eBook
Currently available for pre-order at the following stores:
NB! The edition published in 2022 contains significant changes from earlier versions of the book. These changes do not affect the content of the sequels.
C.K. Bennett made the cover herself, although the artwork is by the brilliant artist Caracolla (how uncanny is that? Caracolla? Bennett was meant to find this artist). She discovered Caracolla’s work online after having searched for what felt like an eternity – definitely months. Bennett struggled to find something that was aligned with her own ideas but, the moment she saw Caracolla’s art, she knew it was the perfect fit.
Bennett wanted a non-cliché depiction of the night theme. She could always have used a starry night sky, or made one herself, but the idea didn’t resonate with her. It was too straightforward; Bennett enjoys more thought-provoking concepts, so she opted for an abstract portrayal of the theme instead.
If you take a look, you can see the blue crashing against the light, much like a wave crashing against the shore. The light represents the day, and the blue sweeping over it is supposed to imply that the night is emerging to consume the day, which is a reference to what Cara states in the book:
“I wanted him to consume me the way the skin of the night consumed the light of day to reveal infinity. Like the night sky, I hoped his devotion would be infinite. There in the dark, I could strip to my core without fear of judgement, for eternity.”
The darker shades make it appear as though the universe is breaking through – think loads of galaxies, or even just the pattern of the Milky Way. Bennett wanted the cover to be artful, so the gold scattered across it is not actually stars but is instead supposed to imitate them.
The light shade of blue is the colour of William’s eyes, being reminiscent of “a serene ocean surrounding a warm paradise”. Bennett thought this made the artwork particularly apposite, as she sees it as the night reflected in the ocean.
The titles in The Night series are progressive, meaning they go deeper and deeper as the story evolves. In Skin of the Night, you are meeting William’s surface. Bennett wanted to make a point of this by alluding to his eyes on the cover; it simulates an ocean and the night sky simultaneously. Moreover, Bennett decided to make the font seem written in “skin” to highlight more of William’s exterior. It is supposed to represent William’s handprint, as he surely leaves his print on Cara in more ways than one. He is also the Night, so it seemed optimal to Bennett to incorporate his handprint in the font.
As Bennett was making the spine and backside, she flipped the artwork. So, if you spread the book apart in the middle and look at it from above, you might notice that the dark-blue/black resembles a bird with spread wings. Bennett’s logo is an owl with its wings spread, so she thought this was a cool little detail.
Overall, this abstract theme is something Bennett will be continuing with for all the remaining books in the series, though with different patterns and colours. Hopefully you will find that the complete series will complement your shelf.
If you’re interested in more of Caracolla’s art, check out:
www.instagram.com/caracolla.art
Curious about the hardcover design?
