Review For "The Pool and the Pedestal"
I wanted to share a review with you. A bit of background first.
On Novemeber 5th, Book I of The Seraphinium received a review on Amazon with a 2 star rating. The reviewer, "JayC", was articulate and forthright, analyzing the book vs. the bulk of the genre. Obviously, JayC had some issues. However, JayC also was fair enough to state that the book had potential.
Even though this review basically dissed the book, I found it encouraging. Here was a reader who didn't get hung up on anger or petty meaness. Too often, the internet and its anonymity are used as a means to belittle and trash someone's hard work. JayC was refreshing because he actually engaged in the process and made salient points concerning the novel.
I contacted JayC and offered him a complimentary copy of Book II. Why? Because even though JayC was overall negative in his opinion of Book I, I valued his input and analysis. Also, I thought "Who better to assess Book II than someone already willing to be brutally honest."
Thankfully, JayC accepted my offer, again a credit to him. I've made this offer in the past and several people are gracious and helpful. Others become defensive or suspicious. I will let the reviews below finish the story, however, I want to thank JayC and readers like him who involve themselves in the process and make the reading/writing experience that much more rewarding.
JayC Book I review:
Tedious, November 5, 2012
By JayC "jaychris" - See all my reviewsAmazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: The Merchant and the Menace (The Seraphinium) (Kindle Edition)
I had a hard time with this book. I wanted to like it. With so many 5-star ratings, I figured it would be nigh-on can't miss. It's pretty rare that Amazon reviews have steered me wrong and I've learned to watch for the dissident opinions for things that would turn me off. Except for one reviewer that made me a little nervous, I took a chance.
Unfortunately, there are plenty of issues that make it tough to continue with the series:
* Religion: I'm fine with religious overtones- plenty of fantasy authors use the same mechanism. It's a little heavy handed here- basically a thin veneer of fantasy over what seems to be a hard-core Christianity theme. A lot of the monologuing seems a
bit preachy. The Awoi/Amird story in particular (Chapter 10) seemed overly contrived and way longer than it needed to be.
* Formatting: The formatting is horrible. The type-face is terrible and the line spacing makes my head hurt (hint: double spacing sucks).
* Content: It's like I'm wading through a knee deep swamp- you keep going forward cause there's no where else to go and occasionally you run into a small island of decent surface; but mostly, it's just tiring.
I get that the author is world-building here. It's important to understand motivation and back-story. George R.R. Martin is a master at it- it never feels heavy handed. But I find myself skipping through pages of monologue to get to the point where the story continues.
There are flashes of good stuff- the Brelg backstory, although long, was pretty good. The elves are an interesting change from the elves you see in other fantasy stories. Overall though, it needs some serious streamlining. I think there's the kernel of a really good story in there. It just takes too much work to suss it out.
JayC Book II review (after our email exchange)
4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Follow Up / Huge Improvement, November 14, 2012
By JayC "jaychris" - See all my reviewsThis review is from: The Pool and the Pedestal (The Seraphinium) (Kindle Edition)
After I read the first book, I felt compelled to leave a review and in short, it was not flattering. After receiving a copy of the second book, I promised to leave a review if I thought it was an improvement over the first.
I am very glad that I continued the series with The Pool and the Pedestal.
This book is a huge improvement over the first in all ways- everything that I had a problem with in the first book has been refined and streamlined in this second installment (well, except the double spacing- still hate that... :-). The plot never feels heavy or dragging. The characters feel more "in character" and spend less time pontificating. Things really start to move in this book. The author has clearly refined his trade greatly between his first and second books. I will *definitely* be continuing to purchase and follow this series.
If you feel a little reluctant to continue after the first book and happen to see this review, then I HIGHLY recommend you take the chance and continue the series. It's well worth it.
On Novemeber 5th, Book I of The Seraphinium received a review on Amazon with a 2 star rating. The reviewer, "JayC", was articulate and forthright, analyzing the book vs. the bulk of the genre. Obviously, JayC had some issues. However, JayC also was fair enough to state that the book had potential.
Even though this review basically dissed the book, I found it encouraging. Here was a reader who didn't get hung up on anger or petty meaness. Too often, the internet and its anonymity are used as a means to belittle and trash someone's hard work. JayC was refreshing because he actually engaged in the process and made salient points concerning the novel.
I contacted JayC and offered him a complimentary copy of Book II. Why? Because even though JayC was overall negative in his opinion of Book I, I valued his input and analysis. Also, I thought "Who better to assess Book II than someone already willing to be brutally honest."
Thankfully, JayC accepted my offer, again a credit to him. I've made this offer in the past and several people are gracious and helpful. Others become defensive or suspicious. I will let the reviews below finish the story, however, I want to thank JayC and readers like him who involve themselves in the process and make the reading/writing experience that much more rewarding.
JayC Book I review:
Tedious, November 5, 2012
By JayC "jaychris" - See all my reviewsAmazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: The Merchant and the Menace (The Seraphinium) (Kindle Edition)
I had a hard time with this book. I wanted to like it. With so many 5-star ratings, I figured it would be nigh-on can't miss. It's pretty rare that Amazon reviews have steered me wrong and I've learned to watch for the dissident opinions for things that would turn me off. Except for one reviewer that made me a little nervous, I took a chance.
Unfortunately, there are plenty of issues that make it tough to continue with the series:
* Religion: I'm fine with religious overtones- plenty of fantasy authors use the same mechanism. It's a little heavy handed here- basically a thin veneer of fantasy over what seems to be a hard-core Christianity theme. A lot of the monologuing seems a
bit preachy. The Awoi/Amird story in particular (Chapter 10) seemed overly contrived and way longer than it needed to be.
* Formatting: The formatting is horrible. The type-face is terrible and the line spacing makes my head hurt (hint: double spacing sucks).
* Content: It's like I'm wading through a knee deep swamp- you keep going forward cause there's no where else to go and occasionally you run into a small island of decent surface; but mostly, it's just tiring.
I get that the author is world-building here. It's important to understand motivation and back-story. George R.R. Martin is a master at it- it never feels heavy handed. But I find myself skipping through pages of monologue to get to the point where the story continues.
There are flashes of good stuff- the Brelg backstory, although long, was pretty good. The elves are an interesting change from the elves you see in other fantasy stories. Overall though, it needs some serious streamlining. I think there's the kernel of a really good story in there. It just takes too much work to suss it out.
JayC Book II review (after our email exchange)
4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Follow Up / Huge Improvement, November 14, 2012
By JayC "jaychris" - See all my reviewsThis review is from: The Pool and the Pedestal (The Seraphinium) (Kindle Edition)
After I read the first book, I felt compelled to leave a review and in short, it was not flattering. After receiving a copy of the second book, I promised to leave a review if I thought it was an improvement over the first.
I am very glad that I continued the series with The Pool and the Pedestal.
This book is a huge improvement over the first in all ways- everything that I had a problem with in the first book has been refined and streamlined in this second installment (well, except the double spacing- still hate that... :-). The plot never feels heavy or dragging. The characters feel more "in character" and spend less time pontificating. Things really start to move in this book. The author has clearly refined his trade greatly between his first and second books. I will *definitely* be continuing to purchase and follow this series.
If you feel a little reluctant to continue after the first book and happen to see this review, then I HIGHLY recommend you take the chance and continue the series. It's well worth it.
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