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

Member Links * Book Links
1. P.M.F. Johnson*Republic Of Magic
2. Guy E. Estes*Lords of Illusion
3. Audrey Driscoll*Hunting the Phoenix
4. Tim Goff*Empire: Metropolis
5. Wayne McKinstry*Earth Rises to the Challenge: Earth Overwhelmed Book 2
6. Rik Ty*Thrill Kings: Interdimensional Bleed Zones Volume 1: 8 Mind-Bending Missions Featuring Returning Characters
7. Joseph Carrabis*The Shaman
8. Alex Canna*Operation Outfect: Spreading humankind to the stars. What could go wrong?
9. Alex Robins*Panacea
10. B.J. Sikes*The Vitruvian Mask


In order to participate in this round, your setting for 'Who Can Send Me Private Messages' needs to be 'anyone'.
Please follow this link to check - and if necessary change - your privacy setting.

https://www.goodreads.com/user/edit?t...

Hi Kat,
I would like to join this round with Hunting the Phoenix
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
Thanks.
Audrey

Hi, Kat. I would like to join this round with my fantasy novel, Republic of Magic.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

Thank you,
P M F Johnson

Welcome, PMF and Audrey!

All, it will help me greatly if as more people join the round, you will update me with anyone you have reviewed in the past, or who has reviewed you. I will try to check bookshelves as well, but the more eyes we have checking, the more likely we are to get an order that works for everyone from the get go. :)

To check if you have reviewed someone in the past, please go to your My Books, and type in the name of the author in question. That will tell you if you have reviewed them before.

To check if someone has reviewed YOU, go to their author profile, click under their avatar where it says 100 reviews (or whatever) and that will take you to their bookshelf. Then type in your name in their search bar to see if they have reviewed you before.

Hope this helps!

PMF has reviewed one of my books in the same series.

I would like to enter my sword and sorcery novel Lords of Illusion.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
PMF Johnson has reviewed some of my books before but not this one. I have not reviewed his or Audrey's books.

Welcome, Guy!

Hi there.

Can I join? I've subbed all my reviews for round 343 but Amazon is being a doofus again on some of them. So, LMK.

I've been reviewed once by PMF Johnson (round 290 or 293, not sure) but have no other conflicts. PMF can review any of the titles in my series of four.

I'd love more reviews on Telomeric (book 2 in the Industrial Age series) and will happily accept reviews on any other book in the series.

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

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

Actually, Guy reviewed one of my books in May 2022.

Audrey wrote: "Actually, Guy reviewed one of my books in May 2022."
Whoops! Sorry, I forgot about that. I just checked the book you posted.

I would like to join for my soon to be published Military Sci-Fi novel Earth Rises to the Challenge.

I would like to submit the fourth book of my dark fantasy series, 'Empire: Metropolis' for inclusion into this group.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CGJ9Y1QG

Guy Estes and PMF Johnson have reviewed book 2 in the series, 'Empire: Capital.'

Would love to join - we'll see how amazon behaves with my last review for the group I'm in now.

PL and Rik, I will be happy to add you as soon as you have finished your obligations to your previous groups. I apologize about the delay in Zon reviews coming through. I know that's frustrating. Keep me posted!

Welcome, Tim

Wayne wrote: "I would like to join for my soon to be published Military Sci-Fi novel Earth Rises to the Challenge."

Wayne, that book doesn't have a Goodreads page and isn't up on Amazon for pre-order. Generally we only allow pre-order books to be entered into rounds in very limited circumstances--they will be released within a week or two of the round starting, they have both a live GR and Amz page, or if the book will be launching more than a week or two past the round starting, the author has to be okay with only receiving a GR review since it is too much extra work on mods to chase down reviewers later to remind them to post to Amz.

I have entered you into the round with one of your other books. Let me know if this is not what you would like to do.

Warmly, Kat

Audrey wrote: "Actually, Guy reviewed one of my books in May 2022."

Thanks, Audrey (and Guy!)

I will get the book on Amazon and goodreads today. Thanks.

Kat wrote: "Wayne wrote: "I would like to join for my soon to be published Military Sci-Fi novel Earth Rises to the Challenge."

Wayne, that book doesn't have a Goodreads page and isn't up on Amazon for pre-or..."

Hi! I’d like to join with my epic fantasy Panacea

No clashes I think

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...

Welcome, Alex!

I've just checked, I have in fact reviewed both Guy and PMF before, way back in 2021 (!) but am happy to do so again. Neither have reviewed me :)

Thanks for checking, Alex!

I have no conflicts with Tim, Wayne, or Alex.

Hello! I have my reviews in for my last group, but I haven't been cleared just yet. When possible, I'd like to join this group with
Thrill Kings: Interdimensional Bleed Zones Volume 1
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CHPND3D7
This is a grab bag of short stories, drabbles, and excerpts, all centered around strange zones of interdimensional mingling
Thanks! my Goodreads page
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

The good reads page for the book
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

Rik, I will check your clashes and add you first thing in the AM. Can you check the people who are currently signed up and see if you have any clashes with them? Remind me, you have 3 total books available for review in case anyone has read you before?

Welcome, Rik.

The book I want to put in Review Group 347 is Earth Rises to the Challenge.

Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CP2S1LXW

Goodreads

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

Thanks for everything.

Made that change for you, Wayne.

Kat,

I'd like to join. I've posted my reviews for the group I am presently in, but 3 of the Amazon reviews have not cleared yet. I'd like to submit my dystopian novel Rebirth of Angels. & I have reviewed Rik Ty's book Thrill Kings.

Is there still room? If yes, I'd like to join with "The Shaman" - Amazon http://nlb.pub/Shaman Goodreads http://nlb.pub/GShaman
I don't see any conflcts with folks already on the list.
Joseph

Wayne read a different book of mine. (Fragmented Sky)
Audrey also read Fragmented Sky
PDMac has reviewed this book.
(boy, we are a small group after a while)
Thanks Kat!
My 3 books are
Fragmented Sky
Sparrows and Hawks
Interdimensional Bleed Zones

pdmac wrote: "Kat,

I'd like to join. I've posted my reviews for the group I am presently in, but 3 of the Amazon reviews have not cleared yet. I'd like to submit my dystopian novel Rebirth of Angels. & I have r..."

pdmac, after all of your GR and Zon reviews have cleared in your current round, come back and let me know, and I'll be happy to add you then. Thanks!

Thank you, Rik.

Welcome, Joseph!

Kat wrote: "Made that change for you, Wayne."

Thanks

(so excited)
Kat wrote: "Thank you, Rik.

Welcome, Joseph!"

To check in: as you all have noted, I have read different books than these by Guy, Audrey and Tim, while Alex has read a different book of mine than Republic of Magic. I see no conflicts with Wayne, Rik and Joseph. So, so far I'm good. ;->

P M F

Hi, I'd like to join with Operation Outfect: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
Wayne has read another book of mine before, otherwise I can't see any clashes.

Welcome, Alex Canna!

I'm back. My commitment to the other round is finally complete. :)

Perhaps I can fit here?

PMF has reviewed a different title of mine.

Rik has reviewed three of my four titles but could perhaps review the fourth in series.

Joseph Carrabis has reviewed two of my titles but could choose from one of the other two.

Alex Canna has reviewed one of my books.

(It's not looking promising.)

And...

I've reviewed Wayne. Not his new book though.

If I won't fit, it's OK, I'll hop onto a round elsewhere.

I can't fit you in with those clashes, I'm sorry. Perhaps the clean round?

P.M.F. Johnson has reviewed two of mine but not the one I submitted for this round. I've reviewed Audrey's and Tim's books before, but not the ones they submitted for this round. I haven't reviewed the other authors and as far as I can tell they haven't reviewed me.

The clean round already is filling past workability for me as well. Not to worry. I'll wait for a new round to start forming.

My apologies for so obvious a question, but I am impaired by a flu bug. If the people above me in the list are reviewing my book, I see no issues - two of them reviewed an earlier book in the series. Is that the case?) Those above review the ones below?) If not, the list may nee rearranged, (Again, this dang bug is knocking me for a loop.

Tim wrote: "My apologies for so obvious a question, but I am impaired by a flu bug. If the people above me in the list are reviewing my book, I see no issues - two of them reviewed an earlier book in the serie..."

Hi Tim! I am so sorry you have the flu and hope you feel better soon. You are person #4 on the list, so you would be reviewed by persons #10, 1, 2, 3. The books you would review are #5, 6, 7, 8.

When I check your shelves, the conflicts I see are that you have previously been read by Guy and PMF, but it looks like you have numerous other books that they could read. Is this correct?

Warmly, Kat :)

I haven't read the book Tim is submitting for this round.

I reviewed Rik Ty another book - Thrill Kings Fragmented Sky: The BIRTH of interdimensional travel. As far as I can see none of them have reviewed me before.

Thanks, Wayne