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.
The new amazon rules state that authors/publishers are no longer allowed to specifically supply published books in return for reviews on amazon. To comply with this new rule, we no longer insist members review on amazon. However, we are all in the same situation, we want reviews.
When sorting out groups, I prioritise those members who have fully participated in previous groups and don’t have multiple review connections with the other participants.

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

If you are only willing to review your own preferred genre, make sure you join a genre round. 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.
Let’s be honest here – we don’t all like the same things but we all want reviews. 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/...

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 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, amazon.com and amazon.uk. Amazon has recently changed their criteria for reviewers to allow only those people who have spent $50 on amazon. If you are unsure about your amazon reviewer status, try posting a ‘test’ review before signing up.

5. You can provide (and accept) at least PDF files. Many authors can also provide mobi and epub files. You are not expected or required to buy the books you are allocated to review. Some authors borrow books via KU and others provide smashwords coupons. This is their choice. International Copyright laws apply. You cannot sell, or give away material you have received without the author’s express permission.

6. It is up to individuals what disclaimers they place in a review concerning receiving a book in exchange for a review. Note: 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.

7. 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.

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

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

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. The new amazon.com review guidelines do not allow for free books to be supplied in return for reviews. Therefore, you are not obliged to review on amazon, just on goodreads. We all want reviews, its 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.

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

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. Usually places are allocated on a first come, first served basis.
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:
E.M. Swift-Hook


Member Links
1. L.N. Denison
2. E.M. Swift-Hook
3. Lucretia Stanhope
4. James Maxstadt
5. Wayne McKinstry
6. Brin Murray
7.Steve Pillinger
8. Melanie Ansley
9. Rae Knightly
10. Paul L. Arvidson

Book Links
1. Hyde's Lament
2. Trust a Few
3. Tainted Waters: A Dark Paranormal Fantasy Novel
4. Duke Grandfather Saves the World*
5. The Boy From The forest
6. Children of the Furnace
7. The Mindruler
8. Theo and the Forbidden Language
9. Ben Archer and the Cosmic Fall
10. Dark

I'm interested. May I join with:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

Second book in the series, but it should be able to be read as a stand-alone with no problem.

Thanks!

Hi E.M, I would like to join with 'Hyde's Lament' please =D! Here are my links:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

Disclaimer: It helps if you have read the first book, but I can provide a bit of background to the first story, if you require it.

Welcome James and L.N. - please keep checking back for any clashes as we fill up.

And I'm in with Trust a Few

E.M. wrote: "Welcome James and L.N. - please keep checking back for any clashes as we fill up.

And I'm in with Trust a Few"

I have read trust a few, but I will be happy to read anything else you have to offer. And apart from reading you, I have no clashes...so far, but that will change, I'm sure.

I'd like to join with Tainted Waters. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

I need to be read by L.N. and E.M.

I have read James before but not this one.

I am reading Lucretia right now, but not this book, so all is good.

Welcome aboard Lucretia!

so far, I've been read by both you, E.M. and Lucretia, although not for this book.

Thanks

Hi there,

I'd like to join with "Theo and the Forbidden Language": https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

Here's my author page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

I haven't read anyone in the group, and I'm not in any other reading rounds.

Look forward to reading!

Best,
Melanie

Hello,

I would like to join with The Scrying if possible.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

To date I have not reviewed any of the listed authors but have been reviewed by Lucretia and E.M.

Thanks!
Jaci

I would like to join this round.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

I would like to join this round, if possible. I have some clashes. I've been reviewed by Lucretia and EM, and I've reviewed LN, but I have a second book in the series out now.
Brin Murray
Children of the Furnace
CROSSTREES

PS COTF is my first choice, but I can offer Crosstrees to any who have read it.

I'd like to join with The Mindruler: Steve Pillinger.

I don't have any clashes so far.

Hello,
If there's still room, I would love to join with my sci-fi adventure novel, Book 1 in The Alien Skill Series.
Thank you!

Welcome aboard Rae, Steve, Brin, Wayne and Melanie.

I am sorry Jaci, but as you only have one book and you need to avoid two people in the list, I can't fir you in.

One more and we are rolling!

E.M. wrote: "Welcome aboard Rae, Steve, Brin, Wayne and Melanie.

I am sorry Jaci, but as you only have one book and you need to avoid two people in the list, I can't fir you in.

One more and we are rolling!"

So I need to wait until I have more books published to join a review group?

I figured if you put me down further in the list - then it would avoid the two people that have already read this book. I don't need to avoid reading anyone as I have not read any that are listed here.

I think you are forgetting the list wraps around, Jaci.

If you look at the list Jaci, if I put the two people who have read you in 1 & 2 and you out of their way to read again, you would need to be in place 7. But, due to the wrap around, place 7 is reading place 1 - so you can't fit. I am very sorry.

No I get that it wraps around I just didn't think it mattered that I would be reading and reviewing someone who has read and reviewed my book already. I didn't realize you couldn't review someone who had already reviewed you.

Sorry I must have misunderstood how this works. Thanks anyway.

I would like to join with my co-author Michael Hecht and our book Tales of the Renegade: The Golden Strawberry

However, I'm a little confused because I would conflict with L.N. Denison having already read our book in Round 172, except that L.N. hasn't actually yet read it in that group?

In that group the assignments were based on being given books to read by the four authors AFTER you on the list, so L.N. wouldn't be assigned mine in this round anyway since it wraps around and I would be assigned theirs, which is apparently also not an allowed conflict?

I have read Lucretia, but not this specific book.

Oh, I also just realized Brin Murray has already Tales of the Renegade, so that's a second conflict depending on how the conflict of L.N. being previously assigned our book but not having actually read it yet affects things.

It will effect things as I'm just coming to the end of your book, Caleb.

Ok, I suspect I'm too late to the game on this one in that case. Busy week last week! Hope you're enjoying the book!

It's a bloody good yarn. I'm loving it. I have been reading yours and Lucretia's book to get done to start this round on time. I should be posting my reviews within the next two days.

I'm very glad to hear! I look forward to reading your thoughts.

To the admins of the groups, this seems to have filled up rather quickly, and between Jaci and me there are at least two already who had wanted to participate that don't appear able to. Might a new Out of This World group start soon?

Is the tenth spot still open? I'd love to grab it with my book that just launched today.

Sorry Caleb, I can't see how to make you fit in with all the other clashes here. I shall look to set up another round soon if no one else does.

Tom, do you have any clashes with anyone in the group? Please let me know and the link to your book. Thanks.

Hi there,

Yes please yes please yes please :) I'm SFF, I've been waiting for the next one to start but for some reason the ap didn't let me. I've not been on the group before and I don't think I know anyone. Mad keen!

Paul Arvo

Please post your book link Paul, if you do, then is between you and Tom.

If he hasn't posted his book link and clashes before I set the round up tomorrow you get the spot Paul.

Here I am.

Dark by Paul L Arvidson

https://claims.instafreebie.com/free/...

I don't know anyone, haven't read any and have no clashes to the best of my knowledge!

I need the Goodreads link please Paul ;) And the book needs to be on Amazon too :)

E.M. wrote: "Sorry Caleb, I can't see how to make you fit in with all the other clashes here. I shall look to set up another round soon if no one else does.

Tom, do you have any clashes with anyone in the grou..."

Hi E.M. No, I don't have any clashes. I'm new to the group. My book can be downloaded here: http://amzn.to/2tU1zYn

I need the Goodreads link please Tom :)

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

And I am on amz here:

https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Paul-L-Ar...

Do you still need one more? https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

Well looks like Paul has the last spot then, since Tom has still not provided his Goodreads link.

I'll get on and sort the round.

Apologies to the disappointed. I will open another round shortly.

Alright I'm assuming thre are no undeclared clashes as the list has been up a while. So here we go.

START DATE: 17-Mar-18

END DATE: 07-June-18

Round 1 – post your review by 07-Apr-18
Round 2 – post your review by 28-Apr-18
Round 3 – post your review by 19-May-18
Round 4 – post your review by 07-June-18

As AUTHORS you send your book file to:

182-01__L.N. Denison
Paul L. Arvidson for round 1
Rae Knightly for round 2
Melanie Ansley for round 3
Steve Pillinger for round 4

182-02__E.M. Swift-Hook
L.N. Denison for round 1
Paul L. Arvidson for round 2
Rae Knightly for round 3
Melanie Ansley for round 4

182-03__Lucretia Stanhope
E.M. Swift-Hook for round 1
L.N. Denison for round 2
Paul L. Arvidson for round 3
Rae Knightly for round 4

182-04__James Maxstadt
Lucretia Stanhope for round 1
E.M. Swift-Hook for round 2
L.N. Denison for round 3
Paul L. Arvidson for round 4

182-05__Wayne McKinstry
James Maxstadt for round 1
Lucretia Stanhope for round 2
E.M. Swift-Hook for round 3
L.N. Denison for round 4

182-06__ Brin Murray
Wayne McKinstry for round 1
James Maxstadt for round 2
Lucretia Stanhope for round 3
E.M. Swift-Hook for round 4

182-07__ Steve Pillinger
Brin Murray for round 1
Wayne McKinstry for round 2
James Maxstadt for round 3
Lucretia Stanhope for round 4

182-08__ Melanie Ansley
Steve Pillinger for round 1
Brin Murray for round 2
Wayne McKinstry for round 3
James Maxstadt for round 4

182-09__ Rae Knightly
Melanie Ansley for round 1
Steve Pillinger for round 2
Brin Murray for round 3
Wayne McKinstry for round 4

182-10__ Paul L. Arvidson
Rae Knightly for round 1
Melanie Ansley for round 2
Steve Pillinger for round 3
Brin Murray for round 4

As REVIEWERS you will receive books for review from:

182-01__L.N. Denison
E.M. Swift-Hook for round 1
Lucretia Stanhope for round 2
James Maxstadt for round 3
Wayne McKinstry for round 4

182-02__E.M. Swift-Hook
Lucretia Stanhope for round 1
James Maxstadt for round 2
Wayne McKinstry for round 3
Brin Murray for round 4

182-03__Lucretia Stanhope
James Maxstadt for round 1
Wayne McKinstry for round 2
Brin Murray for round 3
Steve Pillinger for round 4

182-04__James Maxstadt
Wayne McKinstry for round 1
Brin Murray for round 2
Steve Pillinger for round 3
Melanie Ansley for round 4

182-05__Wayne McKinstry
Brin Murray for round 1
Steve Pillinger for round 2
Melanie Ansley for round 3
Rae Knightly for round 4

182-06__ Brin Murray
Steve Pillinger for round 1
Melanie Ansley for round 2
Rae Knightly for round 3
Paul L. Arvidson for round 4

182-07__ Steve Pillinger
Melanie Ansley for round 1
Rae Knightly for round 2
Paul L. Arvidson for round 3
L.N. Denison for round 4

182-08__ Melanie Ansley
Rae Knightly for round 1
Paul L. Arvidson for round 2
L.N. Denison for round 3
E.M. Swift-Hook for round 4

182-09__ Rae Knightly
Paul L. Arvidson for round 1
L.N. Denison for round 2
E.M. Swift-Hook for round 3
Lucretia Stanhope for round 4

182-10__ Paul L. Arvidson
L.N. Denison for round 1
E.M. Swift-Hook for round 2
Lucretia Stanhope for round 3
James Maxstadt for round 4


Please remember the commitment you are making to your fellow group members. If you pull out after the start date for any reason it is the other members who will be faced with the problem of finding a replacement, or missing out on reads/reviews, through no fault of their own. Please don’t ask the moderators to chase after replacements as we just don’t have the time.

It is the responsibility of the author to get their book to their readers in a format the reviewer can manage. Everyone must be able to provide and accept PDF. You may buy or borrow the books you are due to read if you wish, and I’m sure the author will appreciate the verified review, but IT IS NOT COMPULSORY. There are no set dates for the start of each round. You can each work at your own pace, within the limits of the round deadlines.

All reviews must be posted to GR. We also encourage members to post on amazon .com and .uk. When you have posted your reviews, please post the three links to your reviews, not the book page in this thread.
The mod of each round will record whether members have posted reviews on amazon and for the good of all, members who persistently fail to post reviews or DNF reviews to amazon, will find mods less than willing to add them to subsequent groups.

Postings to other sites are by agreement by both author and reviewer.

If I’ve missed something that results in you being asked to review someone who has already reviewed you, please let me know asap.

To exchange book files, my advice is to use PM to give email addresses to each other (save the chance of spammers getting your addies from this open forum). Happy reviewing, everyone :)

Please consider downloading one of my books and/or one of the round mod’s books as a thank you for all the hard work we put in for the group.

Please read this especially if you are new to these review rounds.

Quick 'start-up' summary for anyone new who might be scratching their heads. You should PM the four people who will be reviewing you through their Goodreads author pages. Click on the down arrow beside the 'Follow Author' button under their picture and it opens a menu which will allow you to message them.

Ask what kind of file they would like or say you can only offer PDF, though unless a publisher uploaded it for you, you can always download a .mobi of your own book from Amazon.

Don't forget to ask where to send it so they can give you their email.

The four people who you are reviewing should be in touch with you in a similar way.

You can, of course, choose to buy any or all of the books instead, or read the books on KU, if you are a subscriber and the books are available there.

Please make sure you have exchanged ALL FOUR books - or have been assured by your reviewers they will buy your book or read it through KU - as soon as possible. Some people read fast and it can be very frustrating to have to wait a long time to get hold of a book you are committed to review.

Finally, if you have never posted to an Amazon site that is not your own, please read this post on how to do so.

Excited to read everyone. I grabbed Duke Grandfather Saves the World, The Boy From The Forest, and The Mindruler on KU.

I sent Brin a message.

Happy Reading. :)

I have picked up two of my reads on KU, and Lucretia has touched base regarding a file for her book.

Hi everyone, sorry, this is all new so I'm scrambling a bit but will get the hang of it eventually! :)

I now have all the books I am assigned. <3 And have contacted everyone regarding sending mine.

I now have all my reads, 3 on KU and .mobi from Lucretia =).

Sorry to be slow off the mark, bit of a ferociously busy weekend.

Please do get hold of all four of your books for the round as otherwise we can hit issues later on.

I have copies of all my reads and have (hopefully) sorted all my readers too.

One done for L.N.

GR Review here:

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

How long does it take Amz to get from 'We are reviewing your review' to actually posting it? *sigh*

Amz. co.uk Review here:

http://amzn.eu/4MMWdLm

.com here:

http://a.co/eBHnKgI

Thank you for the review, Paul. I am working on a story to finish off Only The Few in full. Part 3 is in the making.

Round One: Duke Grandfather Saves the World* (Duke Grandfather Saga Vol 2)

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.amazon.com/review/R1D34L0...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/review/RBM9N...

Thank you very much, Lucretia! I'm glad you enjoyed it.