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. Please note the Review Group will back any reviewer's right to express their opinion about a book, but personal comments about a fellow author are against both Review Group and Goodreads policy.

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:
Kat Kinney

Member Links
1. Franca Ogbonnaya
2. P.M.F. Johnson
3. Guy E. Estes
4. Neil Carstairs
5. Ed Morawski
6. Cathleen Townsend
7. Jeanette O'Hagan
8. Lin Meili
9. Alex Robins
10. Jessica Kuzmier

Book Links
1. The Wielder Trials
2. Dark Alley Magic
3. The God Makers
4. The Ring of Athreal
5. ALoner
6. Snow White and the Civil War #1
7. Akrad's Children
8. I Will Save the Villain
9. The Broken Heart of Arelium
10. Citizen Alpha J-45

Hi can I join with my book The Wielder Trials?
Thanks

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B08S...

How come there are two "Out of This World" groups forming at once? I asked to join the 287 group, but I don't want to miss out on joining whichever group actually forms. :-<
If this is the group that is to form, I would like to join this one. Here are my links:
Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Alley-Mag...

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

Franca - I need your Goodreads bool link please not the Amazon one.

P.M.F. - OOTW is always the most popular and seems to have the most clashes so starting with two groups is a way to overcome both those issues - or to try to do so. Please decide which group you would like to participate in. I can't sign you up for both.

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

Here it is. Sorry for the delay

Thanks, Franca - and welcome! Do keep checking back as the group fills and tell me if you see any clashes.

Please put me in this one, then, and I'll drop out of the 287 group.

Thank you!

Hi P.M.F . I don’t think I’ve read your books before . Have you reviewed mine in the past?

I'd like to enter my sword and sorcery fantasy The God Makers. I can provide mobi and PDF.
https://www.amazon.com/God-Makers-Sis...

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

Franca, no, I don't believe so.

I see no reviews by me of books by either Franca or Guy... ;->

I have no clashes with Guy or PMF.

I would like to join, please, with Snow White and the Civil War, Part 1: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

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

Franca and I need to go five spaces apart unless she wants me to review her coloring book.

PMF has reviewed me before, but not this book.

Guy and I have no clashes. : )

Oh the colouring book won’t fit in this category. Cathleen and I can be five people apart as I don’t have a new book for her to review. Thanks

Welcome P.M.F., Guy and Cathleen - do please keep checking back for any clashes you might see so we can nip any issues in the bud!

Thanks so much for keeping on top of that so far :)

Okay - hoping to get this right third time round.

I would love to join this group with Akrad's Children https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

(I have the sequel available - Rasel's Song available for any who has already read Akrad's Children.)

Will check for clashes.

Cathleen has reviewed my book in the past, but not Akrad's Children (and I have the sequel to AC if necessary.)

And I've reviewed Franca Ogbonnaya

As Jeanette says, I can review her, but she can't review me. I haven't yet reviewed Akrad's children. : )

Hi Jeanette can review this mew book of mine. She reviewed the first one before. Thanks

Welcome Jeanette - please keep on checking in and checking for clashes :)

Hi, I'd like to join with Operation Outfect: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
I've read The Wielder Trials as well as one other of Franca's books, no other clashes yet.

Hi Alex has read my books including this one . So I can’t review him and I have no new books for him.

I have already reviewed Operation Outfect by Alex.

So far, I see that I have reviewed The Golden Key, by Cathleen, and Franca has reviewed my Call of the Labyrinth. I see no conflicts of Guy or Jeannette. FYI

Alex wrote: "Hi, I'd like to join with Operation Outfect: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
I've read The Wielder Trials as well as one other of Franca's books, no other clashes yet."

Sorry Alex, as Franca has no other book to offer you and her blindspot in the round is taken, I can not include you in this round. There is, however, a second OOTW round forming, 287, and you can sign up there instead.

Hi E.M.

Can I join with

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

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

I don't see any clashes right now but will keep an eye out as the round fills up

Welcome Neil - and please do that checking back thing :)

As of this posting, I have no clashes with anyone.

I have no clashes with Neil. : )

I'd like to join with


The only clash I have is with Cathleen Townsend as I reviewed 'Snow White'.

Welcome Ed - please keep on checking in as we get the last few spots filled and keep an eye out for further clashes.

Ed has read Snow White Part 1. He could read part 2 this round if that suits. : )

I have no clashes with Neil or Ed.

Hi I have no clashes with Lin. Thanks

No clashes with Lin. ;->

Welcome Lin - do keep an eye on this thread as we fill.

Hi there,
I would like to participate with my epic fantasy book The Broken Heart of Arelium, you can also find it on amazon here :

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08Z9FLZN2

No conflicts as it's the first time I'm doing this!

Thanks!

Welcome Alex - keep an eye on the thread ready for when we move to the next phase.

Franca, thank you for the wonderful review!

Can I please ask that no one starts posting reviews until that phase of the round is underway. If you wish to take a risk and purchase and read a book before the round begins that is one thing, but please DO NOT post reviews until the official start of that phase as there may yet be last moment changes to the list which would mean you were not going to review that person after all - and in the case of someone you have not previously reviewed that could mean they would be set to review you instead!

Thank you.

I apologize for that. I’ll wait till the group is complete and everyone has been allocated their review groups .

Franca wrote: "I apologize for that. I’ll wait till the group is complete and everyone has been allocated their review groups ."

Hopefully all will be well this time, so no worries - but best avoided ongoing, just in case :)

Hi E.M.

Is there a possibility to transfer my book from group 287 to this group? I read P.M.F. and Cathleen I have no other clash.

I cannot review Stjepan. He has already reviewed me.

Hi guys, I have a dystopian book called Citizen Alpha J-45. No conflicts, never done this before. I have the book free on Smashwords and its aggregates such as Kobo and can provide either doc or pdf if requested. Thanks.

Smashwords link: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...

I just saw there was another Out of This World Group, and listed this same book under that heading. If I am chosen for that group, please delete my request here. Forgive the double post if it's a faux pas, am new at this. Look forward to networking here.

Jessica wrote: "Hi guys, I have a dystopian book called Citizen Alpha J-45. No conflicts, never done this before. I have the book free on Smashwords and its aggregates such as Kobo and can provide ..."

Jessica - is your book available on Amazon? We do reviews here specifically for Goodreads and Amazon. However, if you only wish to be reviewed on Goodreads but are able to leave reviews on Amazon, you are still welcome to sign up.

Stjepan wrote: "Hi E.M.

Is there a possibility to transfer my book from group 287 to this group? I read P.M.F. and Cathleen I have no other clash."

As it would mean I would need to restructure the group, which already has quite a number of clashes, I am not able to move you. Sorry about that.

E.M. wrote: "Stjepan wrote: "Hi E.M.

Is there a possibility to transfer my book from group 287 to this group? I read P.M.F. and Cathleen I have no other clash."

As it would mean I would need to restructure t..."
No problem :)

Stjepan has previously reviewed a different book of mine. FYI

I have no conflicts with Jessica...