E.S. Barrison's Blog, page 7

City of Gold – Book Review

Book Rating: ★★★★✰  (4 / 5 stars)

After Eleanor’s adventure to Nightshade Forest, she is keen to learn more about the magic book her father gave her. Upon opening up a story about a city of gold, Eleanor is transported back into the book, where an evil imp is turning the city to gold before her very eyes. With the help of a jittery rabbit, Eleanor embarks on a quest to save the day…or find herself turned into gold!

After reading Nightshade Forest last year, I was eager to jump back into Eleanor Mason’s Literary Adventures…and it did not disappoint! Eleanor’s curiosity and excitement for adventure will resonate with readers, young and old alike. Who doesn’t want to take an adventure into a story? Isn’t that why we pick up books in the first place?

Mitchell does a fantastic job capturing that childhood desire for adventure. Eleanor is a precocious young girl, and her intelligence is truly put to the test in a world filled with riddles. But, I think most of all, it is most valuable at the end, where she identifies the twist on a classic tale and the secret of her local librarian!

Out of curiosity, I actually went back and reread my review for Nightshade Forest. A year ago, I said that I didn’t usually read middle grade fiction. Oh how times have changed! I’ve kind of come to adore it; the simpler plot lines, the happier endings, the childish jokes…they all warm the piece of my heart that still yearns for simpler times. So, I’d like to give credit to Nikki Mitchell when it comes to my love for middle grade stories. Without Eleanor’s adventures, I don’t think I ever would have realized how much I enjoy these types of tales.

As with a lot of middle grade fiction, and me being an adult, sometimes I feel like something is missing. I can’t pinpoint it though…and that being the case, it means that since I enjoyed this story anyway…children will LOVE it!

So if you’re looking for a quick, short novel that will bring you back to your childhood adventures…definitely check on Nightshade Forest and City of Gold! You’ll have a blast!

What’s it about?

Sometimes a magic portal can be found in ordinary things. That’s exactly what Eleanor Mason discovers when she receives a tattered book of stories from her father.

After her first adventure in the Nightshade Forest, Eleanor quickly jumps through the portal again, only to find herself standing in a field of golden wheat. When a nervous rabbit asks her to save the city from an evil imp with a magic spinning wheel, Eleanor knows she must join him on an epic adventure to solve a riddle, destroy the wheel, and save the townspeople—all before the sun rises on the city.

Can Eleanor rely on the prophecy of an ancient fairy statue to save the day, or will she run out of time and watch as her friends slowly turn to gold?

City of Gold on Goodreads

Cinderella is Evil – Book Review

Book Rating: ★★★✰✰  (3.5 / 5 stars)

What if the story we all know and love is wrong? What if the Step Sisters weren’t evil? What if the Step Mother was just heart broken? And what if Cinderella was never mistreated? Anna, one of the “Ugly Step Sisters” finally tells her side of the story in this fast paced short-story that gives a new take on the classic tale.

I read Cinderella is Evil fairly quickly. It paints a picture of a family struggling with the death of their patriarch. In their sadness, their stories became misconstrued. Cinderella was never abused, only being dramatic. The step sisters weren’t evil, only trying to make their mother happy. If anything, the only one close to their original role was the Step Mother, who berated her daughters due to their looks. Yet, the narrative is painted to feel sympathy for the entire family. They are merely in mourning, not filled with hate.

While I enjoyed the way the narrative was written, and I understood Anna’s own frustrations with her life, the ending fell short . The story felt like it was building up to something bigger: a darker take on the tale that left us with a distaste for Cinderella. While Cinderella was whiny and stuck up, I wouldn’t go as far as to call her evil. In fact, I would say that the three sisters acted like teenagers. If the title wasn’t Cinderella is Evil, I might have been more satisfied with the ending. Really, it felt as though the story was missing something.

Overall though, I had fun reading this story! If you have a moment, check it out…you’ll read it in 30 minutes and have a new perspective on this classic tale!

What’s it about?

History is told from one person’s perspective. Sometimes they don’t get it right.

Ugly Stepsister Anna has wrongly been accused of being mean and evil. Now it is time she got the opportunity to tell her side of the story.

With Cinderella so perfect and wonderful, it is no wonder Anna feels ugly in comparison. Dealing with bullies, a grumpy mother and the death of her step-father, Anna is at her wits end.

When the Prince’s ball approaches, Anna is told she must find a husband to save the family fortune. Attending with her sisters, the sulky Prince Charming only has eyes for Cinderella.

With the burden of being the only one to unite her step-sister with the Prince, will Anna act as cupid? Or will she protect Cinderella from the arrogant Charming?

A charming twist to the story of Cinderella, told completely from the point of view of the Ugly Step-Sister. 

Cinderella is Evil on Goodreads

Treasure Darkly – Book Review

Book Rating: ★★★✰✰  (3 / 5 stars)

Clark grew up as the son of a prostitute, working in a mine to survive. But one day, when he steals a drink from the captain, which he presumes is absinthe, his entire life changes. Suddenly, he is granted a power not only to bring people back from the dead, but trade their life for another, while also seeing the dead. While this power on its own might have been a blessing, with the army looking to use him as a weapon, Clark is forced to flee and seek refuge under his supposed father, Garth Treasure. But are more secrets afoot that Clark realizes? And can he live up to the Treasure Family name?

The premise of Treasure Darkly is certainly interesting. A steampunk western with ghosts and resurrection? It sounded like something right up my alley! Jordan Elizabeth is a fantastic writer, able to paint the picture of the society in a fast paced adventure. I was easily able to visualize everything taking place, wrapped in Clark’s desire to find safety, while also getting a clear picture of the rest of the Treasure Family.

Yet, ultimately I felt the plot was more “episodic” in nature. Every few chapters, the plot seemed to detour into another issue, something that would work remarkably well for a TV show, but left the novel feeling somewhat disjointed.

The prologue was fantastic – giving us a glimpse into Clark’s world. And I hoped we would have explored his earlier life with his new powers in more depth. This alone could have been a novel, in my opinion!

Instead, we skip two years, where we see Clark adapting to life at the Treasure Ranch. It quickly jumps from that, to Clark visiting his old home with his “step mother”, to his “half-sister” Amethyst being taken hostage, etc. Even once Clark begins finding out about his true past, that plot takes the backseat to the romance that builds (more on that below). Truthfully, I went into this story expecting a tale about Clark adapting to his new powers, while on the run from the army. But this was such a small point of the story, I had to wonder if it was really all that relevant beyond the few times his powers were put to work. They were more a plot device for convenience than something that actually has impact.

Then there was Clark’s romance with Amethyst. Now, I would like to warn you that there are spoilers ahead.

Right off the bat, Clark is drawn to Amethyst, despite how she is supposedly his “half-sister”. She flirts with him as well. While I had a feeling this would lead to something else about Clark’s past, it was uncomfortable to watch for the first half of the book. While we do learn that Clark isn’t really her brother, making the romance a bit better, it still felt unnecessary. This is especially due to how Clark finds out he’s not Garth Treasure’s illegimate child.

Clark, who has the ability to talk to the dead at times, doesn’t learn the truth about his father until he wants to flirt with Amethyst. His father, Eric Grisham, appears to him as a ghost right as Clark develops feelings to tell him it’s okay. While Clark asks Eric why he didn’t appear sooner, Eric’s answer is a bit empty at best: “It wasn’t the right time.” Apparently, a boy falling in love with his supposed sister IS the right time? A lot of Clark’s headaches could have been solved if he understood his destiny sooner…but instead it’s hidden from him more for plot convenience than anything else.

The story, ultimately, revolves more around Clark and Amethyst’s “forbidden” romance. But it isn’t forbidden; they’re not actually related, but no one wants to admit it. Once Clark discovers he has money, he could have easily told the Treasures that he knew the truth, at least in my opinion.

This romance, as well, didn’t quite strike a chord with me. Personally, I’m not the biggest fan of the “experienced man” with the “naive girl”. Clark read older than 17 – more like he was in his early 20s – while Amethyst read as a teenager. This created an odd dynamic that made me uncomfortable…at least from a personal perspective.

Ultimately, the premise saves this book for me. It’s well written, with a fun nature that I could see playing out in a TV show, which is a compliment in itself. As I mentioned earlier, Jordan Elizabeth is an excellent writer, able to paint a picture in my head. These saving pieces of this story is why I decided to give it 3 stars, because overall, it was still compelling.

While I don’t really plan on reading the rest in this series, I do encourage you to check it out if you like steampunk tales with romance and a fast paced storyline. It might just be for you!

What’s it about?

Seventeen-year-old Clark Treasure assumes the drink he stole off the captain is absinthe… until the chemicals in the liquid give him the ability to awaken the dead. A great invention for creating perfect soldiers, yes, but Clark wants to live as a miner, not a slave to the army-or the deceased. On the run, Clark turns to his estranged, mining tycoon father for help. The Treasures welcome Clark with open arms, so he jumps at the chance to help them protect their ranch against Senator Horan, a man who hates anyone more powerful than he. Sixteen-year-old Amethyst Treasure loathes the idea of spending the summer away from her bustling city life to rot on her father’s ranch, but when a handsome young man shows up claiming to be her secret half-brother, her curiosity is piqued. He’s clever, street smart, and has no qualms jumping into the brawl between the Treasures and Horans. Caught in the middle, Horan kidnaps Amethyst, and all she gets is this lousy bullet through her heart. When Clark brings her back to life, however, the real action starts, and Amethyst joins him in his fight against the Horan clan-whatever the cost. Defeating the Horans may seem easy at first, but going up against men with the same fighting vengeance as Clark, and a Senator with power he’s obtained by brainwashing the masses? Well, Amethyst’s boring summer at home has turned into an adventure on the run, chock full of intrigue, danger, love, and a mysterious boy named Clark. 

Treasure Darkly on Goodreads

Autumn – Book Review

Book Rating: ★★★★✰  (3.75 / 5 stars)

Sara has always lived a quiet life with her mother in Merrywater. But when the Carnival of Games arrives, and her mother is temporarily held hostage, they’re forced to flee and seek refuge with Sara’s uncle, Seaglen. Yet Seaglen and his daughter Shumuti, as well as her friend Aurielle, have their own secrets: Magic is real. With this discovery, Sara is thrown into an adventure to find other sources of Magic before an unknown enemy claims it for themselves.

Autumn by Melissa Nash is a fast paced, fantasy adventure with an endearing focus on female friendship. With Sara, we are taken into a world reminiscent of Avatar: The Last Airbender, focusing on elemental magic and to defeat a faceless leader. Just like Aang, in Avatar, they’re on a quest to find someone. For Aang, it was a teacher in each element. For Sara, Shumuti, and Aurielle, it is an additional Guardian of Magic. These similarities will resonate with people who enjoy Avatar…in all the right ways! I know it did with me too!

The plot is fast paced and adventurous, exploring a world where Magic is more prominent than it lets on. I particularly enjoyed Shumuti’s POVs; she’s a leader, determined, and it shows. She proved to be a nice contrast to Sara, who is a bit less sure of herself. I think having these strong female leads is a great message and is rare to see in YA Fantasy.

Now, while the characters as a whole were strong, I struggled once Aurielle’s POVs were added. Her POV were very similar to Sara’s, at least in my opinion, and if it wasn’t for the heading indicating whose POV the chapter was in, I might have gotten confused.

In addition, some of the structuring and pacing were a little off for me. The story started off at a slower pace, one that I personally like, but by the halfway point, it was jumping a bit more in order to skim over the travel time. While some readers will enjoy this, some of this travel could have been used to build the comradery or focus more on the magic. This is just a personal take though, and by no mean does the pacing ruin the story.

Overall, I am excited to pick up the second book, Winter, soon. This is a fantastic YA fantasy about friendship and magic…and I think a lot of people will enjoy this!

What’s it about?

After an unexplainable incident at the Carnival of Games, Sara is forced to flee to the neighbouring region of Merrywater with her mother and seek shelter with an uncle and cousin she has never met before. Here, Sara learns of a secret kept hidden from her all her life, that her newfound family are amongst a select few people in the whole country who can use Magic. Sara learns from her cousin, Shumuti, that Magic is an energy found in the natural environment, allowing nature to bloom and flourish. But take too much from the landscape, and the land begins to wilt and die, meaning that with the ability to use Magic there also comes the responsibility to protect this energy, to prevent exploitation of the natural world. Following several attacks from an unknown enemy, Sara’s uncle, Seaglen, establishes that Magic is being misused to the north. Wanting to help, but unable to wield Magic herself, Sara accompanies Shumuti and her friend, Aurielle, to investigate the situation. Warning them that there are people there who may wish to take advantage of their power, Seaglen advises them to undertake their task discretely. 

Autumn on Goodreads

The Golden Orchard – Book Review

Book Rating: ★★★★☆ (4 / 5 Stars)
Audio Book Performance: ★★★★☆ (4 / 5 Stars)

Maya’s life has changed. When her grandmother, her Halmunee, shows up one day – disoriented with Alzheimer’s Disease – it begins to redefine Maya’s small family life. Her mother grows distant. Her friendships become strained. But soon, Maya’s Halmunee introduces her to the world of Korea cooking, and the literal memories that come with it. In a journey fit for the imagination, Maya discovers that she has the ability to witness the past – though not change it. What does her mother know about this? And can Maya balance this new secret with her day-to-day life?

In a story that takes you on a journey through family, Korean culture, and time, this heartwarming tale will delight all ages. As someone who has always enjoyed stories about my own family, I enjoyed watching Maya explore the different elements of her family’s past, uncovering pieces about herself by watching others. The connection that she and her Halmunee have, especially with food, is one that both adults and children will feel deep in their core.

In a way, I saw this book as a combination of Quantum Leap with Amy Tan’s writing (different ethnicity, of course, but some of the same messages about family and culture decorated in the pages). Written for a middle grade audience, Flora Ahn describes the time traveling process as one that children can understand: think of it as a movie theatre, viewing different shows, that can’t be altered. This simple explanation surpassed any complex description that time travel shows typically use, and it created a visual no doubt any person can interpret.

While all the hints were there along the way, I DID NOT expect that twist at the end. I honestly thought it was something else entirely (regarding Maya’s friend Jeff). But this twist definitely answered some of my questions: why was her mom so secretive? Where did Halmunee come from?

What it didn’t answer was where did Maya’s father go, but this might open up a realm of possibilities for an second book if the author desires.

My one hang up was the handling of the character Jeff. I really thought he was related to Maya in a more in depth way. While I was happy to have a twist thrown at me, it left this strange confusion about Jeff’s character. Why were he and Maya so connected? Was it just because their trees were close? While this is a possibility, it felt like there was so much more! Perhaps if a second book is written, Ahn will elaborate on this more.

Overall, The Golden Orchard is a fantastic tale of family history, relationships, and time travel…all dosed with a bit of Korean Flavor. It’s definitely worth the listen if you have a couple hours.

What’s it about?

Maya loves to cook with her grandmother – her Halmunee – to connect with the rich family history associated with each dish, a history Maya’s mom would prefer stayed in the past. While cooking with Halmunee, something remarkable happens – the food creates such a strong memory that Maya and Halmunee are transported back in time through the memory itself. Halmunee explains that the women in her family have the gift of time travel through food and Maya can do it too, if she practices. While eating her way through the past, Maya meets Jeff: another young time traveler who brings her to the Golden Orchard, a garden of memories filled with the trees of so many people’s lives. Maya learns that time moves in ways she couldn’t imagine and sometimes family keep their memories secret to protect the ones they love.

The Golden Orchard on Goodreads

Listed – Book Review

Book Rating: ★★★★✰  (4 / 5 stars)

Judas grew up in Denme, but he never stood him his Leader. Rather, he has spent his whole life fighting for his freedom, hiding his identity, and working for The Rebellion. Meanwhile, Nadine has never known this struggle; living life in Olympia, she was aware of the struggles in Denme, but until she is kidnapped and brought there, she never witnessed it first hand. Now, Nadine has a choice: hide with The Rebellion as an unlisted until they can get her home…or become Listed and help to take down the Leader of Denme and bring peace.

That summary only describes some of what happens in this fast paced and exciting book that keeps you on the edge of your seat! Listed was a refreshing take on Dystopian novels, taking some of the best elements from books like The Hunger Games, The Giver, City of Embers, etc. and putting a New Adult, darker twist on them. 

Honestly it was so refreshing reading a New Adult Dystopian novel. I wasn’t faced with the same tropes that often annoy me in YA Dystopian Novels: love triangles, teenage leaders, etc. Instead, we have a group of individuals fighting for their lives but also working together. There is not a singular leader, but a group, willing to discuss the pros and cons of their actions, and chose the right path. The characters are more mature and face far darker circumstances. All in all, I really enjoyed it! 

The characters pop, with Judas and Nadine acting as the traditional POV characters. But along side them you characters like Michael who was learning how his entire world was a lie, or Ezekiel the main leader, or Samhain the destructive one. All of these characters work together as a unit to really make the story pop. 

Yet, my primary issue with the book was the pace. There was so much that happened, and if the book had been longer or even split up into two parts, it would have given us a chance to explore more of the worldbuilding (which was pretty sound as it is) as well as the different character. Yet, that is a more personal reason than anything; if you’ve seen my reviews before, you know that I just want more! 

That’s why I’m so excited for the sequel, Rebound. I’ve already pre-ordered it and have it on my short list to read later this summer! 

All-in-all, Listed is a fantastic NA Dystopian novel that takes many common tropes and expands upon them. So if you like fast paced, dystopian novels with LGBTQ+ rep and characters that pop…check it out! 

What’s it about?

They should have never met. . .

When Judas Wells is ordered to send Nadine Ellis to her execution, he defies orders for the first time in his life by concealing Nadine in The Rebellion. However, once it is revealed that Nadine has actually been kidnapped from a neighboring country, The Rebellion and Judas realise her experience as an outsider could could bring down their own country’s ruthless regime and restore freedom to the nation.

Yet this proves no simple task when the government starts hunting them all down. As an uprising looms over the country in retaliation, nowhere is safe. With the help of The Rebellion, Judas and Nadine must survive long enough to see freedom restored—or face their demise. 

Listed on Goodreads

Love and Loki – Book Review

Book Rating: ★★★✰✰  (3 / 5 stars)

Prince Stuart must marry in order to unite his kingdom. Forced into a loveless betrothal with a princess, Stuart has long accepted his fate. He must provide heirs – and he couldn’t if he chose to be with a man, as his heart desired. But one day, upon being sent on a quest to kill the evil mage in the forest, he succumbs to poisoning. When he wakes up, none other than the Trickster God, Loki, is tending to his wounds. Can Loki be trusted though? And why does Stuart feel so drawn to him? 

I picked up Love and Loki for free at the start of June. Norse Mythology, plus LGBTQ+ representation? It sounded like something right up my alley. And ultimately, it is a great retelling, taking the trickster Loki and giving him a sense of humanity. It examines Loki’s troubles with Odin and his family, as well as the relationship he had with his children. By far, I am glad I know some Norse Mythology, because if you’re unfamiliar with Loki’s children or your only exposure to Loki is through Marvel, then you might be a tad confused. 

The story is definitely “spicier” than what I usually read though. I’m not one for intense scenes like this in my reading, but there was enough story around the events to not completely deter me. My review is mostly focused on the story, not on the “erotic” scenes. I’ll let individuals who enjoy spice give their opinions on those scenes. 

While Love and Loki does need some editing to help consistency and narration, I don’t think that derailed the story. Rather, I think the story needed to be longer in order to better establish the world building, Stuart’s character, and Loki’s position in the world. Ultimately, the story relies on previous knowledge from Norse Mythology. Given more time, we could have explored the Norse Mythology in relation to Stuart and Loki’s story, as well as really explore the connection Stuart and Loki begin to form. 

Ultimately, the story itself is a fast, enjoyable read. If you’re looking for a story that incorporates Norse Gods, LGBTQ+ romance, and some spice, then this will be right up your alley! 

What’s it about?

“A master of words, yet I could take you apart with my silver tongue if I truly tried,” Loki commented.“I bet you say that to all the boys.” The prince retorted rolling his eyes.
Loki is tired of his existence, looking for a way to hold on after Odin took everything from him or at the very least, a permanent escape from his pain.

Stuart is a Prince, looking for a marriage to unite his kingdom and crown him King. Sent on a mission to destroy the evil mage in the mountains to earn the hand of the fair princess.

Nothing is as it seems when Stuart discovers that Loki is neither evil nor does the kingdom want him to successfully marry the princess. As they are thrown together trying to break a curse, can they find love in each other’s arms?

*TRIGGER WARNINGS*
Gay sex, angry sex, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempt.

Love and Loki on Goodreads

The Maker War- Book Review

Book Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆ (DNF @ 35%)

Welcome to the Global Maker Corps! Learn to 3D print anything in an instance!

Zavier Vik has joined the Maker Corps to help protect the world. A talented maker, but with his own haunted past, he has been struggling to fulfill assignments. He freezes on the battlefield, lets his friends down, and often gets wrapped up in his own faults. Yet, when the Rippers attack Maker HQ, Zavier has to fight along side his friends to fulfill his duty, protect HQ, and overcome his own anxieties.

I honestly cannot say why I didn’t like this book. I’ve been trying to read it for quite a few weeks, and each time I picked it up, I found my mind wandering, and left disinterested by the plot. This was weird for me, especially since I tend to like books similar to the Maker Corps. Perhaps my headspace wasn’t in the right place for a fast-paced, action packed book. 

Part of what I think caused me to not like this book was the way it was written. While it is WELL WRITTEN, some of the omniscient POV made me feel disconnected to the characters. This is a very personal take that I have mentioned while reviewing other books as well. I’ve never been a big fan of omniscient POV. Even though the narrative mostly followed Zavier, the constant switching disoriented me as the reader, and I was left not caring about their struggles or what was happening next.

Yet, with that being said, I could definitely see this working as an action packed movie or TV show, and I think in that situation I would love it! The different POVs and the action would work quite well on screen!

Yet, despite the fact I usually love stories like this, the omniscient POV plus my current headspace caused me not get into this story. Reading it became a chore.

So I ultimately decided to DNF this book at 35%. 

Maybe someday I’ll try picking it up again. But, for now, I think it is my best option to leave the book here. Am I curious what happens? Somewhat. But not enough to try and force myself to read it. 

Again, please don’t take my review as a reason NOT to read this book. In fact, I implore you to check this book out yourself! Just because I couldn’t get into it doesn’t mean you won’t! 

I think if you like action packed sci-fi novels that focus more on plot than characters, then this is definitely a story for you! So check it out if it interests you. I might be back someday. 

What’s it about?

IMAGINE WHAT YOU COULD BE IF YOU COULD CREATE WHATEVER YOU IMAGINE.

What if you lived in a world where you could 3D print a perfect version of anything you wanted—in an instant? And what if you could, just as quickly, rip apart any object and break it down into the dust of the universe? In the next century, this earth-shattering technology is a reality. Matter, not money, has become the key to power.

Young Zavier Vik follows his war-hero sister into the Global Maker Corps to make the world safer. But, while Makers use their OzTech printers to create and build, their enemies—the Rippers—seek to destroy and take away what people have.

The Maker Corps recruits cadets with conditions like ADHD, anxiety, and dyslexia, knowing these are strengths that feed “fluid thinking” in battle. Zavier and his squad members must work together, think quickly, and hold back the Ripper threat.

Action-packed, entertaining, and surprising, “The Maker War” dares you to imagine what could be, if you could create whatever you imagine.

The Maker War on Goodreads

Bad Therapist – Book Review

Book Rating: ★★★ ☆ ☆   (3 / 5 stars)
Audio Book Performance: ★★★★☆ (4 / 5 Stars)

Often, people wonder if they can trust their therapists. In most cases, the answer is yes. But in the case of Chris Bathum, a predatory Malibu rehab therapist and guru, individual’s found their trust violated, their money used, and their addictions tested. Chris Bathum was not only a “bad therapist” but also a fraud, an abuser, and quite frankly, a sociopath. Too many men exist like him in the world, and his story is just one of many.

While the case surrounding Chris Bathum is fascinating, and it’s amazing how he was able to deceive not just his patients but the medical professionals and authorities as well. He was able to put together an empire, take control of vulnerable individuals, and profit off of their fears. It sounds like something from fiction, but it is true.

Honestly, for such an interesting case, I wish the recollection had been executed better. While I was intrigued from start to finish, overall it wasn’t the most impressive narration of a true crime event. It reminded me more of a long podcast (especially in audiobook format) rather than a book.  Some parts I found myself drifting in as well, not able to pay attention. While I can’t quite pinpoint what needs to be done better, it felt like something in the narration or discussion was missing. Perhaps this had to do with the fact I listened to it as an audiobook. Maybe reading it would have garnered a different result.

Yet, Bathum’s case is not one we should take lightly. There are people across the world who use their power to their advantage. Rather than putting individuals like Bathum up on a pedestal, we should watch it in fear and do our best to stop predatory practices like Bathum’s rehab centers. 

Overall, I’m definitely curious to learn what regulations have been set up to stop people like Bathum since these events – if any at all. 

What’s it about?

Inside the biggest scandal in the history of America’s $40 billion drug recovery industry: a predatory Malibu rehab guru—and the fearless female patient who exposed his empire of deceit.

Chris Bathum was a respected therapist, addiction specialist, and founder of one of the fastest-growing rehabilitation chains in America. But Bathum was a total fraud: he was a meth-head with a history of sexually abusing his patients, scamming insurance companies, and eliminating whistle-blowers. Like Rose Stahl. But this intended victim would be his last. Stahl would risk her life to bring down the monster she and so many other people in need had once trusted for their salvation.

Evan Wright’s Bad Therapist is part of Exposure, a collection of six incredible and true stories of American double lives from millionaire CEOs and suburban teens to undercover investigators and scam artists—all for whom secrets are a way of life. Each piece can be read or listened to in a single astonished sitting.

Bad Therapist on Goodreads

Let’s Talk About: Reviewing Indie Books v. Traditional Books

There’s been some discourse on TikTok lately about whether or not a reader should review Indie Books on the same scale as Traditionally Published Books. This has opened up a can of questions: are indie book reviews artificially inflated? How can indie authors be respected in the industry? How can readers make sure they are consistent?

In my opinion, Indie Authors should be treated exactly the same as their Traditional Counterparts. If they’re not, then they won’t be looked at the same way as the rest of the publishing industry.

But, often times, Indie Authors aren’t treated the same. Some are attacked relentlessly for their editing, which might be just as good as their traditional counterparts. Meanwhile, you have the reverse side of things, where readers might opt to not rate a book OR rate the book higher than they would a traditional book even if they don’t like it so they don’t “hurt the author’s feelings”.

Indie Authors are often split on how to feel about this. Some believe that people should be kinder, since we don’t have the same resources as the traditionally published houses. But others – myself included – believe that you should rate these books with the same critical eye as you do a traditional book.

Personally, I believe by not treating Indie Authors like you do Traditionally Published Authors, you pigeon hole these Indie Authors into two categories (at least on Goodreads.com): Recipients of Unrealistic Negative Reviews and Recipients of Unrealistic Positive Reviews.

Generally, I believe most reviewers are honest. I like to believe in the best of people. But, some self-published authors become the victim (or beneficiaries) of malicious (or sometimes kind) intent.

As a reviewer, I know I have fallen into the latter category. Often times, I’ll read an indie book that only has a few reviews. So I re-evaluate, and end up rating the book higher than I might have otherwise rated a traditionally published book. Is this right of me? I’m not sure. But will it do any wrong? No.

But do overly kind reviews or overly negative reviews really help validate the Independent Publishing side of the industry? Probably not.

To be respected as indie authors, we should be treated the same as our traditional counterparts. Reviews should be consistent. No one should fall victim to needlessly harsh reviews or overtly kind reviews. Instead, readers and reviewers should remain consistent in their reviews no matter what type of book they are reading.

Yet, this isn’t always the case. While, as I mentioned before, for the most part reviewers stick with their rating system, there sometimes comes a point of artificial inflation and deflation in the reviews.

Let me explain.

First, I want to define how I interpret artificial inflation and deflation:

Artificial Inflation would be when either: 1) An author gets a bunch of friends or family who HAVE NOT read their book to leave positive reviews on their work, or 2) When an author has almost entirely positive reviews (once they hit, let’s say, 25 reviews) due to readers being “kinder”. Artificial Inflation of reviews, in my opinion, makes it appear as though books in the Indie Industry have a higher overall rating. This is partially due to the number of reviews, which in turn causes readers to pause before leaving a negative review. This, once again, can be seen as a positive or negative. More on that later.

Artificial Deflation would be when either: 1) A bunch of reviewers (or trolls) attack a single book because they don’t like the author, or they decide to pick on something in a book without reading it, 2) A reviewer is harsher on an indie book, taking issue with some grammatical errors or inconsistencies they wouldn’t note in a traditionally published book. Obviously the first issue here is much easier to identify.

Now, I generally believe that most people are honest in their reviews. I won’t comment on how Amazon’s reviews pan out though, since often this is very different and I don’t know enough about them. But on Goodreads, I’d like to think that most books with more than 25 reviews are representing what readers truly think.

But this isn’t always the case. Below are a few examples of artificial inflation and deflation:

Artificial Inflation ExamplesLet’s start with my book! One review on my book is a 4-star review that simply says “This book wasn’t for me but a lot of other people like it.” While I appreciate a 4-star review, can I consider this a legitimate 4-star review? Not necessarily. Would this person have left a 4-star review if I was a traditionally published author? I’m not sure. Obviously I don’t know this person’s review policy – but in some aspects, I consider this an “artificial” positive review.
I was a part of an indie book club a few months ago. I had a discussion with some of the members, and a few of them said that unless they can rate a book by an indie author 3-stars or higher, they won’t rate it. Why? They didn’t want to impact the overall star rating since it will hurt the author’s feelings. But, they don’t hold the same discretion over traditionally published books. I think this is a great point in illustrating how reviews on indie books become artificially inflated – people withhold negative reviews. While this isn’t bad for an author, it does mean the reason someone dislikes a book won’t be available for other readers.
As a reviewer – I have found myself rating indie books higher than I would a traditional counterpart. While there are a few I have given low star ratings because I really didn’t enjoy them, there are others that I have given 3.5 to 4 stars, even though I might have given then 2 or 3 stars if written by anyone else. This is primarily because 1) I know the author or 2) they don’t have a lot of reviews in the first place.
Another good example I saw was on one book that I ultimately rated 3 stars. I was scrolling through reviews, and saw that someone left a review saying they DNF’d the book. But they still gave the book 3 stars. Perhaps that reader always gives 3 stars to books they can’t finish, but most readers often give 1 or 2 stars in that case. Would they have given 3 stars if it wasn’t an indie book? I’m not sure.
Speaking of knowing the author – this can also inflate reviews…when someone hasn’t READ the book. It is totally fine for friends and family to review your book, but hopefully they have read it before doing so. When you gather friends and family to leave reviews, but they haven’t actually read it, then this is not just artificially inflating a book…but scamming readers as well. Amazon has found a way to prevent this, often times removing reviews from people they believe have a personal connection with the author. Goodreads doesn’t do this though. This can fall almost on the same level of if you paid someone to review your book as well. While I believe this example is far less likely, it does happen. The best example I have is a book my dad read – I don’t remember the name. But it had a hundred or so 4-5 star ratings, but no reviews. The balance was strange, especially for an indie book. My dad, personally, didn’t like the book – and he did not hold back.

While these are only a few examples of what I call “artificial inflation”, they are some of the best examples of what exist in the indie author community. Some people might not think of this as inflating ratings, but in a way…it does. But remember, it is only artificial inflation if the reader is acting differently because it is an indie book – NOT because that is their method of reviewing books. If that is their method, then they’re just inflating the rating…which isn’t bad. That just means the rating is improving.

But now, let’s talking about Artificial Deflation.

Artificial Deflation Examples

Overall, Artificial Deflation is much more malicious in nature. Let’s talk about it…

The best example I can think of is when a reader attacks a self-published book for not being edited enough and having typos, then failing to hold traditionally published books to the same standard. While some readers really do nitpick every book like this, if you only comment on the editing of self-publish books, then that is a double standard that artificially deflates the book. Now, this is different than when you comment on a book that has an error on every page. There is an industry standard of what is acceptable – if a self-published book meets that industry standard, then why comment on it? Every book will have some typos!
Recently, I saw an author essentially get attacked on Goodreads. While this isn’t the norm, in my opinion, it does happen. This author received one or two legitimate negative reviews about their book, then within the course of a day or so, received an influx of more reviews similar in nature. While it is possible all these individuals read their book, it seems unlikely considering the number of reviews at the time. More likely than not, these individuals all knew each other and decided to “troll” this author. All of these reviewers had similar thoughts as well. This causes the reviews on the book to be deflated.

While Artificial Deflation is the more extreme example of this, often with much larger implications, I personally don’t think that it is the norm when it comes to reviewing. I personally believe that if someone chooses to alter their review preferences with indie books, they are kinder.

And this in turn causes indie books to have a higher rating on Goodreads overall – at least from my experience. Although some indie authors might disagree.

So let me tell you a bit more about my experience…

Let’s go back a year ago, June 2020, when I was preparing to publish The Mist Keeper’s Apprentice. Around that time, I started reviewing books more regularly, and I noticed that a lot of Indie Books had a star rating above 4.2 stars. So I thought that was the average.

Then I got a couple negative reviews, since I ventured into the world of ARC readers.

Suddenly I had a rating of about 3.8 stars.

I faced a sudden existential crisis. What if my book was terrible? What was I supposed to do?

Then I peered around Goodreads and discovered something – most books have a rating of 3.5 stars or higher.

For whatever reason, the indie books in my sphere of discovery had higher ratings. Were they artificially inflated? I don’t know. I know with some of them I was kinder in my rating than with other books. Were others? I still don’t know.

While generally I don’t think books begin to come into their “natural rating” until about 25 reviews (and it doesn’t really solidify until 100 reviews), it was still hard to wrap my head around the fact that my book fell below 4 stars. Some of these books did have over 25 reviews, without a single negative review! Why? Maybe they were that good. Maybe the writer hadn’t reached outside their own sphere of influence. Or maybe, just maybe, some readers were “kinder” because the book was published independently.

I don’t know. And I won’t speculate either.

What I do know is that because so many indie books, at least those I became familiar with, have a rating greater than 4 stars…it took me many months to be comfortable in my book’s rating. (Now, my book has 4 stars exactly. That could change at any moment…but I was very happy to see that on Goodreads!)

So what does this all mean?

Basically, the essence of this discussion is simple: rate indie books just like you would rate traditionally published books. The only way for self-published authors to be respected in the industry is to be treated similarly.

As an indie author, I would rather you leave an honest review than a positive but dishonest one.

But…I also understand why it can be harder to leave a more critical review of an indie book. I’ve fallen into the same trap.

Indie Authors, I think, seem more human than Traditionally Published Authors. We’re the ones doing our marketing, we’re the ones hyping our books, etc. So by negatively reviewing our books, some readers might feel like they’re attacking us. In that case, you have a couple options, at least on Goodreads.com:

Review Indie Books like any other! This is the preferred method, of course. As always though, be honest and kind.Review Indie Books on a curve. This isn’t preferred, but understandable. When people do this, it is what leads to artificially inflated reviews. Leave a review, but not a star rating. One reason why I like Goodreads v. Amazon is the ability to leave a review without any star ratings. I often do this for books I DNF since I don’t think it’s fair to an author to give a star rating – at least until I hit 50% read. If you omit a star rating, it doesn’t impact the book’s overall rating, but still gives you a chance to talk about what you liked/didn’t like.

Once again though, the key here is to keep your personal reviewing system consistent.

In Conclusion…

While there is no way to determine for sure if a book’s rating is being artificially inflated or deflated overall, since everyone’s review systems are subjective, if you stay consistent, then at least you know you are being honest to the author.

Indie Authors put just as much work into their novels as Traditionally Published Authors. To be treated differently only reaffirms the idea that we are beneath them. This is not the case. Many of us have spent thousands of dollars to get our book out into the world. Even those who didn’t spend that kind of money, they have put their heart-and-soul into their novel.

Treat us like you would any other author. Once we are seen as equals, only then can the industry change.