Hey guys you know how we’ve all been talking about bad reviews…well a fellow blogger posted this as I was floored. I think it’s crazy unprofessional (she’s a librarian by the way, so she literally helps people get books daily, the blogger that is) and I think that she is much nicer than I would be but what do you think? Let me know!
Author: Karen
Bad Review or No Review At All?
I’ve been wrestling with a problem as of late, as our blog is growing and my presence on goodreads is getting larger: Is it better to put a bad review up or just no rating at all? Let me put this question in context. Authors need ratings, and recommendations, hey it’s how the world goes round in the book business, so in order to get that you have to get your books into people hands. The trend, and it’s not just indie authors since I’m also a member of netgalley, is to give away free books to people that will give you a review or blog about your book. Press is important. But as the old adage bad press is better than no press applicable here? I always tell authors, please be prepared I will be honest in my reviews, and that’s true I don’t hand out five stars just because I got a free book. But what if I hated it? What if I felt it was a one star flop? Still review? Tell all? Or just stay quiet? Let me know what you think in the poll I’ve attached, and this is not just for authors to vote on please do if you review books, or even if you just read tell me which would you prefer?
Are You a Series Sucker?
I noticed today that a book that I absolutely despised released a second book in the series and found myself going to my library to order it so I could read the next book. Why? Cause I think I’m a series sucker. What’s that? It’s someone who continues to read a series to see what happens even if you didn’t like the story or the writing style. Once you’ve got me I feel compelled to at least read 2-3 books (the only exception to this was 50 Shade, I just couldn’t do it) regardless of how much I liked or disliked the actual book. It’s not as if I don’t have enough to read, I have a waiting list of 10 books right now that I have to finish by the end of the month, or a true interest in the characters, in fact most of the time I end up frustrated and angry. So why do I do it? Yeah….I got nothing, but that book, I’m gonna read it. And I’ll drag Les down with me 🙂
So what about you, can you stop a series if you don’t like the way it’s going, or are you like me forced into finishing reading just a little more?
Shifter Planet by D.B. Reynolds
This was my first book by D.B. Reynolds but not my last. I really enjoyed the world that she built, but let’s make this blog official, blurb first then a review.
Blurb:
Specialist Amanda Sumner is one of the first to make contact on the Earth-like planet Harp and discovers she’s the only Earthling, who can hear the trees sing in the strange forest. Determined to remain and learn more of the planet’s secrets, Amanda sets out to become part of the elite Guild there…
But there is a secret involving some Guild members-one that could get her killed.
Shifter Rhodry de Mendoza wants the Earthlings off his planet before they destroy it–even if that means denying what he feels for the fierce and lovely Amanda. The pair is thrown together in what becomes a fight for their lives. And they might just lose everything-including each other-in their battle for the right to live in peace.
Now the review: I loved this book! I have to admit in the beginning I was not a Specialist Amanda Sumner fan. I found her arrogant and annoying. For example she practically throws a hissy fit when she finds out there are shifters on the planet and no one told her. Really? This is one of they’re biggest secrets, your people have done nothing but harm but they should have told you because your breathing? That irritated me. But I loved Rhodry from go. He was protective and honorable, plus being smoking hot didn’t hurt. And truth be told Amanda grew on me, her personally became less entitled and more independent (it they’re a difference? Of course there is) which also coincided with the story really picking up. The less I worried about her the more I realized that this was a really good book. The world building was spot on, I was never confused about where they were or what something looked like. The relationship between Rhodry and Amanda was refreshing, instant attraction but not insta-love. And the story itself was great, just enough angst to make you want to read, just a little more.
I recommend reading this, the book comes out October 26th. Grab it, you won’t be disappointed. I did get a free copy from netgalley, so thank you for that!
Geek Sneak Peek 