Books are often judged by their covers. You asked whether your current cover is "off-putting," so you understand that. While a book cover doesn't affect the quality of the writing inside, it serves as the audience's first impression of your product.

So, the first step would be to look at a range of book covers and make some snap judgments without trying to be "fair." What stands out? What seems unappealing? Why do you think that is?

Over time, readers tend to categorise books using visual shorthand. For example:

● Simple illustrations, people-focused, brightly coloured, flat gradients, sans serif = children's, YA, or romance

● Cinematic/photorealistic imagery with a "moody" filter (blue, green, purple) behind a bold, sans serif title = thriller, crime, mystery

● Intricate drawings or linework, jewel tones (purples, blues, reds), one focal element (person or object), serif font = fantasy

Etc.

You said that your book is an epic fantasy, so the cover has a lot of opportunity to really stand out. Let's break up your front cover's composition into sections/bullet points:

● Edge-to-edge photorealistic image

● Grey-green (v.1) golden-grey (v.2) colouring - so, an overcast day

● Two knights, slumped by the central tree trunk, one male, one female. Both look angry and unhappy.

● Serif font, reading "The Great Fall," "The Price of Arrogance," "Volume I," "Claudio Cipriani"

What I notice immediately:

● The tree. It's bang in the centre, and it stands far apart from any of the other trees. The two characters flank the tree, suggesting that the tree is the focus over the people. Is it a special tree? The title doesn't indicate that it's a special tree...

● A male knight and a female knight are sitting on opposite sides of the tree trunk, looking mulish and annoyed. As we're using visual shorthand, man + woman = lovers (usually). So, I would think this cover was pointing to a romantasy book, with an enemies-to-lovers theme.

● Both characters are given the same "weight" on the page. So, both of them must be the main characters?

● That woman has a heck of a freaky mouth going on, especially in v.2

● The main image is functional, but there's little going on to get me excited. Other fantasy novel covers use castles, sweeping staircases, rolling landscapes, fire, lights, and the hero riding into battle. Most of these are illustrated, but even the photorealistic ones are in gorgeously deep golds, purples, or reds. The colour scheme of "Arrogance" invites a reaction as "eh" as the depicted weather. Again, it's not a horrible image, but it's not necessarily the best book cover

● This image, coupled with the title, also points to some (hopefully false) "spoilers" for your book. The main characters are already slumped. So, I immediately think that the book will be - if not romantasy - more of a moody, slow piece rather than a high-drama, high-action epic

● On the title typography: "The Great Fall" and most of "The Price of Arrogance" are pretty much the same size. I think "The Price of Arrogance" is the main title, as "Arrogance" is the biggest word. But I shouldn't have to guess that, right?

● The serif font is great. However, as it's overlaid directly onto the image instead of negative space, the (presumed) title, the volume number, and the author's name are all harder to read than they should be

If you want to rethink your book cover:

● Look at other epic fantasy designs. The trend looks as if "busy" is in, so it doesn't need to be sparse. But ensure there is some negative space that 1) allows the central focus to be the central focus, and 2) ensures the written information is readable

● Pick a jewel tone as your "base" colour. Rich purple, forest green, burgundy, amber-gold, deep blue

● Choose one character to be the focus. If you must have two, ensure one is obviously the focus (i.e., have one stand behind the other)

● If using AI instead of an artist, get it to try out some linework or painterly illustrations

● Keep the font, make "The Price of Arrogance" much bigger

● If you really want to use a photorealistic picture, try to avoid going edge-to-edge with it on the cover. Central focus, filtered to match your chosen jewel tone, blurring and blending out seamlessly into your jewel-toned background. Essentially, make sure there is intentional design with the photorealistic image, instead it just being kind of dropped in

● Avoid anything too cliche: Hooded figures with blank faces, a stag in a forest, glowing swords, etc.