Review Rules and Guidelines

How I review

I have five categories that examine in each book

  • Plot: A plot should have an inciting incident, rising action, climax, resolution, and declining action. A book doesn't necessarily have to have a plot structured like this but it is the easiest way to write a book.
  • Characters: Humans are unique and so should characters be. In addition, characters don't have to be likeable, but it helps. I'm of the show don't tell school of writing, and if a book is written correctly trust that a reader will get the point without it being explained.
  • Pacing: The timely manner in which the plot is addressed is often overlooked, but pacing can aid a novel greatly. Poor pacing causes a reader to discard a novel more quickly than any other reason.
  • World Building: This is particularly important in fantasy novels, but don't underestimate the importance of setting for any novel. A generic world leads to a generic novel. Weather, urban/rural environment, topography, and culture are site specific, and should be considered and included.
  • Writing: The average person reads on a seventh grade level, and most novels are written at this level. The use of long words and complex sentence structure doesn't guarantee a good novel. This is also true for melodramatic verbosity as well as unnecessarily detailed description and exposition. Pretty writing is no excuse for killing the pacing or plot of a book.

I also write about the good points and bad points of the novel. As well, as offer recommendations for books to read instead or in addition to the book reviewed. This isn't to take away from the book review rather to help a reader determine what to read next.

Like most review sites I grade on a 1 to 5 point system.

  • 1 star: Shouldn't have been published and should be burned. Complete and utter waste of paper.
  • 2 star: There are worse books but not many. Falls short on multiple fronts, and should be rethought.
  • 3 star: Could have been better, but could be much worse. Either mediocre across all categories or have a couple of spectacular flaws. 
  • 4 star: Almost perfect, has one major flaw or mediocre except for one exceptional category.
  • 5 star: Perfect in all categories, doesn't mean it is an earth shattering, life changing book although it can be. Just means there are no flaws.  

Sources for Books

I am addicted to free ebooks. I subscribe to several groups and newsletters, such as Pixel of Ink and Bookbub, that offer free Kindle books from Amazon and other websites. I also search Amazon on a regular basis using the words free Kindle books to search. I also read physical books, and have the library to prove it. I try to divide my time between books I want to read and books that I've been asked to review.

Review Submission Guidelines

  1. I prefer books submitted in electronic format. Mobi is preferred but I can and do convert, and if you want I'll show you how.
  2. I will review submissions within a month.
  3. If I feel that a book should not have been published then I will send an email explaining the flaws I see in the book and asking if a review is still desired. If the email is unanswered or an affirmative is given then expect a 1 star review.
  4. I will include the book cover, a six sentence synopsis at the beginning of each review and recommendations including book cover and brief description of why the book is recommended.

Genre Preferences

My favorite genres are:

  • Paranormal Romance--werewolves, witches, vampires, and demons oh my.
  • Urban/Speculative Fiction--paranormal, dystopian, alternative reality or steampunk.
  • Romance--historical or modern
  • Science Fiction--aliens, colonization, young adult, or short stories.
  • Fantasy--traditional, wacky, and non-traditional
  • Mystery--murder or quest
  • Crafting How-To--fabric, metal, jewelry, or clay

I'm okay with:

  • Non-Fiction--I'm trying to stretch, but I'm story centric
  • Biography/Autobiography--As long as it's well written
  • Erotica--Specialty or vanilla, the scale is completely different and personal, but I'm willing to go there if you are.

I'm biased against and would prefer not to read:

  • Christian--Romance in particular but anything really
  • Young Adult--The hot genre right now, there are good YA books but they are the exception not the norm.

A submission from my prefer not to read list doesn't guarantee I won't read and review it. On all books, I reserve the right to refuse to read more than five chapters. If can't read it I will e-mail you stating I won't be reviewing it, and I will not review books I haven't read from beginning to end.

Include an email and brief description, I'll e-mail you asking for a file.

I do not guarantee a good reviews.

Submit E-mail and Description Here

Name:

E-mail:

Brief Description:



Beta Read

If you want me to beta read your book, then put BETA Read in the description. My beta reads get a private review of the book, fixes to solve any problems I see, as well as a copy edit. I don't charge for beta reading. I want to encourage people to write because it's hard work, but I'm honest and believe in well thought out criticism.

Disclaimer

My reviews are my opinion, and like every other opinion on the planet from the President to the Mr. Potato Head, you can take it or leave it. I don't get paid for my opinion or my reviews. I try to judge every book on criteria that makes sense to me. I'm not without my pet peeves and biases, and I try to acknowledge and be aware of them. Reading is a subjective activity, we all bring ourselves to the table, or tablet as the case may be. That's the great thing about it. Readers don't stop being ourselves when we pick up a book, instead we are ourselves at our most base level. Our hopes, dreams, nightmares, traumas, egos, superegos, and ids get wrapped around the characters and allowed to take wing on adventures made of ink. We aren't passive vessels, we are co-conspirators.

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