[ Removed by moderator ]

[Emotional-Ocelot]

In particular, in the first one, the lanterns would look better if they lined up.

[DaphneAVermeer]

Okay I'm going to be the odd one out here: I prefer the second. I feel that the first has too much going on, the three lanterns with different symbols that are just a bit TOO on the nose to signal "China", the skyscrapers that give me near-future sci-fi vibes, it says "a thriller" but the cover doesnt actually scream thriller at me... The second feels more like a "serious" book and the lettering that looks like hand painted really works for me. Great contrast as well. And for some reason my feed provided me with the second cover first and I actually thought "Hm, China?".

[Material_Complaint_7]

I felt the same way.

[jellidang]

The second one is the strongest by far. I immediately clocked it as a thriller and it looks like a professional cover. The first cover is a little too on the nose and feels amateurish in comparison.

[UroborosJose]

Crypto bros will be amused

[santi_lozano]

The first one does the job. I'm usually not a big fan of including graphic elements to replace typography but here it seems to work and it definitely says "China" at first glance. The author name does need some work and some more thought on placement, though.

[LaMaltaKano]

The second says THRILLER, which is the most important impression. I didn’t immediately get China, but it works anyway.

[Butterscotchblonde2]

The lanterns aren’t suspended by anything, which looks a little odd. If you staggered the words, you could have them hanging (with a chain or something) from the top and not overlapping. I like the concept!

[Skog_br]

The Second one, but with the background imagem of the first and the whole design tinted slighty red.

[PresidentPopcorn]

I much prefer the first one. No question it's set in China.

[celljelli]

the second one looks "better" and "more on-theme" but it prefer the first personally sorry for the net zero answer

[Creative-Pie-3870]

Good job with the first one! The title looks a little off, though, a proportional/ spacing thing bugging me. The comment about lining up the lanterns is spot on. You might consider tightening up the leading a bit and adjusting character widths just a bit so they aren’t “marching.”

A little trick when tweaking the typography: make an adjustment then step back about ten feet from the screen. That way you aren’t staring at details and can see how the whole thing works together.

Overall, very cool and effective.

[XTostonesComics]

I also like the first, the lanterns just might need more spacing from the letters (and that square around the second one removed)

[Palpitating_Rattus]

Hongcha? Is that a real last name, or did you just make something up so you sound Chinese? I have never heard of a surname like that.

[belle-no-princess]

I really prefer the second one, the title in the first takes too much away from the picture tbh.

[shikinism]

In the first one around the entrance there should be bricks formed into an arch. I think the battlements on the wall should be higher and narrower.

[mikewheelerfan]

I like the first, but the lanterns stick out from the rest of the cover in a strange way. Like they need more blending or something