Where Scalzi Leads I Shall Follow...

I blame John Sclazi for this irresistible idea. Following his example - here are some choice comments from one star reviews I got for Midnight Riot/Rivers of London. Just so we're clear; I'm posting them as an act of bravado, to prove that no matter how well received your work is somebody, somewhere will not like it and because it does an author good to eat a bit of humble pie.
This should go without saying but, just in case it doesn't, this should in no way be construed as an incitement for others to attack the reviewer - do not do this.
"This is easily the worst book I have read for a while. A long while. I suppose it's meant to be Harry Potter for grown ups but I just didn't find it in any way shape or form plausible or entertaining."
"I really tried to like this book. I thought it would be more engaging but I just couldn't get into it. This is the first book in a long while that I stopped reading before it was finished."
"I adored the premise of this book & it started off fine but it just got harder & harder to plow through until I gave up & just skimmed the last 40 pages. It was just depressing that the character discovers magic is real but it's directed towards hurting people & quarreling" 
"As a Londoner, I liked the descriptions of the city, and I loved a POC in the role of the magical protagonist, but the plot's ridiculously predictable to the point of being silly. I gave up about halfway through."
"This just didn't engage me in any way. I was disappointed and only got about 3/4 of the way through."
"Did not like it."  
One-star (and otherwise negative) reviews happen. Accept them, own them, and then move on from them - John Scalzi
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Published on July 18, 2012 22:00
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message 1: by Brandt (new)

Brandt "..but the plot's ridiculously predictable to the point of being silly. I gave up about halfway through"

This one made me laugh... :)


message 2: by Joe (new)

Joe Jones What I always find strange is why bother to review something you did not finish? How can you honestly give it only 1 star when you can't know if it got better or not?


message 3: by carol. (new)

carol. Mab wrote: ""..but the plot's ridiculously predictable to the point of being silly. I gave up about halfway through"

This one made me laugh... :)"


I agree. Silly. Predictable how, exactly?


message 4: by Brandt (new)

Brandt Dont know, it seems a weird thing to say, especially considering the person only made it halfway through the story..


message 5: by Sarah (new)

Sarah I realise we all see things differently to others and it would be a boring world if we all liked the same things, but this review is one of those where I find myself wondering whether we're talking about the same book.


message 6: by Ben (new)

Ben Aaronovitch Sarah wrote: "I realise we all see things differently to others and it would be a boring world if we all liked the same things, but this review is one of those where I find myself wondering whether we're talking..."

I like this review in one sense (okay maybe 'like' is not the right word) because reminds me that people can have very different reactions to the same thing - an important insight for any writer,


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