Zack Riley's Blog: Writing Canids

The following is a personal guide for myself on how I will give reviews/star ratings on novels (I will primarily be reviewing Anthropomorphic fiction but may tweak for other genres)

⭐️ (1 star) — Fundamentally Flawed

Amateur or broken prose (clunky, hard to read, riddled with telling).
Anthro identity inconsistent or forgotten (reads like humans in animal masks).
Plot incoherent, no clear hook, characters flat.
Nothing redeeming in craft or execution.

⭐️⭐️ (2 stars) — Weak / Below Average

Some interesting ideas, but poorly executed.
Anthro elements superficial (occasional fur/tail mentions but no cultural depth).
Writing shows effort but feels draft-like (heavy exposition, awkward dialogue).
Plot muddled, hard to care about stakes or characters.
Might be enjoyable in parts, but more frustrating than rewarding.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3 stars) — Competent but Limited

Readable, functional prose, but not memorable.
Anthro presence clear but mostly cosmetic (world still feels human-first).
Characters serviceable, plot fine, but little depth or originality.
Enjoyable enough but doesn’t stand out; often “safe” or shallow.
Leaves you wishing for more ambition and cultural integration.

⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (3.5 stars) — Good but Held Back (Will rate either 3 star or 4 star based on what ever is closer to how I feel but will start review with star rating if given.

Polished writing, easy to read, above many peers.
Anthro signals consistent (whiskers, tails, claws) but cultural layer thin.
Strong hook or romance beats, but worldbuilding still feels human-centric.
Solid, enjoyable, but not groundbreaking.
“Better than most, but not pushing the genre forward.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 stars) — Strong / Above Average

Well-crafted, professional prose.
Anthro identity consistent and immersive, though not always fully cultural.
Engaging plot and characters, hooks you and holds attention.
Romance, mystery, or stakes resonate clearly.
Would recommend, but still room to elevate into something unforgettable.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 stars) — Exceptional / Defining

Masterfully written: prose flows, pacing sharp, immersive from start to finish.
Anthro world is fully realised — culture, instincts, society, and physiology inseparable from the story. Couldn’t exist as a “human story.”
Characters complex, relationships layered, emotions raw and resonant.
Plot ambitious and executed with clarity. Stakes matter on every level.
Redefines expectations for anthro literature — “this is the bar now.”

What do I have to say about this? The big day is almost here — my first novel is about to be published. This story has been a journey years in the making, starting back in 2017 during my final years in the navy. I’ve written other books along the way, but never finished one to the point of publishing.

It’s a personal milestone that reflects years of dedication, late nights, and more rewrites than I can count. I don’t expect a huge turnout of readers (though that would be incredible!), but the real achievement here is deeply personal.

Years ago, I was told in school that I’d never achieve something on this level. So, to anyone who’s been doubted or told that their dreams are out of reach: keep pushing, and don’t let anyone tell you what you can’t do. This book is proof, and it’s just the beginning. Watch me soar!

Guardians: Echoes of the Fallen World will be available from November 22nd, and ARCs and now available on booksprout.

https://booksprout.co/reviewer/review...Guardians: Echoes of the Fallen World

I guess I should start to add to this a little more. Life has been quite hectic the last for months for all of us but I am trying to stay on a positive note. I have been working like crazy and building my knowledge base on how to actually write a story. I know, wow right?
Jokes aside, writing Humans has been a completely different experience then writing animals, surprise surprise, But I feel that I have grown a lot because I took that more difficult path to start with. Learning how to remind the reader what a character is doing with them-self, especially if they have parts a human doesn't have.
No writing people is well, they feel boring yet relate-able, in a good way.
On another note, moving away from characters I know and am comfortable with is a nice change and I look forward to growing more as an author and eventually one day querying my work. Until then I will just keep the audio works coming for free on YouTube or sound-cloud.

Well, I'm Zack and have been for a little while as far as I can tell. I don't have a lot to say about myself with the exception of being retired from the Royal Australian Navy.

I Started writing my world probably 11 years ago now and kept building on it until I hit the point where I actually had some idea of what I'm doing. I am still not entirely sure what that is, but its working...

I think.