Cover Vote and Beta Readers
I'm about halfway through Lies to Rule Men and I need your help
I’m about fifteen chapters into Lies to Rule Men, my sequel to The Last Republic. I got some basic draft covers from the artist based on my ideas. Major plot points will be:
The initial invasion by the US which Deseret tries to repel with its French-made AMX-10 RCs and AMX-40 tanks.
Mexican cartel insurgency operation which try to carve out Southern California for themselves.
U.S. F-16CJ SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defense) operations against Deseret’s Simorgh-500 and Khorad-15 systems.
Which direction should I go in regarding covers? Let me know in the comments below. And yes, Deseret uses the AMX-10 RC. A lot of their armored vehicles are French.
The back cover blurb is below:
LIES TO RULE MEN (Deseret Series Book 2)
A Novel by Ryan McBethIn the wake of a failed airstrike, the United States and the Republic of Deseret plunge toward total war. But beneath the political and battlefield maneuvering lies a deeper conflict—one of loyalty, identity, and the truths we choose to ignore.
F-16 pilot Marcus “Shade” Dunne is hunting Deseret's air defenses, but begins to question the morality of his mission when the line between military target and civilian deception begins to blur. Deep inside Deseret, Lieutenant Levi Sorenson uncovers a conspiracy tied to a substance so dangerous, even his own government fears its existence. And in the shadows between them, cartel boss Miguel “El Mago” Herrera plays both sides with ruthless precision—balancing vengeance, survival, and a mysterious operative whose lies may be her only currency.
As missiles fly and allegiances shift, each must face the cost of their loyalty. Because in a war fueled by secrets, the most dangerous weapon is the truth.
I’m also looking for about ten beta readers, preferably Latter-day Saints, but also Army tankers and F-16 pilots if available. If you fall into one of those categories, send me an email.
#2 - I get the cartel reference, but I think the mix of religious imagery on a firearm speaks to the 'mixed messaging' of war and service.
I think all three are weak, but the pistol is the best. The yellow is terrible, if it is a flag reference, figure out a way to use the flag. The pistol is the most interesting image because of the religious insert, and I think you may be too literal about connecting the story to the cover. The purpose of the cover is to grab interest in a book store or web search, so the impact of the image is more important making it perfectly represent the story.