Group 335. Out of This World - Mod. Kat

[Kat]

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:
Kat

Member Links * Book Links
1. Zita Harrison*Owl Manor - the Final Stroke: Book 3 of the Owl Manor Gothic Suspense Trilogy
2. E.K. Frances*The Compound: YA Dark Dystopian
3. Jeff Chapman*The Great Contagion
4. S.T. Blake*A Lunatic's Laugh
5. Noor Al-Shanti*When the Traveler Stands Still
6. S. Lynn Helton*Duplicity of Power
7. Shari Branning*Sea and Soul
8. Michael Ferguson*The Genesis 6 Project
9. Joseph Carrabis*The Inheritors
10. Alistair Rey*The Art of Ghost Writing


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...

[Lynn]

I'd like to join with my fantasy book Duplicity of Power.
-Lynn

My Goodreads book link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

My Goodreads author link: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

[E.K., Admin]

Please can I join with my YA dark dystopian, The Compound. It's an ARC until 4th August so fine having the reviews just on Goodreads.

I've reviewed Lynn but not the book she has listed.

Author page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

Book page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...


Thanks!

[Jeff]

I'm interested in joining with my fantasy novel The Great Contagion.

[Joseph]

I'd like to take part. Have four titles available for review, the latest just released 30 June 2023.

Joseph

[E.K., Admin]

I've reviewed Jeff but not the book he has listed. No conflicts with Joseph.

[Michael]

I would like to join with my novel, The Genesis 6 Project. Thanks. Michael Ferguson

Book page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...

https://www.amazon.com/Genesis-6-Proj...

Author page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

[Joseph]

I'm good with the titles offered by Lynn, E.K., and Michael. already read Jeff's.

[E.K., Admin]

I've got no conflicts with Michael.

[Kat]

Michael wrote: "I would like to join with my novel, The Genesis 6 Project. Thanks. Michael Ferguson

Book page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...

https://www.amazon.com/Genesis-6-..."


Michael, you previously tried to enter the In This World round.

A book would not be appropriate for both rounds. OOTW rounds are for spec fic/sci fi/dystopian/paranormal/fantasy and In This World rounds are for books that could happen in the real world.

Can you please double check the rules and verify that your book is appropriate for this round?

[Kat]

Welcome, Lynn, EK, Jeff and Joseph.

Michael, please check and let me know if your book qualifies for this round and then I will add you.

Joseph, you did not provide me with a book link. I added one of your books at random. Please provide me with the link for the book you would like entered into this round.

[Kat]

All, it will help me greatly if as people join the round, you will update me with anyone you have reviewed in the past, or who has reviewed you. I will try to check bookshelves as well, but the more eyes we have checking, the more likely we are to get an order that works for everyone from the get go. :)

To check if you have reviewed someone in the past, please go to your My Books, and type in the name of the author in question. That will tell you if you have reviewed them before.

To check if someone has reviewed YOU, go to their author profile, click under their avatar where it says 100 reviews (or whatever) and that will take you to their bookshelf. Then type in your name in their search bar to see if they have reviewed you before.

Hope this helps!

[Michael]

Kat wrote: "Michael wrote: "I would like to join with my novel, The Genesis 6 Project. Thanks. Michael Ferguson

Book page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...

https://www.amazo..."
I think I would be. My novel has paranormal, written as a speculative fiction- on a rumored US military event, but some would argue it could occur, and others would argue not possible, so it overlaps both.

[Lynn]

For my review clashes with the people we have so far (and in some cases confirming what others have already said)...

E.K. Frances - has reviewed me before, but not this book

Jeff Chapman - has reviewed me before, but not this book

Joseph Carrabis - I've already reviewed several of his books (including the one currently in the list), but it sounds like he's got one I haven't read/reviewed yet

Michael Ferguson - no review clashes

[Noor]

I'd like to join with When the Traveler Stands Still

Book Page: When the Traveler Stands Still

My Author Page: Noor Al-Shanti

So far, I don't see any clashes!

[Kat]

Michael wrote: "I think I would be. My novel has paranormal, written as a speculative fiction- on a rumored US military event, but some would argue it could occur, and others would argue not possible, so it overlaps both."

Sounds like this is would be an OOTW appropriate book, then, as you say it's paranormal / spec fic.

[Joseph]

Hello again,
My newest is The Inheritors - http://nlb.pub/Inheritors

If that doesn't resonate with some readers, I can also offer
The Augmented Man - SF Military/Psych Thriller - http://nlb.pub/Augmented
Empty Sky - myth urban fantasy - http://nlb.pub/EmptySky
Tales 'Told Round Celestial Campfires - sf/f/h anthology - http://nlb.pub/TalesV1

Pretty sure I have something for everyone.
Thanks.

[Jeff]

No conflicts with Michael Ferguson.
No conflicts with Noor Al-Shanti.

I have reviewed S. Lynn Helton before but not the book on offer.

Joseph Carrabis has reviewed The Great Contagion but I can substitute a different one.
E.K. Frances has reviewed one of my other books.

[K.A.]

Hi Kat, I'd like to join with The Strange Taste of Metal. Lynn has reviewed it and I've reviewed one of Joseph's, but not this one. Thanks.

[Kat]

Karlee, I'm sorry but there isn't a way to make this one work. Because you only have one book (which Lynn has read), you and she would need to go into each other's blind spot and both of you have also already read Joseph. Hopefully there will be more rounds opening soon, or you can check out the one for one list in the meantime.

[Zita]

Hi, I'd like to join with Owl Manor - the Final Stroke if possible.

Reviewed another book by E.K. Frances
Reviewed Duplicity of Power by Lynn
Joseph has reviewed Final Stroke

No clashes with anyone else so far.

[Rik]

I'd like to join with my novel
Thrill Kings: Fragmented Sky
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
EK & Noor have reviewed me.
I have reviewed S Lynn Helton
Thank you

[Rik]

Adding this in. I have reviewed Duplicity of Power By S Lynn Helton (also Crystalborne Sigils)
EK has reviewed both of my Novels
Noor has reviewed Fragmented Sky
Thank you

[Lynn]

I have no clashes with Noor.

Both Zita and Rik have read/reviewed this book of mine, but I have the next in the series available that they can read.

-Lynn

[Kat]

Welcome, Zita and Rik!

Thank you, everyone, for reporting those clashes. You're doing a great job and it's very helpful!

[Shari]

I'd love to join with my book Sea and Soul
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...

Author page
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

It's been several years since I joined a review round here, and TBH I can't really remember who I read/reviewed, or who reviewed my book at that time, but scrolling through the lineup thus far, no one is looking familiar.

[Lynn]

I have no clashes with Shari.
-Lynn

[Kat]

Joseph and Zita, when you have a chance, please provide your Goodreads book link so I make sure I am directing people to the right page.

[Kat]

Shari wrote: "I'd love to join with my book Sea and Soul
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...

Author page
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/..."

Shari, please see message 12. That gives directions for how to check your Goodreads shelves and those of other people. Let me know your clashes, please.

[Shari]

Not seeing any clashes.

[Joseph]

Kat wrote: "Joseph and Zita, when you have a chance, please provide your Goodreads book link so I make sure I am directing people to the right page."

Hello again,
The Inheritors - http://nlb.pub/GInheritors

If that doesn't resonate, then any of
The Augmented Man - SF Military/Psych Thriller - http://nlb.pub/GAugmented
Empty Sky - myth urban fantasy - http://nlb.pub/GEmptySky
Tales 'Told Round Celestial Campfires - sf/f/h anthology - http://nlb.pub/GTalesV1

[Jeff]

No conflicts with Zita Harrison.

No conflicts with Rik Ty.

[S.T.]

Hi again, Kat!
If possible, I'd like to join with my paranormal modern Gothic story, A Lunatic's Laugh - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6....
The only conflict I can see is that Joseph has already reviewed it.
Let me know if it works okay for you?
Thanks,
Sean

[Kat]

Welcome, Shari.

[Kat]

Welcome, ST.

[Kat]

We'll check now to make certain there are no conflicts, and alternates are available for those who need them.

Please 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.

Remember you're SENDING your book to the four names above you (the list wraps so 10 is above 1) -- and you're RECEIVING books from the four names below you on the first post of the thread.

Once EVERYONE confirms they're good to go, the round can begin.

Member Links * Book Links
1. Zita Harrison*Owl Manor - the Final Stroke: Book 3 of the Owl Manor Gothic Suspense Trilogy
2. E.K. Frances*The Compound: YA Dark Dystopian
3. Jeff Chapman*The Great Contagion
4. Noor Al-Shanti*When the Traveler Stands Still
5. Rik Ty*Thrill Kings Fragmented Sky
6. S. Lynn Helton*Duplicity of Power
7. Shari Branning*Sea and Soul
8. Michael Ferguson*The Genesis 6 Project
9. Joseph Carrabis*The Inheritors
10. S.T. Blake*A Lunatic's Laugh

[E.K., Admin]

I'm good to go, assuming Rik has an alternative for me to read.

[Michael]

Kat wrote: "We'll check now to make certain there are no conflicts, and alternates are available for those who need them.

Please tell me if you have reviewed any of the four people above you on the list (the ..." No conflicts for Michael Ferguson

[Shari]

Looking good here.

[Joseph]

Good for me.
So I'm sending my book to S.T., Zita, E.K., and Jeff, correct?

I can provide PDF and ePub.
It's also on Kindle Unlimited if you use it. - http://nlb.pub/Inheritors

Let me know, and thanks.

[Jeff]

Good to go.

[Kat]

Joseph wrote: "Good for me.
So I'm sending my book to S.T., Zita, E.K., and Jeff, correct?

I can provide PDF and ePub.
It's also on Kindle Unlimited if you use it. - http://nlb.pub/Inheritors

Let me know, and t..."

No, those are the people you're reading. The four people above you on the list are the ones who will be reading your book. Before we worry about getting copies of books to people, we need to make sure the order works. Can you recheck please now that you know who you are reading and confirm you're good?

[Joseph]

(same problem I had before regarding order. have to stop reading things in zero-g. always screws me up...)

Yes, it seems I've not read
5. Rik Ty*Thrill Kings Fragmented Sky
6. S. Lynn Helton*Duplicity of Power
7. Shari Branning*Sea and Soul
8. Michael Ferguson*The Genesis 6 Project

So assuming I land soon, I'm good to read those books.

[Noor]

I'm good to go as I'm sure Rik has other books for me to read.

[S.T.]

Hi, as I mentioned, Joseph has already reviewed my book - and if I'm reading the instructions properly, I'm currently due to send it to him again..?

[Rik]

EK has reviewed both my novels.
Noor has reviewed this novel and one comic book of mine. I have one short story that might be possible.

I am putting together a short story collection. I can bow out of this round, and come to a future round when it's ready. Or, if possible, could I shuffle somewhere else on the list for this novel??

[Alistair]

Hello, If there is still space, I would like to participate in this round with my book The Art of Ghost Writing
The Art of Ghost Writing.

I can provide a pdf copy of the book. It is also available on KU for free.

[Zita]

Sorry, Kat, spaced. Here are the book links for GR and Zon.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B...

[Kat]

Rik wrote: "EK has reviewed both my novels.
Noor has reviewed this novel and one comic book of mine. I have one short story that might be possible.

I am putting together a short story collection. I can bow ou..."

Hi Rik! I can't really move you. You are welcome to stay in the round if you have something else you could send to Noor and EK, or you are welcome to bow out and wait for a different round and we can put someone else in that spot.

Thinking to future sign ups, it will be helpful to the mods when you sign up if you say something like "although it appears according to Goodreads that I have 24 books available, I actually only have 2 to offer."

[Kat]

Alistair wrote: "Hello, If there is still space, I would like to participate in this round with my book The Art of Ghost Writing
The Art of Ghost Writing.

I can provide a pdf copy of the book. It..."

Alistair, we may have a spot for you depending on what Rik decides to do. Have you reviewed anyone listed in message 36 before, or have they reviewed you?