Review Policy

Ratings

I chose to avoid the standard 5-star ratings, as I didn’t feel it gave me enough flexibility for my ratings, so I prefer a 1-10 range (incrementing down to half an integer). Almost as soon as I had made the decision to avoid 5-star ratings, I also decided that a single score for a book didn’t accurately capture the components of a novel that I look for. I’ve read “meh” books with awesome characters, spectacular books that were still fairly formulaic in regards to characters or setting, and books with so-so writing but action-packed with a fantastic plot. So I decided to split my scoring up into categories to reflect that. Hopefully, this strategy will capture my book-reading experience more accurately, and give readers a big more information about the novel they’re considering purchasing.

I grade every novel on the categories listed below:

Plot: How’s the pacing, and is the story interesting? I’m not saying that I only love fast-paced books or slow, somber reads; instead, is it herky-jerky or does the intensity and tension progress naturally? I give big points for originality, and for believability. All of the characters shouldn’t arrive at the same location in the final moments of the story just because it’s convenient to the plot.

Characters: How original are the characters? Do they interest me as people; do their emotions and motivations ring true? Some fantasy stories require deep, original characters to be great and some stories are very plot-driven, focusing less on motivations and more on the world’s events. Myself, I like original, fleshed-out characters, so this category matters to me.

Action: Exciting? Monotonous? For lack of a better description, where’s the wicked awesome? Action encompasses more than visceral, blood-and-guts battles, but what’s going on? Are there moments that force you to put the book down and catch your breath? Do you find yourself describing the scene to friends or coworkers?

Writing: This is a difficult category to quantify, but we’ve all read a book where the writing is a bit clumsy. The language may be boring, the dialogue stilted and uncomfortable, the descriptions a bit drab, or the action virtually unreadable. However, when a great writer is firing on all cylinders, the language can be as interesting as the story itself!

Overall: In deference to the general rule of creating a single score, I also try to decide on a value that reflects my overall experience of the book. This is not an average of my individual category scores, but a judgment on the entirety of the product. Sometimes, the end product is greater than the sum of the individual parts, but the opposite may also be true.

Review Policy

My reviews will always be honest. My scores may seem skewed higher than an “average” of 5.5, but that reflects the fact that I am reading books that excite me, often books that have also received good reviews elsewhere or been recommended by my friends. I’ll warn you that I’m not a professional reviewer or a college professor; that said, I am well-read, literate, decently articulate, and I take my responsibilities on this website very seriously. I will always try to communicate my honest opinion of a novel in a way that will hopefully inform my followers’ purchasing and reading decisions.

• I’m open to receiving and reviewing Advanced Reading Copies and Reviewing copies from publishers. My preference is for hard copies.

• I mostly read and review: Fantasy–historical fantasy, epic fantasy, mythic fantasy, sword and sorcery, or contemporary fantasy (more American Gods, His Dark Materials, or Harry Potter than Twilight), Science Fiction–steampunk, cyberpunk, alternate history, far future, and the occasional Young Adult, mostly in the science fiction and fantasy genres, and the occasional Graphic Novel or collected comic series. Though outside the scope of this website, I also read literary fiction and classical fiction, which I may comment on from time to time.

• I am a voracious reader, so I will try to get a review up within two weeks of receiving a book. However, I am a full time worker, a part-time student, and an overtime dog owner, so my reviews may take some extra time in special circumstances.

• I am also open to the possibility of interviewing an author, publishing advance excerpts, or hosting giveaways, if you have any ARCs available. If you would like to reach me, please send all inquiries, questions, or comments to james.toburen “at” gmail “dot” com, making the necessary substitutions (or use the contact form below). I will follow up with you immediately.