Group 301. Out of this World - Mod. Chrys

[E.M.]

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:
Chrys Cymri

Member Links
1. Stjepan Varesevac Cobets
2. Alex Canna
3. Jeff Chapman
4. S.D. Brown
5. P.L. Tavormina
6. Khira Allen
7. Bruce Pedersen
8. Greg Kuznetsov
9. Henryan Arkson
10.D. Wallace Peach

Book Links
1. Godeena: SF Novel
2. The South Tower: An alternate history of 9/11
3. The Great Contagion
4. Saving Bigfoot Valley
5. Seven Strengths: A Tale from Turaset
6. Songbird Ascension
7. The Eighth Stone
8. Jupiter's Black Diamond and Other Stories
9. Amperyall Star and the Egosyntonic Frequencies
10.Soul Swallowers

[E.M.]

IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO ANYONE SIGNING UP TO JOIN THIS ROUND

Please note that Goodreads has recently made a privacy reset to their private messaging system. This means that they have shifted the default setting to restrict those who can message you.

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...

[P.L.]

Hi there!

Can I be in two rounds at the same time? (I think the answer is no but not sure.)

I just finished my reviews for Out of This World and would love to join a new round. I'm applying to this round and also the novella round.

I'm not sure if I qualify for the novella round, since my novella releases in 20 days. For that round, I submitted with a title 'Seven Strengths, a tale from Turaset.'

For this 'Out of this World' round, I'd submit my first-in-series 'Aerovoyant' (I have a second-in-series for reviewers who already reviewed that title).

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...

[E.M.]

P.L. wrote: "Hi there!

Can I be in two rounds at the same time? (I think the answer is no but not sure.)

I just finished my reviews for Out of This World and would love to join a new round. I'm applying to t..."

You will need to choose one round or the other. You can submit a book that has yet to be released provided there is somewhere for people to post their reviews right away. If that is not the case, you might want to reconsider which round you sign up for.

[P.L.]

Oh, all right. I will choose the novella round, but if they say my pre-order status is a no-go, then I'll pop back with hopes to join this round.

[Khira]

Hi,
I'm new to the group, but if possible, I would like to join the Out of This World round 301 with my sci-fi novel, Songbird Ascension.
Cheers
Khira

[E.M.]

Welcome Khira - please check back frequently to make sure you have no review clashes with others who join the round. Full instructions on what you will need to do will be provided as the round progresses.

[Alex]

Hi, I'd like to join with The South Tower:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

Thanks!
Alex

[E.M.]

Welcome Alex - please be sure to check back frequently to let me know any review clashes you spot as the round fills. Thanks.

[Jeff]

Hi, I wish to join with my fantasy novel The Great Contagion.

I have not reviewed any books by Khira or Alex.

[E.M.]

Welcome Jeff - do please keep checking back frequently to spot any review clashes as the group fills. Thanks.

[D.]

I'd love to submit my book Soul Swallowers

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...

I've read Alex before. I don't believe I have reviewed or been reviewed by Khira or Jeff.

[Alex]

Hi, I have an alternative book for D if necessary.

[E.M.]

Welcome D. - Please keep checking back for any further clashes. Thanks.

[Jeff]

I have no review conflicts with D.

[Bruce]

I'd like to join with my fantasy book The Eighth Stone:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

I've been reviewed by Alex but no other conflicts.

Thanks
Bruce,

[E.M.]

Welcome Bruce - do keep checking back frequently to spot any future clashes as the group fills. Thanks.

[Stjepan]

Hi E.M. I want to join the group with my book Godeena.

[Stjepan]

I didn't read this Aleks book and I read Jeff's book, D. read my book. They and I have more books so it’s not a problem regarding the group. :)

[Khira]

I don't have any review clashes in this round

[E.M.]

Welcome Stjepan - do please keep checking back frequently for any clashes that might occur as the round fills. Thanks.

Khira - thanks for letting me know.

[Jeff]

No conflicts with Bruce. Stjepan has read one of my books (Last Request) but not the one on offer here.

[P.M.F.]

I would like to join this review group with my fantasy novel, Dark Alley Magic. D.W. Peach has reviewed this novel, but I have other books she can read. Stjepen has reviewed a different novel of mine. I have read Bruce's book, and I do not see that he has another, so that might be an issue.

Let me know if this might work.

Thank you.

P M F Johnson

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

[P.M.F.]

(Actually, Stjepan reviewed a book of poems... whole different thing). ;->

[E.M.]

P.M.F. wrote: "I would like to join this review group with my fantasy novel, Dark Alley Magic. D.W. Peach has reviewed this novel, but I have other books she can read. Stjepen has reviewed a different novel of mi..."

I am really sorry but you would need to go in Bruce's blind spot and that is already occupied. Your book would fit in other rounds that are still filling so I suggest you look to join one of those instead.

[P.M.F.]

Okay, sorry it didn't work out. Good luck, everyone!

[Greg]

Hi, I am new to this group. I would like to enter my short story collection Jupiter's Black Diamond: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

GK

[E.M.]

Greg wrote: "Hi, I am new to this group. I would like to enter my short story collection Jupiter's Black Diamond: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5......"

Happy to add you Greg - but you would first need to make your review list accessible so people can check for review clashes with you when necessary. Thanks :)

[Greg]

E.M. wrote: "Greg wrote: "Hi, I am new to this group. I would like to enter my short story collection Jupiter's Black Diamond: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5......"

Done, tell me if it worked

[Jeff]

I have no review clashes with Greg.

[Henryan]

Hi, I am new to this group. I would like to enter my sci-fi book: Amperyal Star and the Egosyntonic Frequencies

GR link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

Regards,
Henryan Arkson

[E.M.]

Henryan wrote: "Hi, I am new to this group. I would like to enter my sci-fi book: Amperyal Star and the Egosyntonic Frequencies

GR link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5......"

You can only sign up for one group at a time. Please let me know which group you wish to be included in.

[Henryan]

E.M. wrote: "Henryan wrote: "Hi, I am new to this group. I would like to enter my sci-fi book: Amperyal Star and the Egosyntonic Frequencies

GR link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5......"

Hi E.M. I choose this group. I have no clashes here.

GR link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

Thank you.

[E.M.]

Welcome Henryan - Please do remember to keep checking back frequently to spot any clashes that might occur as the group fills. Thanks.

[Greg]

E.M. wrote: "Greg wrote: "Hi, I am new to this group. I would like to enter my short story collection Jupiter's Black Diamond: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5......"

Hi, I made my reviews accessible to Goodreads members-I hope it worked, I doublechecked. It appears no review clashes. Can you add me now?

[Jeff]

No clashes with Henryan.

I'm also able to see Greg's reviews.

[P.L.]

I'd like to join this round. I just completed my reviews on the current novella round (speedy!), and I'm hoping to get a few more reviews on that story. It's a 40,000 word prequel to my colonization sci-fi series, so it's 'first in series' ... but a prequel.

Seven Strengths: A Tale from Turaset
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

I see one clash: D. Wallace Peach reviewed my novel "Aerovoyant, Volume 1 of The Industrial Age" during round 293. That novel and the sequel to it are each 100,000-110,000 words.

Last thing, I'd be happy for reviews on any of my titles (the shorter prequel or either of the two stand-alone novels) and so can provide whatever file a potential reviewer would prefer to read.

[E.M.]

Welcome Greg and P.L. - do please keep checking back.

[Isaac]

Good morning EM,

This is from Isaac Nasri. I'm interested in enrolling into this round if possible.

My cyberpunk novel: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

[E.M.]

Isaac - already added you to another round.

[Isaac]

Ok

[S.D.]

Hi Not sure if you can fit me in...
with a middle grade kids book for middlegrade readers/ a reverse bigfoot story... Saving Bigfoot Valley.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...

I have reviewed Henryan & Cobets & D Peach have reviewed me.
I don't think I have any other conflicts unles I'vem issed one.


If I don't fit it's okay

[P.L.]

Hi S.D., Having grown up in the midwest in the 70s, I just wanted to pop in and say I love the idea of Bigfoot Valley. :) I'm glad you wrote that book! :) :)

[S.D.]

P.L. wrote: "Hi S.M., Having grown up in the midwest in the 70s, I just wanted to pop in and say I love the idea of Bigfoot Valley. :) I'm glad you wrote that book! :) :)"

thanks

[P.L.]

(Sorry for getting your initials wrong. Ack!)

[E.M.]

Welcome S.D. - I think I can fit you in, let's check.

Everyone - please post to tell me if you have reviewed any of the four people above you on the list (the list wraps around so (10) is 'above' (1) ). Please also check that if you have already reviewed any of the four people 'below' you on the list they have more books available that you have not yet reviewed and post to tell me if they have not.

Remember that you can check if you have reviewed anyone before by going to your reviews through your profile (the link is under your portrait), and searching their name. You can check if someone has reviewed you in the same way through their profile and searching for your name.
Please check all those who are the 4 above and 4 below you.
If you have no review clashes - or if you are scheduled to review someone who you have reviewed before but can see they have another book available just post 'Good to go :)' or words to that effect.

When everyone has posted 'Good to go' we will be :)

If you are new to these rounds do not worry, full instructions will be provided at every stage.

[Alex]

Good to go, and I have another book for D. Wallace Peach.

[Henryan]

Hi, E.M.

I have no review clashes.

[Stjepan]

Everything is OK :) I lowered the price of my book on Amazon to $ 0.99. But you can also contact me with a message, so I will send you a format that suits you. :) I will buy all the books I read on Amazon

[S.D.]

looks good to me.
I just made Saving Bigfoot Valley for free on kindle starting tomorrow and the next 5 days.


I will be purchasing the books I review.