Sally Altass's Blog - Posts Tagged "reedsy-discovery"
What is Reedsy Discovery?
If you’re a regular here on my blog, first of all, THANK YOU, and second of all, you may have noticed that a lot of my book reviews refer to Reedsy Discovery. But what exactly is Reedsy Discovery? Well, that’s a fair question, and I’ll try my best to answer.
So. I came across Reedsy Discovery when I was mooching around the main Reedsy site. I was browsing for editors, and somehow ended up on the Discovery page. I had a gander, as you do, and saw that they were looking for book reviewers. I had already set this site up, after I became a part of Lisa Cassidy’s ‘Street Team’, so thought to my self, ‘why now? What would I have to lose?’ I sent off the application, and promptly forgot all about it as I continued trying to finesse my own book.
Around a month later or so, I received an email from the Discovery team, welcoming me to the ARC/reviewer program. I immediately went onto the site and began hunting through the books available to download. That first book wasn’t great, and I didn’t finish it properly as it was riddled with errors. I messaged the team manager, and she advised me to ‘return the book,’ and that the author would get the feedback I’d drafted out. She also asked me to schedule a video call – kind of like an induction to the ARC/reviewer program and being a reviewer.
In the call, she let me know the ins and outs of what I could and couldn’t write. Asked that whenever I published a review on here, to link in the original review and to not publish it until the book was officially released.
So, what's in it for me, you may well ask.
I mean, apart from being able to download up to three books at once to read? This month (April 2022), I’ve had 18 books. That’s 18 FREE books. So far, (as of the 25th April), I’ve read and reviewed 15 of them. What’s not to love?
In March (discounting the book I returned as unfinished), I reviewed four books – even though I was only accepted onto the program late in the month. I made the top ten reviewers of the month – coming in in eighth place. So far, for April, I’m in second place in the reviewer leaderboard, and for the year, I’m in fourth. That’s completely crazy.
The exciting thing about this month though, is that I reviewed three books, I’d get a $30 gift card, five books, $50 gift card and ten books, $100 gift card. It was an amazing incentive, so I rose to the challenge. It’s an added bonus that Discovery will match the gift card amount and donate it to relief efforts for Ukraine.
Also, if I invite someone to the program, they’re accepted and they write a review, I would earn $50. So far, I’ve not invited anyone; not because I don’t want to get $50, but because I’m always terrible at referrals. Seriously, I’m awful.
What else? Well, so far there’s the free books, offers of gift cards, offers of money for referring someone… Oh, and there’s tips. I set up the tips button on my Discovery profile, and once again, promptly forgot about it. When I published my first review on the site, I was gobsmacked to see that the author had sent me $5. Like… What? I need to be absolutely straight with you here. I do not ask for these tips. I’m delighted with a free book. I get to read amazing books by new authors. I get to write reviews (I’m a trained journalist, for goodness sakes, and I’ve always specialised in writing reviews – whether it’s of a film, book, play, album, gig… I love writing!). That someone actually bothered to thank me by sending me money for doing something that I enjoy anyway, is completely mind-blowing. And, I’m so grateful. The free books will always be my favourite perk of being on the Reedsy Discovery Reviewer Team; the tips are just a much appreciated bonus.
What do I have to do, to review a book?
As silly as it sounds, all you have to do is read it and review it. You’ll get a check box before you agree fully to review it. Just making sure that you have enough time to read the book, that you’ll write an honest review, and that you’ll be fair. It’s not much to ask for, at all. You download the book in your preferred format (PDF, e-pub, mobi), sort it out on your e-reader, and get into it. You can start to write the review on your dashboard, and save it for when you’ve finished. When you’ve finished the book, give it your review.
Start off by giving it a rating out of five stars. Discovery states that a three star review is actually a good review; only offer four or five stars for the truly exceptional books. Two star ratings aren’t necessarily negative, as they come with the tagline ‘Not for me’, which is completely fair. As I’ve already discussed in a recent blog post, not everyone will enjoy the same book – some will love it, some will hate it. One star reviews are rare, and so far, out of almost 20 books read and reviewed, I’ve only offered one one star review.
Once you’ve written your review, checked that it’s grammatically sound and makes sense, you can submit it. It won’t go live until the book is officially published – but the author can see it, and so they get feedback and quotes to publicise their book in the meantime. Once the book is officially on sale, you can then publish your review along with relevant links on your own blog.
Is it worth doing?
I’m gonna say, yeah! Of course it is. If you love reading, especially so.
Not only is there the free books, the bonus perks and the tips, there’s the knowledge that you’re helping someone as they set out on what can only be described as an incomprehensibly scary journey. You’re offering honest, genuine thoughts on their work and providing constructive criticism. I try not to be overly critical in my reviews; I always try to explain why I didn’t particularly enjoy something. I also try to balance it with something positive. And, for a writer, who has just sent their book out into the ether, and is waiting nervously for that review to come back, it’s invaluable. I mean, I know! I’m that writer myself.
Saying that, I’ve not put my own book onto Reedsy Discovery. Not because I’m scared of negative feedback, but because that could be a bit of a weird conflict of interest. I enjoy reading books and writing reviews on there, and don’t want to ruin what I’m enjoying by waiting for someone to review my book. Hypocritical? Maybe, yes. But also, an author has to pay to upload a book to be reviewed, and that’s not something I can budget for, at the moment.
To sum up, Reedsy Discovery is amazing. I honestly do recommend signing up to become a reviewer, I mean, you get a little tick after your name. Which is always nice when it makes you feel all official.
S. A.
So. I came across Reedsy Discovery when I was mooching around the main Reedsy site. I was browsing for editors, and somehow ended up on the Discovery page. I had a gander, as you do, and saw that they were looking for book reviewers. I had already set this site up, after I became a part of Lisa Cassidy’s ‘Street Team’, so thought to my self, ‘why now? What would I have to lose?’ I sent off the application, and promptly forgot all about it as I continued trying to finesse my own book.
Around a month later or so, I received an email from the Discovery team, welcoming me to the ARC/reviewer program. I immediately went onto the site and began hunting through the books available to download. That first book wasn’t great, and I didn’t finish it properly as it was riddled with errors. I messaged the team manager, and she advised me to ‘return the book,’ and that the author would get the feedback I’d drafted out. She also asked me to schedule a video call – kind of like an induction to the ARC/reviewer program and being a reviewer.
In the call, she let me know the ins and outs of what I could and couldn’t write. Asked that whenever I published a review on here, to link in the original review and to not publish it until the book was officially released.
So, what's in it for me, you may well ask.
I mean, apart from being able to download up to three books at once to read? This month (April 2022), I’ve had 18 books. That’s 18 FREE books. So far, (as of the 25th April), I’ve read and reviewed 15 of them. What’s not to love?
In March (discounting the book I returned as unfinished), I reviewed four books – even though I was only accepted onto the program late in the month. I made the top ten reviewers of the month – coming in in eighth place. So far, for April, I’m in second place in the reviewer leaderboard, and for the year, I’m in fourth. That’s completely crazy.
The exciting thing about this month though, is that I reviewed three books, I’d get a $30 gift card, five books, $50 gift card and ten books, $100 gift card. It was an amazing incentive, so I rose to the challenge. It’s an added bonus that Discovery will match the gift card amount and donate it to relief efforts for Ukraine.
Also, if I invite someone to the program, they’re accepted and they write a review, I would earn $50. So far, I’ve not invited anyone; not because I don’t want to get $50, but because I’m always terrible at referrals. Seriously, I’m awful.
What else? Well, so far there’s the free books, offers of gift cards, offers of money for referring someone… Oh, and there’s tips. I set up the tips button on my Discovery profile, and once again, promptly forgot about it. When I published my first review on the site, I was gobsmacked to see that the author had sent me $5. Like… What? I need to be absolutely straight with you here. I do not ask for these tips. I’m delighted with a free book. I get to read amazing books by new authors. I get to write reviews (I’m a trained journalist, for goodness sakes, and I’ve always specialised in writing reviews – whether it’s of a film, book, play, album, gig… I love writing!). That someone actually bothered to thank me by sending me money for doing something that I enjoy anyway, is completely mind-blowing. And, I’m so grateful. The free books will always be my favourite perk of being on the Reedsy Discovery Reviewer Team; the tips are just a much appreciated bonus.
What do I have to do, to review a book?
As silly as it sounds, all you have to do is read it and review it. You’ll get a check box before you agree fully to review it. Just making sure that you have enough time to read the book, that you’ll write an honest review, and that you’ll be fair. It’s not much to ask for, at all. You download the book in your preferred format (PDF, e-pub, mobi), sort it out on your e-reader, and get into it. You can start to write the review on your dashboard, and save it for when you’ve finished. When you’ve finished the book, give it your review.
Start off by giving it a rating out of five stars. Discovery states that a three star review is actually a good review; only offer four or five stars for the truly exceptional books. Two star ratings aren’t necessarily negative, as they come with the tagline ‘Not for me’, which is completely fair. As I’ve already discussed in a recent blog post, not everyone will enjoy the same book – some will love it, some will hate it. One star reviews are rare, and so far, out of almost 20 books read and reviewed, I’ve only offered one one star review.
Once you’ve written your review, checked that it’s grammatically sound and makes sense, you can submit it. It won’t go live until the book is officially published – but the author can see it, and so they get feedback and quotes to publicise their book in the meantime. Once the book is officially on sale, you can then publish your review along with relevant links on your own blog.
Is it worth doing?
I’m gonna say, yeah! Of course it is. If you love reading, especially so.
Not only is there the free books, the bonus perks and the tips, there’s the knowledge that you’re helping someone as they set out on what can only be described as an incomprehensibly scary journey. You’re offering honest, genuine thoughts on their work and providing constructive criticism. I try not to be overly critical in my reviews; I always try to explain why I didn’t particularly enjoy something. I also try to balance it with something positive. And, for a writer, who has just sent their book out into the ether, and is waiting nervously for that review to come back, it’s invaluable. I mean, I know! I’m that writer myself.
Saying that, I’ve not put my own book onto Reedsy Discovery. Not because I’m scared of negative feedback, but because that could be a bit of a weird conflict of interest. I enjoy reading books and writing reviews on there, and don’t want to ruin what I’m enjoying by waiting for someone to review my book. Hypocritical? Maybe, yes. But also, an author has to pay to upload a book to be reviewed, and that’s not something I can budget for, at the moment.
To sum up, Reedsy Discovery is amazing. I honestly do recommend signing up to become a reviewer, I mean, you get a little tick after your name. Which is always nice when it makes you feel all official.
S. A.
My Favourite Books That Have Been Released In April 2022
Buckle up, folks, it’s listicle time!
As we come to the end of the month, it’s always the best time to reflect back upon the things we’ve achieved. Or for the case of this post, the books I’ve read.
Now, I’ve read A LOT of books. I’m currently a Reviewer on Reedsy Discovery, which means that I get a heck of a lot of books to read and review for free. This month alone, I’ve read more than 10 books, even if the reviews won’t be published until the official book publication date. So, for that reason, this list is going to focus on the books I’ve read and that you can actually get hold of this month.
1)
🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕
Those who know me, know I adore Helen. I’ve read all of her books to date, and not one of them have disappointed me. The same goes for The Fabric of Chaos.
“Helen takes on a journey through the Lower Realm as the sextet travel through dangerous landscapes and endure terrifying trials. Then there’s the mystery surrounding Roh’s birth, her strange power and her link to the Sea Drake Hatchling. It’s not a straightforward journey from Akoris to Csilla; the companions facing tribulations and horrifying decisions as Roh battles for the Birthstone and the right to sit the throne.
2)
🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕
I was lucky enough to be sent an ARC of this amazing book, the third in the Heir of the Darkmage Series. I’d binged all of Lisa’s books before this was released, and fell in love with her clear, bright style. There’s humour in her writing, as well as sorrow, love and loss. Honestly, Whisper of the Darksong is a triumph.
“Lira is one of those delicious characters who battles with her morality. She desperately wants to shed the cloak of her grandfather’s legacy; just wanting to be seen for who she is. She desires to prove herself to be a person outside of his influence, to be recognised as someone with power, talent and her own beliefs. Trying to shed prejudice is difficult though, and before long, Lira finds herself becoming disillusioned, used and hated just because of her long dead grandfather.”
3)
🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕
I reviewed this Nomads of the Sea as part of the Reedsy Discovery ARC program, and well, what a treat it was. An epic fantasy, of over 200,000 words. He wrote it in four months, during one of the lockdowns. I mean, how incredible is that alone?
“By the time I reached the end of the prologue, I was hooked. I actually snorted out loud at the prologues last line; the wry observation delivered with such dry humour had me thirsting for more. I also found it hard to believe that Zucker is a mere 24 years old and that this is his debut offering.”
4)
🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑
Another corker from Reedsy Discovery, and A Signal For Redemption should not have worked. A spaceship from a presumably destroyed earth orbiting a feudal new world populated with people who know nothing about technology? Who’d have thought I would love it this much?
“From the very first page, I was swept into the story, compelled to keep reading. The prologue, even if I didn’t realise it at the time, had plenty of answers and light bulb moments when I hesitantly flipped back to check – always a sign of a well thought out, intricately planned book.”
5)
🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑
And, another from Reedsy Discovery, and A Merry Life was the second book from the program I read. The world as we know it has been ravaged by storms, natural disasters and pandemics, and is now a dangerous place. It might be the typical trope for a dystopian story set in the future, but this one is different on so many levels.
“As the book reached its climax, I was sobbing. A testament to how beautifully written this was. It was a true rollercoaster – with soaring highs, a few belly laughs, true desperation and overwhelming sadness. I sincerely look forward to the next instalment in Kat’s story.
6)
🌕🌕🌕🌑🌑
This was my first book from Reedsy, and don’t let the three stars confuse you. The Lore of the Wind Drivers is superbly written and will make you question your own reality.
“J.T. Stadd has built a world that most people would dream of; a world where people live in beautiful treehouses and children can race down rivers on huge lily pads. A world free of pollution and free of electronics; a peaceful haven with no background noises other than birdsong. But this world holds its own secrets, are the occupants as peaceful and harmless as they seem, or are they darker – hiding their true nature in the deep past? “
7)
🌕🌕🌕🌑🌑
This was a strange one, another beauty from Reedsy Discovery, and one that slightly blew my little mind. The Voyage of the Dream Maker isn’t an ordinary book by any means, and starts with a glossary of sorts.
“We weave in and out of a strange narrative then. Yasha keeps the perspective from the first person, but in some chapters, there’s no way of knowing who the narrator is. It keeps you on your toes in a trope that’s been written a million times before.”
And, that’s it, folks! Although I’ve read many more books this month, only some of them have actually been officially released. So… All I can say is happy reading! You may have noticed that most of these books are available on Kindle Unlimited, which is always a bonus, in my opinion, because the author is paid per page read. Which is cool.
Anyway…
Be sure to come back next month for more reviews (there’s A LOT!), more listicles, and more blog posts. Until then, happy reading!
S. A
As we come to the end of the month, it’s always the best time to reflect back upon the things we’ve achieved. Or for the case of this post, the books I’ve read.
Now, I’ve read A LOT of books. I’m currently a Reviewer on Reedsy Discovery, which means that I get a heck of a lot of books to read and review for free. This month alone, I’ve read more than 10 books, even if the reviews won’t be published until the official book publication date. So, for that reason, this list is going to focus on the books I’ve read and that you can actually get hold of this month.
1)
🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕
Those who know me, know I adore Helen. I’ve read all of her books to date, and not one of them have disappointed me. The same goes for The Fabric of Chaos.
“Helen takes on a journey through the Lower Realm as the sextet travel through dangerous landscapes and endure terrifying trials. Then there’s the mystery surrounding Roh’s birth, her strange power and her link to the Sea Drake Hatchling. It’s not a straightforward journey from Akoris to Csilla; the companions facing tribulations and horrifying decisions as Roh battles for the Birthstone and the right to sit the throne.
2)
🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕
I was lucky enough to be sent an ARC of this amazing book, the third in the Heir of the Darkmage Series. I’d binged all of Lisa’s books before this was released, and fell in love with her clear, bright style. There’s humour in her writing, as well as sorrow, love and loss. Honestly, Whisper of the Darksong is a triumph.
“Lira is one of those delicious characters who battles with her morality. She desperately wants to shed the cloak of her grandfather’s legacy; just wanting to be seen for who she is. She desires to prove herself to be a person outside of his influence, to be recognised as someone with power, talent and her own beliefs. Trying to shed prejudice is difficult though, and before long, Lira finds herself becoming disillusioned, used and hated just because of her long dead grandfather.”
3)
🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕
I reviewed this Nomads of the Sea as part of the Reedsy Discovery ARC program, and well, what a treat it was. An epic fantasy, of over 200,000 words. He wrote it in four months, during one of the lockdowns. I mean, how incredible is that alone?
“By the time I reached the end of the prologue, I was hooked. I actually snorted out loud at the prologues last line; the wry observation delivered with such dry humour had me thirsting for more. I also found it hard to believe that Zucker is a mere 24 years old and that this is his debut offering.”
4)
🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑
Another corker from Reedsy Discovery, and A Signal For Redemption should not have worked. A spaceship from a presumably destroyed earth orbiting a feudal new world populated with people who know nothing about technology? Who’d have thought I would love it this much?
“From the very first page, I was swept into the story, compelled to keep reading. The prologue, even if I didn’t realise it at the time, had plenty of answers and light bulb moments when I hesitantly flipped back to check – always a sign of a well thought out, intricately planned book.”
5)
🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑
And, another from Reedsy Discovery, and A Merry Life was the second book from the program I read. The world as we know it has been ravaged by storms, natural disasters and pandemics, and is now a dangerous place. It might be the typical trope for a dystopian story set in the future, but this one is different on so many levels.
“As the book reached its climax, I was sobbing. A testament to how beautifully written this was. It was a true rollercoaster – with soaring highs, a few belly laughs, true desperation and overwhelming sadness. I sincerely look forward to the next instalment in Kat’s story.
6)
🌕🌕🌕🌑🌑
This was my first book from Reedsy, and don’t let the three stars confuse you. The Lore of the Wind Drivers is superbly written and will make you question your own reality.
“J.T. Stadd has built a world that most people would dream of; a world where people live in beautiful treehouses and children can race down rivers on huge lily pads. A world free of pollution and free of electronics; a peaceful haven with no background noises other than birdsong. But this world holds its own secrets, are the occupants as peaceful and harmless as they seem, or are they darker – hiding their true nature in the deep past? “
7)
🌕🌕🌕🌑🌑
This was a strange one, another beauty from Reedsy Discovery, and one that slightly blew my little mind. The Voyage of the Dream Maker isn’t an ordinary book by any means, and starts with a glossary of sorts.
“We weave in and out of a strange narrative then. Yasha keeps the perspective from the first person, but in some chapters, there’s no way of knowing who the narrator is. It keeps you on your toes in a trope that’s been written a million times before.”
And, that’s it, folks! Although I’ve read many more books this month, only some of them have actually been officially released. So… All I can say is happy reading! You may have noticed that most of these books are available on Kindle Unlimited, which is always a bonus, in my opinion, because the author is paid per page read. Which is cool.
Anyway…
Be sure to come back next month for more reviews (there’s A LOT!), more listicles, and more blog posts. Until then, happy reading!
S. A
