Magdalena Mieszczak

The book cover design was created in response to the author’s clear and detailed vision. She wanted the main character of her story to be the central focus of the composition, placed inside a mirror with an ornate frame made of intertwined vines.According to the author’s guidelines, the protagonist was to be portrayed as a hooded archer wearing a cloak, walking through a dense jungle. His face was to remain mostly concealed beneath the hood, with only his green eyes visible.The entire cover is maintained in a monochromatic purple palette, establishing a cohesive and atmospheric mood. The addition of the golden frame creates a refined contrast, enhancing the depth and richness of the overall design. Decorative borders and ornamental elements surrounding the composition further reinforce the theme and subtly reference the narrative — arrows, butterfly wings, and a dagger appear as symbolic attributes of the book’s characters, visually echoing key elements of the story.

Because the concept was already clearly defined and supported with visual references provided by the author, the initial stage of the project progressed smoothly. The majority of the time was dedicated to carefully sketching the composition and refining each element to ensure balance and clarity.Particular attention was given to detailing, contrast, and the decorative framing elements, as well as to the typography, which was developed to harmonize with the ornamental style of the cover while maintaining readability and visual impact.

This project involved creating a full wrap cover design along with two illustrated endpapers featuring characters for the special FairyLoot edition of The House at Watch Hill by Karen Marie Moning.The wrap cover was designed as a continuous composition flowing seamlessly across the front, spine, and back. The scene features a cobblestone driveway leading toward a circular courtyard with a fountain, overlooked by a towering gothic mansion. In the foreground stands a large tree, with an owl perched among its branches, adding a quiet yet watchful presence to the atmosphere. The building is surrounded by a dense forest, and at its edge two deer silhouettes can be seen, subtly enhancing the sense of mystery and isolation. Together, these elements create a cinematic, immersive landscape that reflects the dark, gothic tone of the story.

The illustrated endpapers were created to bring readers closer to the main characters and subtly reveal aspects of their personalities. Both figures are portrayed against a wall with gothic arches, visually echoing the architecture of the house. The male main character holds a candle, while the female main character carries a lantern. A veil of mist surrounds them, enhancing the supernatural mood and deepening the mysterious and dark atmosphere.As part of the project, I also created professional photographs of the physical copy of the book which was provided by the publisher.

This project involved the creation of a fully illustrated wraparound cover for the Orion Publishing edition of The House at Watch Hill by Karen Marie Moning.The composition presents a close-up view of one of the residence’s towers. A single red-lit window glows against the darkness, revealing the subtle silhouette of a figure inside, introducing an immediate sense of intrigue and unease. Perched on the roof of the tower is an owl, reinforcing the watchful, ominous mood of the scene. In the background, the moon casts a cold light over the structure, heightening the gothic tone.Surrounding the tower are the branches of trees encircling the mansion — twisted, irregular, and covered in moss. Their organic, slightly distorted forms frame the architecture and intensify the feeling of isolation and encroaching wilderness. The wraparound composition allows these elements to envelop the entire book, creating a dark, immersive visual narrative that reflects the mysterious character of the story.For this edition, professional photographs of the finished product were also created, independently documenting the physical copy and highlighting the details of the illustration, print finish, and overall presentation.

This project involved creating a full hardcover illustration for the Illumicrate edition of Starling House by Alix E. Harrow.The artwork was designed as a cohesive composition spanning both the front and back of the book. The front cover presents the façade of the residence as the central focal point, establishing the atmosphere and architectural presence of the setting. The back cover reveals the rear of the mansion, where a cemetery unfolds behind the building, subtly deepening the sense of history and unease. The entire structure is encircled by trees, whose silhouettes frame the composition and enhance the feeling of isolation. Above, the moon illuminates the scene, reinforcing the gothic and mysterious tone.The illustration is maintained in a monochromatic blue palette, creating a unified and immersive mood while emphasizing contrast, depth, and architectural detail.In addition to the cover artwork, professional photographs of the finished Illumicrate edition were also created, documenting the physical book and highlighting the details of the hardcover illustration and overall presentation.