Review Group discussion

The review group is the most successful group for peer reviews on goodreads. It hosts non-reciprocal reading/review rounds of ten authors with a variety of themes and genres, as well as ‘general’ rounds where any book is permitted, from non-fiction, to horror. When a round has ‘now forming’ in the title, there are places available, you can sign up. If it doesn’t, it’s full – look for another round or check back another time.

The Amazon rules state that authors/publishers are not allowed to specifically supply published books in return for reviews on Amazon. To comply with this rule, we don’t insist members review on Amazon, but we do insist that every participant in the round has the capacity to leave a review on their local Amazon store, so we all start with the same options.

The founding principle of the group is honest, non-reciprocal reviews, so please help maintain the integrity of the group by letting me know as you sign up if you have been reviewed by, or have reviewed another author in the group and do check back as the group fills to report any clashes. Usually places are allocated on a first come, first served basis.

This is an 'Out of this World' round
Fiction books classified as sci-fi, fantasy, dystopian, paranormal.

Please note it is always possible that the books you are assigned may contain material you find upsetting or offensive. If you can't commit to this, please do not sign up.

Now for the boring stuff, but please read it, it saves a lot of time if everyone is on the same wavelength.
Before signing up below with your Goodreads author and Goodreads book link in the thread below, please ensure that:

1. You have enough time to read and review 4 books within the 12 weeks of time allowed.

2. Your book is currently available for sale on Amazon (not pre-order) and it complies with the individual round theme, if there is one.

3. Your book is fit to be reviewed.
If it is not, due to editing or other issues, you risk poor reviews. This is your problem, not that of the reviewers or the groups. For a small fee, the group admin will look at the first few pages of your book to advise. The number one error new authors make is not having their book beta read and edited, by non-family members.

4. You can submit reviews to Goodreads and Amazon.
Amazon allows only those people who have spent $50 in the last year to leave reviews in each of their stores. If you are unsure about your Amazon reviewer status, try posting a ‘test’ review before signing up. If you are unable to post reviews on Amazon, please do not sign up.

5. You can provide (and accept) at least PDF files.
You are not expected or required to buy the books you are allocated to review, but as this will give a ‘Verified Purchase’ review on Amazon, it is welcomed when you choose to do so. Many authors have books available via KU and others might provide smashwords coupons. Most authors can provide mobi and/or epub files directly by email. Please note: International Copyright laws apply. You cannot sell, or give away material you have received without the author’s express permission.

6. You have completed your reading if you are currently in another review round in this group. You can be involved in the ‘one for one’ list whilst you are in a round.

7. You have an author profile set up before you join.

8. Your Goodreads profile allows people to message you, i.e. your profile is not set to private.

9. You declare any relationship you have with another member in the round.
Amazon will not allow reviews from the same household on the same book or if you are an editor, relative or close friend of another member.

10. You agree that your reviews will be unbiased and honest, whatever the star rating, and you will try to avoid ‘spoilers’. i.e. giving away the finale of a book.

11. You will not ask a fellow author to change a review of your book because you don’t agree with it.
If you think you have a legitimate concern, talk to the mod of your round, NOT the other author. Personal attacks, or pressurising other members WILL NOT BE TOLERATED and will result in you being blacklisted.

Please note:
We all want reviews, it’s why we joined the group. It is bad taste to expect other people to review your book and then not do the same for other people in the group. People that DNF and/or don’t post reviews will find it difficult to get into a subsequent group.

It is not necessary to leave any kind of disclaimer in your review, but ultimately, it is up to individuals. Reviews that state you received a copy ‘in return’ for a review will probably be removed/not allowed by amazon.com. ‘I received a free copy from the author without an obligation to review’ would be more acceptable if you feel the need to add a disclaimer.

Your Goodreads details and the rounds you participate in may be recorded by the admin mod on a database. We do not retain details of email addresses etc.

Allocation is entirely random and there will NOT be any rearranging of the listing to accommodate personal preference. The ONLY circumstance in which you may duck out of giving a review is if YOU provide a stand-in reviewer.

The only way this group can function is if we trust each other to behave honourably. And it IS perfectly possible to give a fair-minded review of a text that does not coincide with our normal choice of reading matter. If you need a few hints/tips, please see this thread:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

I will do my best to fit everyone into the group they request, but occasionally, particularly in the case of our more prolific good standing members, I may have to decline a member request to fit the maximum number of people into a particular round. I will always endeavour to start another round as soon as possible with that member in mind.

It is permissible to review an author more than once if a different book is available.
If you need anything clarified please ask, either by goodreads personal message to me or on the thread below, before signing up. It’s a pain to have to keep rearranging the list because people haven’t read the above.

Your group moderator will be:
Chrys Cymri

Member Links
1. Jeanette O'Hagan
2. Helen Mathey-Horn
3. Arriah Kiprujistho
4. J.S. Fernandez Morales
5. Vanessa MacLellan
6. Bethany Rae Salway
7. Ned Huston
8. Prashanti Talluri
9. Lucretia Stanhope
10.D. Wallace Peach

Book Links
1. Under the Mountain Boxed Set: Books 1-3
2. Bait
3. Wishing for a Parallel World
4. The Lost Signal
5. Three Great Lies
6. Queensmen
7. Timestorm Riders
8. The Cerulean Monarch
9. Beloved Traitor
10.Soul Swallowers

Apologies Gene - trying to delete my post and deleted yours by mistake :(

Anyway, I checked on your last round and only found 3 reviews from you. Please confirm you have completed your full commitment to that round when you re-sign here. Thanks and apologies again.

I would like to enter with my book Bait.

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...

I Would like to enter with my book The Lost Signal

Author Profile:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

Book:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

I'll (resubmit) my book, BLACK HAT BLUES.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...

I have finished the last round. One of those books doesn't have an Amazon listing yet (the author hasn't put it up on the US site yet), but I do have GR reviews posted for all four books. Thanks!

Welcome Gene, Helen and J.S.

Hi E.M.
I just posted my last reviews for Round 244 and would like to join this one with my book, Soul Swallowers.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

I've read both Gene's and Helen's books but noticed that they both have other books to choose from.

Hi, brand new here! Hope I'm doing this right. I'd love to join with my freshly published fantasy novel, Queensmen.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

My author page is

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

Hi EM, is it possible to join with a book published under a pen name?

If so I'd like to join with https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...

I'll join with the City of Locked Doors. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

I have already read books by D. and Beloved Traitor. Helen has already read the City of Locked Doors and I have nothing else to offer her.

I have a pretty big backlist Tristen can pick any that sound good. :)

Welcome D., Bethany, Lucretia and Tristen.

Tristen - whilst I took you at your word that you have no other books to offer Helen, I note you have a few listed on your author page, has Helen read them all?

E.M. wrote: "Welcome D., Bethany, Lucretia and Tristen.

Tristen - whilst I took you at your word that you have no other books to offer Helen, I note you have a few listed on your author page, has Helen read th..."

Most of them are short stories. One is a feature-length book she hasn't read yet, but it's undergoing edits and has already been earmarked for her to read from a previous reading round. I can withdraw if this is too much inconvenience.

Hi, I'd like to join this round.

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

For my novel, Three Great Lies:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

Welcome Vanessa!

I'd love to join with my Novella Boxed set Under the Mountain books 1-3 New release

I've read Helen Mathey-Horn's Bait & Dream Warrior

Otherwise, I can't see any clashes. Correction - Lucretia has read me :)

The boxed set is hot off the press - will set up a goodreads page for it later today.

Here it is https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

Thanks

I've read Jeanette. Happy to read her again. <3

Lucretia wrote: "I've read Jeanette. Happy to read her again. <3"

Missed that. Glad you remembered, Lucretia :)

I think you've reviewed Akard's Children & Heart of the Mountain. The Boxed set has Heart of the Mountain but also Blood Crystal, Stone of the Sea :)

Welcome Jeanette.

E.M. wrote: "Welcome Jeanette."

Thank you:) Good to be back.

Hey guys, I was really hoping this would get under way before I left, but it seems not. I'm heading out on a cruise so my access to internet is going to be VERY limited this week. It may take me days to respond or get people their books. Hope you guys forgive me. I bought a copy of "Beloved Traitor" to read on the boat, so it'd be cool if I could get assigned that. If not, hopefully I'll like it anyway!

Gene and Helen, since I've read your books, do you want to recommend another or leave it up to me? I need a book as I just finished my last read. Might as well get started. :-) Thanks!

Bethany wrote: "Hey guys, I was really hoping this would get under way before I left, but it seems not. I'm heading out on a cruise so my access to internet is going to be VERY limited this week. It may take me da..."

Thank you. I hope you enjoy the story and have a lovely cruise.

Would like to join this group with this book The Cerulean Monarch

D. wrote: "Gene and Helen, since I've read your books, do you want to recommend another or leave it up to me? I need a book as I just finished my last read. Might as well get started. :-) Thanks!"
I suppose this is a question for the moderator -- D's read my only other "Out of this World" book on Amazon. Is it okay for this round if she reads my "In this World" book instead?

Also, I do have a book that could fall under "Out of this World" that was published under the Kindle Worlds banner. Amazon ended that program, but the book still has a Goodreads page. (Amazon removed all Kindle World pages on their site.) Would it be acceptable for D. to review this one?

Welcome Prashanti.

Gene - either is fine if you and D are ok with it. Just let me know.

Alright, we now move into the checking phase!

I need everyone to check they have not reviewed the four people above them on the list ( the list wraps around so 10 is 'above 1).

Please also check (by looking at their author page) that if you have already reviewed any of the four people 'below' you on the list they have more books available that you have not yet reviewed.

Any issues with these, please post to say so. If both these things check out please post to say you are good to go.

When enough have said they are good, we can start the reading phase.

D. wrote: "Gene and Helen, since I've read your books, do you want to recommend another or leave it up to me? I need a book as I just finished my last read. Might as well get started. :-) Thanks!"

I can offer up Dream Warrior or Dawning.

Gene wrote: "D. wrote: "Gene and Helen, since I've read your books, do you want to recommend another or leave it up to me? I need a book as I just finished my last read. Might as well get started. :-) Thanks!"

I'm fine with whatever you decide, Gene. Just let me know.

Helen wrote: "D. wrote: "Gene and Helen, since I've read your books, do you want to recommend another or leave it up to me? I need a book as I just finished my last read. Might as well get started. :-) Thanks!"
..."

I picked up Dream Warrior, Helen. Sounds like it's going to be a good one. Already purchased.

I'm all good, EM.

All good with me!

no conflicts

I've already reviewed Tristen Kozinski's "City of Locked Doors"

Ready for the round

As you were folks. We have a clash. I'll need to rethink if I can make this work.

Tristen - do you have anything else that other people can review? One of your short stories perhaps? If not, as you failed to notify me that Gene had already read you when you joined the round, I will have to ask you to leave the round and I really hate to do that :(

Just an FYI -
Soul Swallowers is free on Amazon today through Monday.

The Lost Signal is 0.99 today just in case someone planned on buying it.

Sorry, I completely forgot he had reviewed me before. I would prefer he just save me a credit for when I finally finish editing the other book, but if not I'm fine with just giving him a freebie for the round. If neither of those options are acceptable, I'll retire from the group.

I'm good as far as clashes go.

I've reviewed two of Helen Mathey-Horn's book - who is above me. Otherwise, no clashes.

Okies. I played around with the sudoku of this a few times over the weekend and I really can't make it fly as is.

Sorry Tristen, I'll have to ask you to leave this group, but the 18+ still has vacancies so you may well find you can fit in there.

Everyone else - as you were, but please check the current list and shout out if I've missed any clashes. Thanks :)

E.M. wrote: "Okies. I played around with the sudoku of this a few times over the weekend and I really can't make it fly as is.

Sorry Tristen, I'll have to ask you to leave this group, but the 18+ still has vac..."

Thanks E. M. - works for me.

No clashes for me. I'm good.

Still good here. :-)

No clashes for me.

But I have to ask, am I supposed to read three books for Jeannette, or just one, because I'm not that fast of a reader and it doesn't feel quite equitable.

Vanessa wrote: "But I have to ask, am I supposed to read three books for Jeannette, or just one, because I'm not that fast of a reader and it doesn't feel quite equitable."

They are 3 novellas put into one novel-length book. Not 3 novels. The total page length is less than that of most of my books by over 20 pages and is just 16 pages longer than your own book. I checked for you. What would be inequitable would be if Jeanette submitted a 124-page novella and then had to read 4 books the length of yours.

Thanks EM. Page length wasn't listed so I had visions of reading three novels in the time I'm supposed to read one.

Vanessa wrote: "No clashes for me.

But I have to ask, am I supposed to read three books for Jeannette, or just one, because I'm not that fast of a reader and it doesn't feel quite equitable."

Hi Vanessa - the 'books' are novellas - so 3 together are equivalent to one novel - under 100,000 words (not as long as some novels - I got to read 240,000 novel one review round. Phew!)

Hope that's okay.

Jeanette

Jeanette wrote: "Vanessa wrote: "No clashes for me.

But I have to ask, am I supposed to read three books for Jeannette, or just one, because I'm not that fast of a reader and it doesn't feel quite equitable."

Hi ..."

Jeanette, no problem. I didn't realize they were shorter. I was envisioning reading 6 novels instead of 4. Wow, that's a long book. It would take me forever to read that. One of the reasons I'm shy about joining these review rounds, really long books.

(BTW, my mother's name is Jeannette, and so it the character in my book. Just random fact of the day.)