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:
Chrys Cymri

Member Links
1. P.M.F. Johnson
2. Gene Kendall
3. Bruce Pedersen
4. Tristen Kozinski
5. S. Lynn Helton
6. Cathleen Townsend
7. Steven A. Simpson
8. William Collins
9. A. Claire Everward
10. Zita Harrison

Book Links
1. Dark Alley Magic
2. Blind Cerulean
3. The Eighth Stone
4. The Darkness That Slept
5. Duplicity of Power
6. Survival of the Fairest
7. Fixing Your Stars
8. Deathrunes and Dragons
9. The First
10. Owl Manor - Abigail: Book 2 of the Owl Manor Trilogy

I'd like to join with my fantasy book Duplicity of Power.
-Lynn

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

My Goodreads author link: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

Welcome S. Lynn, please remember to keep checking back as the group fills and shout out if you see any clashes! Thanks :)

I would like to join with my fantasy, Dark Alley Magic.

I have fulfilled my obligation to round 283.

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

I have no conflict with Lynn, FYI.

Welcome P.M.F. - please keep checking back frequently as we fill and report any clashes you spot.

Question for the mod: Would it be okay to submit an ebook that is available for pre-order, but the paperback is available now?

Gene - The last time I enquired about this of our Supreme Commander the ruling was that if there is a place on the Zon to put a review then it is permissible. As having a paperback available provides that place, I guess it is permissible.

That's great, EM. I'd like to submit my new novel Blind Cerulean. However, it doesn't have a Goodreads page yet. Here's the Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09...

Gene has already reviewed my book, but I'm happy to offer the second book in the series for his review (Power Awry). I have no conflict with P.M.F.
-Lynn

Gene wrote: "That's great, EM. I'd like to submit my new novel Blind Cerulean. However, it doesn't have a Goodreads page yet. Here's the Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09..."

You will need to have a GR page for the book too before you can sign up with it.

Thanks, EM. I've added the book: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
Should I go to the Librarians forum and ask about having the cover uploaded?
Also, I have been reviewed by P.M.F. before.

Welcome Gene - up to you if you want to upload the cover - I believe you can do that yourself, though. Please keep checking back assiduously for clashes as the group fills. Thanks :)

I have reviewed a different book by Gene. FYI

Thanks for that P.M.F.!

I would like to join with my book Fixing Your Stars.

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

Welcome Steven - please keep checking back frequently now you are signed up and tell me if you spot anyone joining the group who you have reviewed or who has reviewed you before. Thanks.

I've reviewed a different book of Steven's.
-Lynn

S.Lynn wrote: "I've reviewed a different book of Steven's.
-Lynn"

Thanks for letting me know :)

Steven - please check any other clashes you might have with people already in the group as reviewer or reviewed.

Hi, I'd like to sign up with Snow White and the Civil War, part 1.

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

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

Going to check for clashes now, of which there are many. : )

ETA:

I have already reviewed Steven, but not this book.

PMF, Gene, and S. Lynn have already read Snow White part 1—but they could read part 2.

I have not reveiwed any of Steven's books, he has not reviewed any of mine. FYI

I have reviewed Cathleen's book, as she said, but she has others.

I'd like to sign up with my fantasy book The Eighth Stone

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

I've reviewed S Lynn's book before, but none of the other three.

Thanks, BP

Bruce has already reviewed Snow White part 1, but he could read part 2. I can't review him. : )

Bruce wrote: "...I've reviewed S Lynn's book before..."

I'm happy to offer the second book (Power Awry) in the series for Bruce to review.
-Lynn

Hey, I'd love to join with my new novella.


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


No clashes so far.

Thank you.

William wrote: "Hey, I'd love to join with my new novella.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
No clashes so far.
Thank you."

Happy to sign you up here, but just checking you know there is also a Novella round forming which you might prefer.

I have already reviewed two of William's other books, so he can't review me. I haven't read this novella yet, which looks fun.

Welcome Cathleen and Bruce - please keep on checking - and thanks for the updates, Cathleen.

Hey E.M, this group is fine by me. I already have a couple clashes in the novella thread lol.

Thank you.

If it works out I'll join with The Darkness That Slept. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

Bruce Penderson has already read me, and I've read both Duplicity of Power and Survival of the Fairest so I'll understand if it doesn't work out.

Tristen,

Has Bruce read The Darkness That Slept or are you ok with him reading another book?

(I'm asking for EM who is on GMT and will have all the info she needs tomorrow then)

Trish (mod)

Welcome William - please check again for clashes as you missed one with Catherine. Don't forget to check if other people have reviewed you as well as if you have reviewed them. Thanks.

Thanks for asking that Trish - I'll hold off for an answer before playing the sudoku ;)

I have another book Bruce can read if he's open to it.

Welcome Tristen - please keep on checking back for any new clashes.

William has reviewed a previous book of mine.

No new clashes that haven't already been mentioned.

Tristen wrote: "...I've read both Duplicity of Power and..."
I'm happy to offer Tristen the second book (Power Awry) in my series to review.
-Lynn

Tristen has read Snow White part 1, but he/they can read part 2. Other than that, the current order works fine for me. Thanks, EM. : )

Okay, checked the latest authors.

I’ve read Gene and PMF before, but not these books of theirs. Tristen has read me, but not this novel. No other clashes.

Thank you.

EM

I twiddled, then I fiddled and then I muddled and I dabbled. I might have an order that works. Check your PMs and see what you think.

Cheers!

Trish

No conflicts with Bruce or Tristen.

I went back through and checked my reviews and found that Gene Kendall has reviewed one of my other works. Sorry. Again, if it's easier I can just bow out.

Tristen wrote: "I went back through and checked my reviews and found that Gene Kendall has reviewed one of my other works. Sorry. Again, if it's easier I can just bow out."

Let's wait for EM to check-in.

In the order I PM'd her that still works, but I might have missed something else. She's been doing this a lot longer than me!

Thanks

Trish

While we wait, everyone please do a double (or triple) check on what I have listed below from your messages. If I've missed anything LMK - Trish

UPDATED
Who you've reviewed...
Gene - S.Lynn, Cathleen, Tristen
William - Gene, PMF
PMF - Gene, Cathleen
S.Lynn - Steven, Cathleen
Cathleen - Steven, William
Bruce - Cathleen, Tristen
Tristen - S.Lynn, Cathleen, William
Steven - no one here

Conversely you rec'd reviews from (and you have a book for them to review this time)
Gene - William, PMF
William - Cathleen, Tristen
PMF - William
S.Lynn - Gene, Tristen, Bruce
Cathleen - Gene, PMF, S.Lynn, Bruce, Tristen
Bruce - no one here
Tristen - Gene, Bruce
Steven - S.Lynn, Cathleen

Your list looks good to me, Trish. : )

Here are mine. -Lynn

Who I've reviewed:

Cathleen
Steven

Who’s reviewed me:

Tristen
Gene
Bruce

Cathleen wrote: "Your list looks good to me, Trish. : )"

Thank you!!

Trish

S.Lynn wrote: "Here are mine. -Lynn

Who I've reviewed:Cathleen
StevenWho’s reviewed me:Tristen
Gene
Bruce"

Thanks, S.Lynn I must have missed Bruce in the messages. I think we're still good even with that addition though.

Trish

Read my work (different book): William

I've read (but both have diff books): Gene, Cathleen

No conflicts: Steve, Lynn, Bruce, Tristen

This concurs with your list, I believe.

P.M.F. wrote: "Read my work (different book): William

I've read (but both have diff books): Gene, Cathleen

No conflicts: Steve, Lynn, Bruce, Tristen

This concurs with your list, I believe."

Yes, it does, PMF

Thanks for confirming.

Trish

I believe that's all the conflicts for me.