The last resort of many publishers is to blow a fortune on special finishes in an attempt to make a cover more interesting.

Invariably it is a waste of money and adds very little to the overall impact.

Luckily this isn’t one of those covers.

That’s because it has integrated the use of a special finish into the cover concept from the very start of the design process.

Ostensibly there is nothing dramatic about this visual — it is simply a blurred wash of purples and whites.

However the addition of the metallic finish transforms it into a flurry of feathers that you can’t help but want to touch as they shimmer in the light.

A simple, graphic background has been transformed into a thing of quite magical beauty.

Gorgeous.

It’s a pity about the obscure and meaningless strapline (“The Doors to Elsewhere are Closing”) — It adds absolutely nothing to the communication.

But hey, we can’t have everything…