occupies the central portion of the cover, with the protagonist's reflection emerging as the primary visual draw. The title is placed near the top in bold, large text, partially overlapping the top edge of the mirror. The author’s name is aligned at the bottom-center in a straightforward, unobstructive manner. The spattered, smoky gradients around the mirror add texture to the overall layout.

Explanation: The visual composition directly connects to the plot’s central idea of swapping lives through reflections. The cracked mirror represents fractured realities and encapsulates horror’s visceral eeriness. Using black, gray, and orange reinforces the suspenseful tone, with orange creating focal points that pop dramatically. The typography complements this emotional response, with the sharpness of the title symbolizing unease and the disruption of normalcy. The matte coating reduces glare, drawing focus to details while UV gloss adds a tactile and visual distinction to the elements intended to stand out, like the cracked designs and glowing features. This approach ensures the cover is immersive, eye-catching, and effectively communicates the mood of horror injected with sadness.