THE EARTHSEA CYCLE TRILOGY

The Earthsea Cycle trilogy is a classic children's literature and fantasy piece that was highly influential to the genre. The books featured a person of color as the protagonist in 1967, helping to subvert tropes in British and American literature in which white figures were the standard. The series explores themes of coming of age, identity, and balance. To highlight these, the covers were designed to show the identity of various characters serving as the earth, being surrounded by the turbulent seas that are the focus of the characters' journeys. The covers are split in two to show the different sides to our identity, which the main character explores on his journey and in confronting his shadow self. 

The design of these covers explores using grain and various textures, as well as foiling in its execution. They are meant to feel mysterious, whimsical, and mystical.