Literary fiction Book Cover Design (Evoking mystery, fear, and intrigue)

Visuals: The cover showcases a deep navy blue night sky scattered with faint stars that transition into eerie black clouds at the top. The cityscape below is outlined in silvery-white moonlight, creating reflective highlights on detailed skyscrapers and narrower winding streets. In the foreground, two teenage silhouettes stand back to back, both blurred at the edges to add intrigue the brother faces left with a shadowy figure resembling a teenager with chipmunk ears and a tail beside him; the sister turns right with an intricately detailed baby velociraptor, its green scales subtly shimmering in moonlight. Above them, embedded in swirling dark clouds, a faint golden crown glows ominously as violet-hued poison drips diagonally across the title from the top. Lightning strikes through the skyline, adding energy and menace.

Typography: The title "Thunder's Claw" is written in a jagged serif font with a cracked texture, and the dripping purple poison partially covers the letters for unsettling visual weight. The author name "Kaylee Umstead" is featured at the bottom in a clean, sans-serif font to maintain legibility while contrasting with the title.

Layout: Main characters are placed prominently at the center, creating a symmetrical contrast between left and right-facing directions. The moon outlines the city behind them, anchoring the background. The crown in the clouds and the lightning strike provide eye-catching upper details, while the title is diagonally arranged across the center-right to balance the imagery. The author name is positioned at the bottom center for subtle prominence.

Explanation: The visual composition combines dark blue tones, silvery-white highlights, and violet accents, creating a nighttime atmosphere tied to themes of mystery, fear, and intrigue. Silhouettes evoke secrecy and complexity within characters, while the moonlit city and storm add a sense of danger and looming unrest. Typography pairs an edgy serif font for the title with clear sans-serif text for secondary details—this contrast ensures legibility while maintaining an unsettling aesthetic. The matte finish ensures durability while giving the design a subdued tone, with varnish and UV effects enhancing specific focal points across the cover, making it tactile and eye-catching on shelves.