Group 385. Out of this World - Forming > Likes and Comments

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 to finish assigned books before leaving a review, 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. If you DNF (DO NOT FINISH) an assigned book, you run the risk of not being allowed into review rounds in the future.

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 pressuring other members WILL NOT BE TOLERATED and will result in you being blacklisted.

12. You declare all Goodreads accounts when signing up for rounds, including all pen names and additional user accounts, so that these can be checked by moderators and other group members to ensure that there are not previous review conflicts.

13. Books which include AI-generated writing are not permitted. Reviews may not be written by AI.

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:
Announced Shortly



Member Links | Book Links
1. Tenkara Smart |She Named Me Wolf
2. Jennifer Reinoehl | The Viscount of La Soutain
3. S.D. Brown | Saving Bigfoot Valley
4. Linda A. Sanchez | Truth: A Conspiratorium Novel
5. Eric Gibson | In the Company of Flies
6. Ann Birdgenaw | Black Hole Radio - Furilani
7.
8. Sebastian Black | Ridge Stryker in the 23rd Century
9.
10.


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...

Can I join with Saving Bigfoot Valley... a middle grade Bigfoot story?

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

Hey, everyone. We're starting a new round, and I'll open it with my short story collection.

A few things: I'm not adding anyone until their 'Who Can Send Me Private Messages' is set to 'anyone'. Additionally, I'll need to know if you have reviewed, or been reviewed, by the other names on the list. You'll need to actually check, not rely on memory. (This might sound harsh, but hopefully being strict about this will circumvent everyone having to check in, only to find someone didn't properly look up their conflicts.)

The best way: Go to your Reviews page and type in the name of other authors in the thread. That will tell you if you've read them in the past. Then go to the profile of other authors in the thread and click on their "My Books" page, this time searching for your name. That will tell you if they have read you in the past.

Also: If you write under a pen name or have additional Goodreads profiles, then you'll have to follow these instructions for every pen name or additional Goodreads profile.

I would like to join with Truth: A Conspiratorium Novel

I have not read from you Gene. Also, I was trying to follow the directions you gave to see if you have read from me..when to your profile, but didn't see "my books" ??

Hi, Linda. The phrasing is more like "AUTHOR'S NAME'S books". Look on the right side of the screen and scroll down just a bit.

Also, my review of your book The Red Car was showing up under your co-author's page. I just posted it on your page as well to avoid any confusion, but anyone who's previously reviewed The Red Car will have to be aware the review might be on Leonardo Spanò's page.

I've added both Linda and S.D. I have one more alternate to send to S.D. (My book Blind Cerulean doesn't show up on her review page.)

If anyone sees a conflict, please let us know.

ME! ME! ME! with any book! I have a slight preference for The Dog Thief. It doesn't matter if someone has already reviewed it because my publisher went out of business, I re-published, and I lost all of my reviews! People who reviewed it before and just repost their old review which can still be seen on my Goodreads page. I'll post the link in just a min.

https://www.amazon.com/Dog-Thief-Laur...

I only provided the Amazon link because my goodreads post of The Dog Thief has sixty ratings and doesn't link to the Amazon listing. The Amazon listing only has 2, though it's the same book.

Gene can't review me and I think I have already reviewed all of his books.

I can review SD but she can't review me.

Linda reviewed one of my books, though I don't remember which one.

Laura I've read Wild Hare

Can I join with In the Company of Flies
My profile https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

I have been reviewed by Gene and Linda
I haven't reviewed or been reviewed by S.D.

I should mention that I write under S.D. Brown and Spike Brown.
I have read Linda & Gene.

Hello. May I join with my latest Mystery-Horror Novella, Fury of the Vampire? Please advise and take care.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

Hi Gene Can I join this group with Black Hole Radio - Furilani or any in the series.

I've read you and David. SD, Laura, Eric and Linda have read my books but not all. Not sure if I can fit.

Can I join with "The Tale of the Young Witch"? Ann, Gene, and Laura have read my book. I have read different books from David, Eric, and Linda.

So going by the order of sign-ups (and assuming we all have alternates to offer):
Laura has too many conflicts to fit (I've run out of alternate titles to offer Laura and there's no way for us to fit in blind spots.)
I was able to work Eric in.
David did not provide conflicts. As stated above, I can't add you until I know your conflicts.
I was able to work Joseph in.

The conflicts as I have them, for those on the list (please let me know if I missed one) :
 S.D. can't send to Gene
Gene can't send to  Linda
Gene can't send to Eric
Linda can't send to Eric
Ann can't send to Gene
S.D. can't send to Ann
Eric can't send to Ann
Linda can't send to Ann
Ann can't send to Joseph
Gene can't send to Joseph
Joseph can't send to Eric
Joseph can't send to Linda


Also, if anyone can help spread the word via Facebook or other author forums, it would be great to have some new blood without existing review conflicts come in and help keep the groups going.

Could I join the group for a review of a Cabby Tidepool Tales story I illustrated?
I habe not read or have confkicts with any above

My book is called Coral and Ooma.

Eiza, I'm happy to add you, but I've reviewed one of your books. Please check your conflicts again and post if you've spotted another one.

The steps: Go to your Reviews page and type in the name of other authors in the thread's opening post. That will tell you if you've read them in the past.

Then go to the profile of those authors and click on their "[Author Name Here]'s Books" page (right side of the screen), this time searching for your name. That will tell you if they have read you in the past.

Also, you'll need to post a Goodreads link to the specific book you want reviewed. You've listed two here, I believe.

Thanks.

Yes, sorry. I just checked, and you are the only one.
The book is called "Coral and Ooma: Crabby Tidepool Tales"
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

David has reviewed me

Sorry Gene, just realized thr category for the group isnt general but fantasy scifi etc. I will remove me name to allow other genre specific authors. And i will jump,into the next general group.

I have reviewed different books of Gene and SD. Anne, Linda, and Eric have reviewed different books of mine. Please advise and take care.

I have reviewed different books of Gene and SD. Anne, Linda, Joseph and Eric have reviewed different books of mine. Please advise and take care.

Thanks for getting back to us, David. With those conflicts, there isn't a way to work you in, unfortunately.

I would like to join with my coming of age/fantasy/paranormal novel She Named Me Wolf

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

I have been reviewed by Gene but for a different book (His Name is Junsaku) and I have reviewed SD Brown's 'Alabaster Alibi'

Thanks, Tenkara. Based on the conflicts I've listed, it looks like you do indeed fit.

I would like to join with my sci-fi/historical romance mashup: The Viscount of La Soutain

My profile is here: Jennifer Reinoehl

Gene has reviewed one of my other books in this series (The Baroness of Surli).

I have reviewed SD Brown's "WHO PEA'D THE BED? (The Fairy Tale Bureau of Investigation)"

Thanks, Jennifer. Please keep checking in as the group gets close to filling up.

Hi Gene
I have already read Joseph's Tale of the young witch as well as his book under another name. I don't think he has any other books.

Thanks for letting me know, Ann. I've rearranged the list.

Everyone -- this is the updated list of conflicts. Let me know if any are missing.

S.D. can't send to Gene
S.D. can't send to Ann
Gene can't send to  Linda
Gene can't send to Eric
Gene can't send to Joseph
Gene can't send to Tenkara
Gene can't send to Jennifer
Linda can't send to Eric
Ann can't send to Gene
Ann can't send to Joseph
Eric can't send to Ann
Linda can't send to Ann
Joseph can't send to Eric
Joseph can't send to Linda
Joseph can't send to Ann
Tenkara can't send to S.D.
Jennifer can't send to S.D.

Sd can't send to Linda

Thanks for catching that, S.D.

EVERYONE, please pay attention because this is important. And I'll apologize beforehand for any inconvenience.

Honoring our "first come, first served" rule, I've attempted to rearrange the list so that Linda can remain, as she was the third sign-up. To do that, I removed myself (as the mod, I should've had the S.D.-Linda conflict on the list.)

Linda still won't fit without me, and Joseph signed up after Linda. I attempted to contact him and ask if he's open to starting a new round instead.

And checking his profile, I see Joseph's private messages aren't on. (They were previously open.) As stated above: "In order to participate in this round, your setting for 'Who Can Send Me Private Messages' needs to be 'anyone'." If we can't DM you, you can't participate, so Joseph is removed from the list.

(Joseph, please restore you Private Messages settings so that we can discuss a new round.)

The current list should work, but sadly we're down two participants. These are the current conflicts that I have. If you see one I've missed, please tell me ASAP.

S.D. can't send to Ann
S.D. can't send to Linda
Linda can't send to Eric
Linda can't send to Ann
Eric can't send to Ann
Tenkara can't send to S.D.
Jennifer can't send to S.D.

Gene wrote: "Thanks for catching that, S.D.

EVERYONE, please pay attention because this is important. And I'll apologize beforehand for any inconvenience.

Honoring our "first come, first served" rule, I've at..." I switched it to "Anyone" for Private Messages settings.

I would like to join with my book 'Ridge Stryker in the 23rd Century".

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

I've reviewed one of Tenkara Smart's books and Linda Sanchez has reviewed two of mine, but I have a third available.

Welcome, Sebastian.

Sebastian wrote: "I would like to join with my book 'Ridge Stryker in the 23rd Century".

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

I've reviewed one of Tenkara Smart's books a..."

Cheers

Yes Sebastian did review the book I've submitted for this group, She Named Me Wolf :)

https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

I recall you wrote a sequel so I assume you want me to read that one?

Not for this group, though - for this group, based on the 'out of this world', the book I've put forward is She Named Me Wolf

Tenkara wrote: "Not for this group, though - for this group, based on the 'out of this world', the book I've put forward is She Named Me Wolf"

If an alternate book is needed, it doesn't have to fit into the group's specific category.

Great I have an alternate for anyone who has read She Named Me Wolf

Hey Everyone, I am just waiting for one last review on Amazon to post for Loralee's group. Hopefully, I can join today or tomorrow. I want to join with Black Powder Black Heart. Thanks!

I have reviewed Linda, Eric, and Tenkara-- but I think they have other books I have not read yet.

Ann has reviewed my books, but I don't believe she has reviewed all of mine yet.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

https://www.amazon.com/Black-Powder-H...

And I have reviewed Gene before

Good to go. My final reviews have been posted for Loralee's group. Maybe you can fit me in on this endeavor! Thanks.

Sorry, Seth, but it looks like there are too many conflicts for you to fit.

Ok, no worries.

Hey Gene,

I might fit with Aerovoyant (or one of its several sequels or prequels.)

SD Brown has reviewed 2 of my 4 titles. Ann Birdgenaw has reviewed three of my four titles. Eric Gibson has reviewed one of these four titles.

I don't have any relationship to the other authors. I don't think any of the wuthors have reviewed me.

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

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

I'll be running a promo, either 99c or free not sure, in December.

P.L. -- I've added you tentatively, but please double-check and make sure you've provided all of your conflicts. Thanks.

Everyone -- the list has changed quite a bit now, so please review for any conflicts.