Let's start withe the UK Adult cover. As usual, the cover pictues a photograph (seriously, where do they find the things they take pictures of??) It features a locket with an emerald-encrusted "S" on it. I'm betting it's Slytherin's locket.
The UK kid's cover is much more interesting. On the left flap, there is an orb with what apprears to be at least one snake in it. Could it be a horcrux? A prophecy? The back panel features a castles with some omniunous clouds moving its way. I think it's Hogwarts, but it could easily be any castle.
The front cover is action packed. We have the trio, obviously battle-scared, with blood, bruises, and ripped robes galore. There is a lot of treasure around them. Gringot's, perhaps? There is also a goblin-looking creature grabbing Harry and holding, what looks like, Gryffindor's sword. They are either being pulled in or pushed out of the arch.
The right panel features Prongs, Harry's patronus and his father's anamagi form. Will he ride again?
And now, to the most interesting of all. The US cover. The front panel shows Harry. I believe he is wearing Slytherin's locket around his neck. This may be a red herring, but I can't seem to see his scar. He is pushing himself off of a rock and trying to catch something falling from the sky. All of this is in front of a colluseum-like structure.
However, this is not all that is happening. Arthur A Levine said on Today that this is the first wrap-around cover in the books' history. When we examine the entire cover, it becomes quite a bit more interesting. We see Voldemort-huge, imposing. His spidery hand stretched towards Harry in, what I consider to be, fear, like he is trying to push away whatever is coming towards Harry. Shadowy features line the ruins behind them, and rubble sits in front of them.
Something that Sue at Leaky noticed was that this cover, and SS both feature curtains on the far edged-like the opening and closing scenes of a play. I really like this idea.
The UK editions also came with summaries. While vague and unhelpful, the language is superb. We know that the Order will be taking Harry from the Dursley's house. Also, that Harry feels alone with the "seemingly impossible" task Dumbledore has left him. The narrative is said to twist and turn at a "breathtaking speed." Could one ask for more!
We plan on discussing the cover in depth on this weeks edition of the Potterhead Podcast.
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