THE RUNAWAY KING Cover Reveal & Contest! Jennifer Nielsen October 25, 2012

THE RUNAWAY KING Cover Reveal & Contest!

I am sooo excited to be able to finally reveal this cover. I really love it! Compared to the style of the FALSE PRINCE cover, this has more of a realistic look, and I think it serves the story well. My thanks to Scholastic, Christopher Stengel, the cover designer, and Ken Choi, who did the sword art.

Here is the Goodreads summary for THE RUNAWAY KING: A kingdom teetering on the brink of destruction. A king gone missing. Who will survive? Find out in the highly anticipated sequel to Jennifer A. Nielsen’s blockbuster THE FALSE PRINCE!

Just weeks after Jaron has taken the throne, an assassination attempt forces him into a deadly situation. Rumors of a coming war are winding their way between the castle walls, and Jaron feels the pressure quietly mounting within Carthya. Soon, it becomes clear that deserting the kingdom may be his only hope of saving it. But the further Jaron is forced to run from his identity, the more he wonders if it is possible to go too far. Will he ever be able to return home again? Or will he have to sacrifice his own life in order to save his kingdom?


The stunning second installment of The Ascendance Trilogy takes readers on a roller-coaster ride of treason and murder, thrills and peril, as they journey with the Runaway King!


So, without further wordiness, here is the cover!

Now you may have already seen it on Amazon, but there is a difference.
Which brings me to the contest. Do you want to win a signed ARC of THE RUNAWAY KING? I’ve had lots of people contact me to request an ARC – well this is your first opportunity to win one. There are many ways to enter below.
And if it whets your appetite further, very few people have read this book so far, but here are a couple of the reviews I’ve seen (off Goodreads).
From 9/27:  I fully believed it would be difficult to top The False Prince but the author did. Sage’s voice is stronger, the adventure very intense and it all ends with another twist.

From 10/16: EVEN BETTER than its predecessor, this book knocked my socks off. KNOCKED THEM OFF.  I gobbled this one up in one day. Yes, gobbled.

Okay, the contest is on and will continue until Saturday, November 10th…feel free to enter as many times as you want. For this contest, U.S. entries only please. Good luck!

89 Comments
  • Reply
    October 25, 2012, 2:34 am

    The cover picture in the post didn’t show up on my browser, but a look at Scholastic’s webpage showed a shattered sword lying among its own pieces, as opposed to the broken sword floating in mist on Amazon.

  • Reply
    October 25, 2012, 2:41 am

    Sorry R.A.B. – I think it should be up now!

  • Reply
    October 25, 2012, 2:54 am

    The only difference I’ve noticed is that there’s swirly, smoky stuff along the bottom of the Amazon cover. Anyway, I love it! It’s been on my GR to-read shelf for months!

  • Reply
    October 25, 2012, 4:13 am

    Thanks for doing a giveaway! I can’t wait to read it.

  • Reply
    October 25, 2012, 4:16 am

    Sorry – forgot to mention any cover differences. Obviously, the misty stuff, plus the sword handle is different.

  • Reply
    October 25, 2012, 4:24 am

    The other picture has a mist. The hilt is completely different, as is the blade. The border around the author name looks different, but the picture is a little small to see well.

    Thaks for the giveaway!

  • Reply
    October 25, 2012, 9:34 am

    Looks fantastic Jennifer. Can not wait to read it!

  • Reply
    October 25, 2012, 12:04 pm

    There’s swirling mist on the cover on Amazon. Love both covers and SO excited for your new book. Because I’m in love with The False Prince. I plan to offer it again as a choice for my Holiday Hop giveaway and I nominated it for the Cybils awards.

  • Reply
    October 25, 2012, 1:49 pm

    So the book cover is color green… haha

    Just my opinion,I think the sword with the mist is way more catchy for the cover but its ok. Better not to judge the book by its cover.

    By the way Miss Jen thanks for the giveaway I hope I will win again.. haha 🙂

  • Reply
    October 25, 2012, 1:54 pm

    I saw you had nominated it – thank you Natalie. I know that you’ve long been one of the great champions of this book, and I deeply appreciate that.

    Warmest wishes – Jennifer

  • Reply
    October 25, 2012, 2:15 pm

    The cover is awesome..
    The cover on Amazon has white smoke towards the bottom of the sword.

    Jenea @ Books Live Forever

  • Reply
    October 25, 2012, 2:20 pm

    I think the mist is slightly distracting. In this case I think less is more!

  • Reply
    October 25, 2012, 2:28 pm

    The cover looks great, though I wish this cover used the same font as The False Prince. But, regardless, GAAAAAH. I’m so excited to read this!!!

  • Reply
    October 25, 2012, 2:33 pm

    The final line in my blog review says it all: “Count me as one of those readers waiting impatiently in line for Book Two.”
    Striking cover…

  • Reply
    October 25, 2012, 3:15 pm

    The cover on Amazon doesn’t have a notch in the sword, the grip on the sword is different, and the smoke isn’t on the cover here, but is on Amazon!

  • Reply
    October 25, 2012, 3:16 pm

    The sword on the Amazon cover doesn’t have a notch, the grip is different, and their is swirly smoke!

  • Reply
    October 25, 2012, 3:46 pm

    Thanks for the giveaway! AH, the synopsis is freaking me out. Plus the tweet?

    The difference is that this cover has a blurb and no mist, whereas Amazon’s has mist and no blurb. Can’t decide which I love better.

  • Reply
    October 25, 2012, 3:47 pm

    The cover on Amazon has all of this swirly smoke. I like the smoke actually? Either way, it’s what’s in the book that matters!

  • Reply
    October 25, 2012, 4:23 pm

    Smokey versus light beams and the hilt if different, too.

  • Reply
    October 25, 2012, 4:32 pm

    Yay! Can’t wait to read this and, of course, share it with my son. Do I have to tell him about it first? Would it be wrong to hide it from him and read it while he’s at school? Yes? Bad mommy??? 🙂

  • Reply
    October 25, 2012, 4:37 pm

    Mfantasliswrites;

    If I can delay telling my children about dessert until I’ve had my bites, then you can delay telling your son about the book!

    Besides, a good mommy would always review their kids’ books first, just in case…right?

  • Reply
    October 25, 2012, 5:19 pm

    The Amazon cover has mist behind the sword. Love the tagline! Dying to read where the story takes us. I’ve got my fingers and toes I win the ARC!

  • Reply
    October 25, 2012, 5:21 pm

    The Amazon cover shows mist behind the sword. Love the tagline! Makes me so curious as to where our king will be running off to. Fingers and toes crossed I win the ARC. I’m dying to read this book!

  • Reply
    October 25, 2012, 5:57 pm

    The sword hilts are different, and there is mist swirling in the background on the amazon image.

  • Reply
    October 25, 2012, 6:37 pm

    If I don’t get the arc I’ll be holding my breath all the way until March! Just saying…

  • Reply
    October 25, 2012, 6:44 pm

    Awesome giveaway – thanks for the opportunity!! I think I like this cover better ~ I agree, it’s cleaner and that smoky look on the Amazon cover kind of mucks up the shine around the sword ~ 🙂 Thanks, again!

  • Reply
    October 25, 2012, 6:45 pm

    There are many subtle differences. The mist is missing. The hilt of the sword is different. Also, the sword itself on Amazon lacks detail. Finally, the cover you have given us states the book is the “much-anticipated sequel!” Very much so! Also, Scholastic has a different cover from those two. That cover has a broken sword and the author’s name is on the bottom. That one can be found at http://rights.scholastic.com/books/ascendance-trilogy-02-runaway-king.

  • Reply
    October 25, 2012, 7:50 pm

    The Amazon cover has the tendrils of smoke, and if I’m not mistaking, the sword looks a tad different than the one on here. Either way, they both look great! And I can not wait until it comes out, after my birthday too. Woo!

  • Reply
    October 25, 2012, 7:50 pm

    The Amazon cover has the tendrils of smoke, and if I’m not mistaking, the sword looks a tad different than the one on here. Either way, they both look great! And I can not wait until it comes out, after my birthday too. Woo!

  • Reply
    October 25, 2012, 8:21 pm

    The Sword Is Different and There Is smoke On the Amazon Cover. Added The Runaway King To my To Read on Goodreads.

  • Reply
    October 25, 2012, 8:28 pm

    Mist and sword difference. Thanks for doing this giveaway!

  • Reply
    October 25, 2012, 9:02 pm

    The handle of the sword on your blog feels more authentic. The smoke swirls mad me think of the ethereal when the story feels more like an adventure in history.

  • Reply
    October 25, 2012, 10:24 pm

    The handle is different on the Amazon cover and there is mist at the bottom. SO excited for this book, thanks for the giveaway!!

  • Reply
    October 25, 2012, 11:22 pm

    The mist is at the bottom of the book. I kind of like ity.

  • Reply
    October 25, 2012, 11:23 pm

    There’s mist at the bottom of the cover. I kind of like the Amazon cov er

  • Reply
    October 25, 2012, 11:33 pm

    The Amazon cover has a swirl of smoke rising. Hmm? Encourages more thinking and predicting. Loved the first book. I can’t wait to read this one.

  • Reply
    October 25, 2012, 11:50 pm

    Love this cover! I know that several of my students are looking forward to The Runaway King, and I’d love to be able to share an ARC with them!

  • Reply
    October 25, 2012, 11:53 pm

    Love the cover! I have several students who have read The False Prince, and I’d love to be able to share an ARC of The Runaway Prince with them!

  • Reply
    October 26, 2012, 12:08 am

    The Amazon cover has white smoke at the bottom, and the top of the Amazon one does NOT say The much anticipated sequel to THE FALSE PRINCE.

  • Reply
    October 26, 2012, 12:09 am

    And the sword looks different 🙂

  • Reply
    October 26, 2012, 12:09 am

    The cover on Amazon has all the swirly smoke on a green background. The sword is kind of different from on your blog. (By the way, I just wanted to say I like the covers both on Amazon and your blog. Possibly because it’s green. Then again, it IS my favorite color.)

  • Reply
    October 26, 2012, 12:44 am

    I notice the handle of the sword is different. I’m excited to read the sequel! I loved The False Prince!

  • Reply
    October 26, 2012, 1:49 am

    Amazon had gotten Jarons sword all wrong, it doesnt have the groove down the length and the hilt wasnt wrapped in black leather not to mention the obvious mist. But the actual book title does have the black leather and groove just as you described in The False Prince.
    Also wanted to add that i loved your book i was captured by every detail and word it was amazing 🙂

  • Reply
    October 26, 2012, 2:29 am

    This is so exciting! The cover on Amazon has swirly stuff around the sword. I really like the cover and am excited to read it!

  • Reply
    October 26, 2012, 3:26 am

    A mist.

  • Reply
    October 26, 2012, 9:41 pm

    There’s mist on the Amazon Cover. Like a lot of mist.

    O_O

  • Reply
    October 27, 2012, 4:39 am

    They both look great! Except, the Amazon one has some funky mist goin’ on… It’s kinda freaky. In a good way. And the sword handle.

    Just added it to my GR to-read shelf, if you want to check it out… http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/10121583-cassie?format=html&shelf=to-read
    Can’t wait!

  • Reply
    October 27, 2012, 2:01 pm

    Is it weird that I read the description and went, “SAGE! Not Jaron, SAGE!! I don’t care what his mama called him.” He’ll always be Sage to me.

    Point-wise:

    This book has been on my to-read shelf for a looooong time, so I get points for that. 🙂

    The one on Amazon has this swirly, ghostly mist going on in the background.

  • Reply
    October 27, 2012, 4:49 pm

    The amazon cover has smoke on it. The blade and hilt are also different.

  • Reply
    October 28, 2012, 1:41 am

    The Amazon cover has smoke rings at the bottom of the page while the one posted here doesn’t.

  • Reply
    October 28, 2012, 1:44 am

    The Amazon cover has smoke at the bottom and the one on this page doesn’t. The dagger is also a different design.

  • Reply
    October 28, 2012, 1:06 pm

    The sword is different, and there’s smoke surrounding it. And there’s no “the much-anticipated” caption at the top. :/

    I can’t wait for this. I LOVED “The False Prince”. 🙂

    Thanks for the giveaway!

    -Amelia
    The Authoress

  • Reply
    October 28, 2012, 4:48 pm

    LOVE the differences in the sword hilts! The newer handle looks more real to me and I like the light surrounding it, showing it off 🙂

  • Reply
    October 29, 2012, 12:29 pm

    The Amazon cover has some kind of mist surrounding the sword and the other doesn’t.

  • Reply
    October 29, 2012, 4:55 pm

    Cover differences: The sword is definitely different plus the smoke is gone.

  • Reply
    October 29, 2012, 8:16 pm

    The cover on Amazon has like fog in it, and this one doesn’t. And the hilt on this sword is better

  • Reply
    October 30, 2012, 1:27 am

    I definitely like this cover better than the Amazon one. That one makes me wonder who (or what) is smoking… whereas this one focuses the viewer’s attention on the broken sword.

    But no matter what the cover looks like, I still can’t wait to read it!

  • Reply
    October 30, 2012, 2:56 pm

    I like the cover without the smoke a little better, but am excited to read it either way!

  • Reply
    October 30, 2012, 2:59 pm

    The one on Amazon has a bit of misty/smoky haze on the cover. The new one does not. And the new cover has the sword broken, while the Amazon cover does not.

  • Reply
    October 30, 2012, 9:07 pm

    The smoke and the handle is different.

  • Reply
    October 31, 2012, 10:50 pm

    The Amazon version had smoke and a completely different broken blade. I liked the smoke effect on the Amazon version, but like the weapon more on the official version 🙂

  • Reply
    November 2, 2012, 11:05 am

    There’s no mist in this cover.

  • Reply
    November 3, 2012, 9:08 am

    Ooh, there’s smoke!

  • Reply
    November 3, 2012, 2:20 pm

    I can’t wait for The Runaway King!

    On Amazon, the cover has smoke / mist at the bottom, a flat blade, no wrap around the hilt, and a different colored cross-bar (I don’t know if that it the correct term) between the hilt and the blade.

    Thanks, Jen!

  • Reply
    November 5, 2012, 8:52 pm

    Here I am entering! 🙂 I see smoke on the Amazon one, just like all the people before me have mentioned.

  • Reply
    November 6, 2012, 8:11 pm

    I would LOVE an advanced reader copy. I was absolutely enthralled with the False Prince.
    neisenkrein@hotmail.com

  • Reply
    November 6, 2012, 10:20 pm

    The cover is so pretty! The only difference that I see is the swirly smoke along the bottom!

  • Reply
    November 8, 2012, 2:41 pm

    Just finished the False Prince and here I am stalking your page for more! Loved it!

  • Reply
    November 8, 2012, 2:44 pm

    Just finished the False Prince and here I am stalking your page for more! Loved it!

  • Reply
    November 8, 2012, 3:47 pm

    The hilt is less detailed on the Amazon page, and the blade less detailed also. Plus there’s the white swirly smoke on the bottom.
    I can’t wait to read this book!
    You’re awesome!

  • Reply
    November 8, 2012, 3:50 pm

    The Amazon cover has mist behind the sword, texturing on the handle of the sword and no indentation on the blade. We would love an advanced copy. We met you at a homeschool party and my FIVE boys have loved your book!

  • Reply
    November 8, 2012, 5:29 pm

    Do you have to mention the smoke? I like the cover – it actually reminds me of a book I read in high school (though I think the background to that one was red).

    Loved The False Prince, and would love to win this arc! Thanks 🙂

  • Reply
    November 8, 2012, 5:39 pm

    Oh gosh~ I’m so excited for this book. <3

  • Reply
    November 8, 2012, 8:24 pm

    The Cover at Amazon has smoke.

  • Reply
    November 9, 2012, 2:11 am

    So excited for this next one, Jen, as are my students!

  • Reply
    November 9, 2012, 2:03 pm

    Ooh, I’m very much looking forward to this, Jen!

  • Reply
    November 9, 2012, 2:34 pm

    The three covers for both your books are stunning in their simplicity! Better yet are the blurbs! So happy for you that you’re doing so well!! Can’t wait to read them!

  • Reply
    November 9, 2012, 3:09 pm

    I can’t WAIT to read this next book!

  • Reply
    November 10, 2012, 2:29 am

    The hilt of the sword is different and there isn’t any misty stuff! Can’t wait for this book

  • Reply
    November 10, 2012, 2:40 am

    I am putting my description between the two books here since my kindle doesnt show me a place to ender my text. The sword here looks very realistic and broken, whereas the other cover has a different looking sword with a handle and is shrouded in mist. Both are a beautiful shade of turquoise green.

  • Reply
    November 10, 2012, 2:46 am

    No swirly smoke! And the sword looks different. I CAN’T WAIT FOR THIS BOOK! Loved TFP so much!

  • Reply
    November 10, 2012, 3:18 am

    I love how both books are jewel color and will look nice on the shelf together. The swords are subtly different, though. . .

  • Reply
    November 10, 2012, 3:18 am

    The cover on amazon has smoke along a bottom and a different sword. I like the sword on the one you have up more though. it looks more realistic and less cartoonish.

  • Reply
    November 10, 2012, 3:28 am

    The sword handles are different, there’s no mist on the one on your site, and the one on your site has text at the top of the cover that’s not on the one on Amazon. I loved The False Prince and I can’t wait to read The Runaway King!

  • Reply
    December 11, 2012, 2:48 am

    The Cover Is AMAZING! I’m In The Battle Of The Books, But I Got Separated From My Friends, Ended Up With The Name “The Book Donuts” (<- I Changed It When The Guy Left xD). Your Book Was The First I Read, Now I I'm Staying In The Battle Just For Your BOOK! I'm Forcing Myself To Stop Re-reading Your Book To Finish The Other Books. I'm Not Making Much Progress, I'm Here Hugging Your Book ;P

  • Reply
    December 11, 2012, 4:02 am

    Ha – that makes me laugh, Cayla. I’m sure there’s a ton of wonderful books in the battle, but I’m very honored you’re still hugging mine! Enjoy the Book Battle!

  • Reply
    December 11, 2012, 5:45 am

    (I’m Starting To Get My Freak Out Moments Under Control, But Still I’m Screaming -.-) I Think I Just Pushed Your Book “The Runaway King” To Be Added In Our Library, Hopefully Next Year’s Battle Of The Book. Your Book Deserves Um… A Lot Of Money And Fame? ^-^ (Or Bananas xD)

  • Reply
    December 11, 2012, 5:47 am

    Thanks Cayla!

  • Reply
    December 11, 2012, 5:48 am

    I Thought You Should Know That I Became A Thief That I Would Take Sage’s Identity And Leave Clues Of The False Prince. (Maybe Even Put A Note Saying “You Should Read It”) That Wouldn’t Get You In Trouble Right?

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