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I am writing to you from the doldrums of December. I am counting down the days until the holiday, while I’m sure that you are still sleeping off the holiday excesses. Either way, this is not a time for productivity, or hot takes, or dense literary criticism. No, this is a time to cozy up under a blanket with your hot drink of choice, to rewatch the movies and sitcoms you have basically memorized, and otherwise to soothe yourself through the darkest and coldest days of the year.
For me, that means looking at cute fantasy animals on book covers. One of my favorite reads of 2023 was Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree, and the presence of Potroast the gryphet definitely contributed to my enjoyment. Look at that pug/owl face! That got me seeking out other cute fantasy creatures on book covers, and today I’m going to rank them according to my very scientific standards. Most of these are middle grade graphic novels, because apparently publishing thinks that only children enjoy cute fantasy creatures, which I take issue with.
Sorceline by Sylvia Douyé and Paola Antista
Pros: Points for multiple fantastical creatures on this cover!
Cons: None of these creatures seem particularly cuddly, and some of them seem like they’d be denizens of a haunted forest. They’re on the line between cute and creepy.
Score: 6.8/10
Capture Creatures by Frank Gibson and Becky Dreistadt
Pros: I’m not sure exactly what’s happening on this cover, but this creature might be able to produce fire? That would be very useful! Either that, or they’re heat-resistant. He’s both cute and tough!
Cons: This guy might be a little too tough. Is he goes to use that fire against you? Can he be tamed?
Score: 7.2/10
That beak looks sharp, and I feel pretty confident he will bite any time he doesn’t get his way…A cute nuisance, but a nuisance all the same. 8.3/10.
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