Books With Stunning Nature Covers Still On My TBR

I think it’s probably no surprise by now that books have a habit of sort of languishing, shall we say, on my TBR. Chilling. Taking their time. Enjoying the view. And speaking of enjoying the view, it’s probably also no surprise that many of them end up there thanks to their stunning cover.

I mean, to be honest, the cover isn’t doing all the heavy lifting. I always read the blurb for books I’m interested in, and sometimes I even read the first few paragraphs to see if I enjoy the writing style. But I shall not lie to you: I am a sucker for a pretty cover. Some of my favorite, most prettiest covers just happen to involve nature! Which, having lived near woods all my life, is also something I’m a sucker for.

This week’s Top Ten Tuesday is about books with nature covers. So here are ten books that not only have stunning covers, but have interesting blurbs, which are still on my TBR. And they should definitely be on yours, as well.

Because misery loves company? But also, you can never have too many books on your TBR, especially when they’ve all got gorgeous covers. Don’t listen to all those naysayers that disparage the idea of large TBRs. They’re just not as dedicated as we are, obviously. 😉 You go on and be your bad self and do the thing. Namely, add way too many books to your TBR. Because this is a safe space and we’re all in this together.

Your Blood, My Bones

A seductively twisted romance about loyalty, fate, the lengths we go to hide the darkest parts of ourselves . . . and the people who love those parts most of all.

Wyatt Westlock has one plan for the farmhouse she’s just inherited — to burn it to the ground. But during her final walkthrough of her childhood home, she makes a shocking discovery in the basement — Peter, the boy she once considered her best friend, strung up in chains and left for dead.

Unbeknownst to Wyatt, Peter has suffered hundreds of ritualistic deaths on her family’s property. Semi-immortal, Peter never remains dead for long, but he can’t really live, either. Not while he’s bound to the farm, locked in a cycle of grisly deaths and painful rebirths. There’s only one way for him to break free. He needs to end the Westlock line.

He needs to kill Wyatt.

With Wyatt’s parents gone, the spells protecting the property have begun to unravel, and dark, ancient forces gather in the nearby forest. The only way for Wyatt to repair the wards is to work with Peter — the one person who knows how to harness her volatile magic. But how can she trust a boy who’s sworn an oath to destroy her? When the past turns up to haunt them in the most unexpected way, they are forced to rely on one another to survive, or else tear each other apart.

I think we can all agree that this cover is both simple and stunning. It screams of both solidarity and pain. Well . . . I associate tangled vines with pain, anyway. Mostly because I’ve gotten caught in them all too often, and many of them hide thorns. And if there are thorns, I will fall into them every. single. time.

Aside from that, the blurb sounds every bit as creepy as the cover makes it seem. Imagine getting ready to burn down your family’s homestead (not great memories there, I imagine) and find your former best friend tied up in the basement? Creeeeepy. Which is an understatement. I have absolutely no idea how Wyatt and Peter will navigate the weight of Westlock family’s betrayal . . . but I sure am keen to find out!

First Lines:

Don’t Let the Forest In

Once upon a time, Andrew had cut out his heart and given it to this boy, and he was very sure Thomas had no idea that Andrew would do anything for him. Protect him. Lie for him. Kill for him.

High school senior Andrew Perrault finds refuge in the twisted fairytales that he writes for the only person who can ground him to reality—Thomas Rye, the boy with perpetually ink-stained hands and hair like autumn leaves. And with his twin sister, Dove, inexplicably keeping him at a cold distance upon their return to Wickwood Academy, Andrew finds himself leaning on his friend even more.

But something strange is going on with Thomas. His abusive parents have mysteriously vanished, and he arrives at school with blood on his sleeve. Thomas won’t say a word about it, and shuts down whenever Andrew tries to ask him questions. Stranger still, Thomas is haunted by something, and he seems to have lost interest in his artwork—whimsically macabre sketches of the monsters from Andrew’s wicked stories.

Desperate to figure out what’s wrong with his friend, Andrew follows Thomas into the off-limits forest one night and catches him fighting a nightmarish monster—Thomas’s drawings have come to life and are killing anyone close to him. To make sure no one else dies, the boys battle the monsters every night. But as their obsession with each other grows stronger, so do the monsters, and Andrew begins to fear that the only way to stop the creatures might be to destroy their creator…

Obviously, I intend to read everything and anything C. G. Drews puts out, so this one finding its way to my TBR really isn’t much of a mystery. Though, it’s clear it deserves a place there. Will you look at that cover? It’s somehow both extremely pretty and extremely creepy all at the same time. I’m already familiar with Drews’ work and know without a doubt that this will rip my heart out of my chest and stomp on it (presumably while the author laughs with glee, but that’s just conjecture on my part). So that’s already a given.

I am a huuuuge fan of the tropes in this book. Drawings of monsters coming to life? Yes, please. Slightly damaged, jaded boys finding refuge in each other? Absolutely. Spooky forests housing nightmarish monsters? Please! I’m starting to suspect that this one was written just for me, because it sounds perfect!

First Lines:

The Deadlands: Hunted

Battle rages between the dinosaur kingdoms of Cretacea. When the Fallen Star struck, it brought death and despair, ash and toxic rain. But some dinosaurs survived . . . and were changed. Their minds grew alert. They learned to speak. To dream. To wage war. As the two remaining dinosaur kingdoms fight for territory, Eleri, the disgraced son of a prince, is exiled from his home for saving an enemy soldier. Banished to the merciless Deadlands, a terrifying desert full of tar pits, poisonous gas, and ruthless carnivores, he must join forces with a group of questionable allies—including the enemy soldier he saved—to avoid becoming prey. When Eleri and his fellow exiles discover the horrific truth behind the war, the unlikely heroes must do all they can to save their kingdoms from a lurking predator. . . and a secret plot that might destroy them all.

This book somehow manages to combine my absolute love (and potentially a teensy bit of fear) for dinosaurs. The lush prehistoric jungle on the cover looks so beautiful and inviting . . . if not for the very ominous shape of a T. Rex, which leads me to believe that’s one hike I likely wouldn’t survive. Which is fair. I learned at a very early age not to mess with a T. Rex, and it’s a mostly useless lesson that I have absolutely taken to heart.

This book takes on what I think is a rather interesting twist: what happens to the dinosaurs that survive the extinction-level asteroid? They’re changed. And not necessarily for the better. Especially since it introduces the concept of war. I just love the sound of this book, and all the covers in the series so far.

First Lines:

Together We Rot

Wil Greene’s mom has been missing for over a year, and the police are ready to call the case closed–they claim she skipped town and you can’t find a woman who wants to disappear. But she knows her mom wouldn’t just leave…and she knows the family of her former best friend, Elwood Clarke, has something to do with it.

Elwood has been counting down the days until his 18th birthday–in dread. It marks leaving school and joining his pastor father in dedicating his life to their congregation, the Garden of Adam. But when he comes home after one night of after a final goodbye with his friends, already self-flagellating for the sins of drinking and disobeying his father, he discovers his path is not as virtuous as he thought. He’s not his father’s successor, but his sacrifice. For the woods he’s grown up with are thirsty, and must be paid in blood.

Now on the run from a family that wants him dead, he turns to the only one who will believe him: Wil. Together, they form a reluctant partnership; she’ll help him hide if he helps her find evidence that his family killed her mother. But in the end they dig up more secrets than they bargained for, unraveling decades of dark cult dealings in their town, led by the Clarke family.

And there’s a reason they need Elwood’s blood for their satanic rituals. Something inhuman is growing inside of him. Everywhere he goes, the plants come alive and the forest calls to him, and Wil isn’t sure if she can save the boy she can’t help but love.

This cover has aaaaaall the creepy, spooky vibes and I am absolutely here for it. I don’t think I have to explain to any of you why this cover is stunning and how it ended up in my TBR. It pretty well speaks for itself. BUT this isn’t 100% shallowness on my part. Because have you read those first lines just below there? It’s one of those few books that immediately grabs me and pulls me in because I absolutely love the writing voice.

I’m not sure what’s with the theme of crappy families in these books featuring couples with nature surrounding them, but I think we can all agree that Elwood’s family takes the cake. I can’t say I’m particularly eager to meet them, but I am excited to delve into this mystery.

First Lines:

The Girl of Dorcha Wood

Treacherous. Evil. Dark. Dorcha Wood is all of these. And none of them.

The people of Felmore talk of Dorcha Wood in whispers, if they speak of it at all, fearing the wrath of the Cú-Síth should their words be carried on the wind. Those murdering beasts still roam the darkness of the forest, the last remnants of the cursed Aos Sí, a race of elves, long since vanished from the world.

But to Fiadh, it is home. Haven. A forest whose secrets become known only when it chooses to reveal them. Her life is one of balance until the outside world shatters it.

From the moment Fiadh set eyes on Gideon, the peaceful rhythm of her life was lost. As a new path unfolds, Fiadh confronts the reality of old hatreds, the consequences of things hidden, and the truth of who she really is.

This is another one where all the covers of this series are super striking and beautiful. Who could possibly resist the draw of that fierce wolf’s head? You know, the one that’s staring right into your soul and is very obviously judging you. It’s so pretty and inviting. I mean . . . if you like dark, evil woods, I suppose. Which I do. Very much.

As someone who has grown up in forests and loves them to the depth of her soul, I totally relate to Fiadh. Even creepy disaster woods deserve love, too. Dorcha Wood sounds like a forest whose secrets I want to discover!

First Lines:

Never Cross A Highlander

Ailsa Connery has waited three long years to finally escape her enslavement at Stirling Castle and reunite with her clan. But her carefully laid plans are completely destroyed by the arrival of the infamous Highland warrior known as Dubh Mahoun, the Black Devil…who has plans of his own.

Kallum MacNeill’s fearsome reputation has long allowed him to keep hidden his secret double life of freeing enslaved captives across the land. It’s only when he kidnaps a servant lass—quite by accident—that he finds himself facing a wee predicament. He must accompany the lass home or risk her exposing his true identity. It’d be easy enough…if the feisty hellion didn’t fight him at every turn.

As they make their way to the Highlands, the perils the two must face are surpassed only by their constant sparring. Soon, their heated sniping sparks heat of a totally different kind. The kind that ignites a hunger that could consume them both. Yet the difficult journey is no match for the dangerous secrets they’re about to uncover.

Listen. There are lots of pretty things on this cover. The background. *cough* The foreground. *cough* I think we can agree that it’s just all-around pretty, yeah? Also, how often do you see a Black person on the cover of a highlander romance? This isn’t a genre I normally read, but I’m willing to make an exception in this case. You never know, I might love it and will have discovered a new genre to explore!

So here, obviously, we’re departing from the dark, creepy nature vibes to something that’s light and bright and lovely. The content is maybe a little dark in places, but it does promise a romance filled with banter and partners who are equally matched.

First Lines:

The Pomegranate Gate

Toba Peres can speak, but not shout; she can walk, but not run. She can write with both hands, in different languages, but has not had a formal education. The only treasure Toba has dared to keep is a precious star sapphire, set in a necklace she must never take off.

Naftaly Cresques sees things that aren’t real, and dreams things that are. He is a well-trained tailor, but a middling one, and he is risking his life to smuggle a strange family heirloom: a centuries-old book he must never read, and must never lose.

The Queen of the Sefarad has ordered all Jews to convert, or be exiled with nothing. Toba, Naftaly, and thousands of others are forced to flee their homes. Toba, accidentally separated from their caravan of refugees, stumbles through a strange pomegranate grove into the magical realm of the Maziks: mythical, terrible beings with immense power. There, she discovers latent abilities that put her in the crosshairs of bloodthirsty immortals, but may be key to her survival. On the other side of the gate, Naftaly, intent on rescuing Toba, finds his new companions harbor dangerous secrets of their own.

Now, hunted by an Inquisition in both worlds, Toba and Naftaly must unravel ancient histories and ancient magics in order to understand the link between the two realms. More than their own lives might be at stake.

The sequel’s cover is also stunning (though significantly less nature-y). I’m not even sure where I first heard of this one, but there’s no denying the cover is pretty. I also have a weakness for folklore, especially the non-mainstream kind. You know, like Jewish folklore! Which, if we’re honest, can be downright creepy in its own right. I also don’t think I’ve ever read a book set during the Inquisition, so that’ll be an interesting new historical setting for me.

First Lines:

Sorceline

Welcome to the Island of Vorn, where mythical creatures roam free and only the brightest students are invited to study them. In Book 1 of this riveting new middle grade graphic novel series, a gifted young cryptozoologist-in-training must learn to tame powerful beasts—including her own inner demons.

For as long as she can remember, Sorceline has had a knack for the study of mythical creatures. Now a student at Professor Archibald Balzar’s prestigious school of cryptozoology, she’s eager to test her skills and earn a spot as one of Balzar’s apprentices.

But for all her knowledge of gorgons, vampires, and griffins, Sorceline is mystified by her fellow humans. While she excels in her studies, she quickly clashes with her classmates, revealing her fiery temper.

When one of her rivals suddenly disappears, Sorceline must set aside her anger and join the quest to find her. But the mystery only deepens, leading Sorceline on a journey far darker and more personal than she expected . . .

I’m realizing in this post that I’m a sucker for a lot of things and should probably be concerned . . . but cryptozoology is definitely on that list. I can’t resist it! The Isle of Vorn sounds wonderfully dangerous, which, if I’m honest, makes it all the more interesting! I can’t wait to explore this world. (In fact, as I write this post, I just went ahead and ordered a copy of the first two books because I have no patience and talked myself right into reading it!)

If you aren’t convinced why I would do something so drastic, knowing the current status of my TBR and all the books waiting less than patiently to be read at my house, look no further than the first couple of pages. The art style for this graphic novel is absolutely breathtaking! While I don’t love the font chosen for the “narrator” (it’s a little difficult for me to read), the art style is so striking! I flipped through the sample on Amazon, and the art style is spooky and charming and delivers on all the dangerous cryptozoological goodness the blurb promises.

First Page:

The Spellshop

Kiela has always had trouble dealing with people, and as librarian at the Great Library of Alyssium, she hasn’t had to.

She and her assistant, Caz, a sentient spider plant, have spent most of the last eleven years sequestered among the empire’s precious spellbooks, protecting the magic for the city’s elite. But a revolution is brewing and when the library goes up in flames, she and Caz steal whatever books they can and flee to the faraway island where she grew up. She’s hoping to lay low and figure out a way to survive before the revolution comes looking for her. To her dismay, in addition to a nosy—and very handsome—neighbor, she finds the town in disarray.

The empire with its magic spellbooks has slowly been draining power from the island, something that Kiela is indirectly responsible for, and now she’s determined to find a way to make things right. Opening up a spell shop comes with its own risks—the consequence of sharing magic with commoners is death. And as Kiela comes to make a place for herself among the quirky townspeople, she realizes that in order to make a life for herself, she must break down the walls she has kept so high.

I had never heard of cottagecore before this book, but that cover has me wondering what I’ve been missing! It’s gorgeous and cozy and somewhere I would absolutely love to escape to. (Don’t worry, y’all are welcome to come visit me in my adorable new cottage.) It’s also probably not surprising that I take every opportunity I can to read books about librarians. Because librarians are magical people and deserve all the love. (I might be slightly biased.)

While I know it’s going to pain my heart to have to read about a library catching fire, it’s a devastation I’m willing to suffer through in order to experience what I’m sure will be a cozy, heartwarming story. It’s giving me hardcore Legends and Lattes vibes (and it’s comped to Travis Baldree, so that’s apt, along with T.J. Klune) so I’m trusting the author to deliver on that!

The Wrong Girl & Other Warnings

Throughout The Wrong Girl and Other Warnings, Slatter shows us that ‘innocent’ should never be mistaken for ‘safe’, while spinning tales of witches, Victorian-era detectives, bad parents, unrepentant killers, and ancient wisdom.

In “A Matter Of Light”, detective Kit Casswell is called upon to lend her experience with the supernatural to a very unwilling consulting detective. In “Widows’ Walk”, a quartet of witches band together in a single house, secretly working to protect young women. In the titular tale, “The Wrong Girl”, a frustrated artist turns the romance of her fickle friend and tiresome sister into a deadly masterpiece.

Wry, savage, and written with the precision of a writer at the top of her game, The Wrong Girl and Other Warnings is a gift to those who already love Slatter’s fiction and those discovering her exquisite stories for the first time.

A.G. Slatter is one of my go-to authors for dark, atmospheric Gothic books that I know I’m going to enjoy. This may be one of the only books of hers that I actually haven’t read yet. So its place on my TBR is well-earned but also hopefully temporary, because I’d like to get to it soon! I love how steadfast this woman looks standing in front of what is a pretty terrifying creature. (Though, if I’m honest, I kind of want one. Even if it’d kill be sooner than look at me. It’s a risk I’m willing to take.)