Authentic

[Prince of Spires]

The one name that still gets me is a character named Bryn. The only Bryn I knew was definitely female, and this one is not. It jarring to have to transpose that in my mind.

I've got a Bryn in my next novel who is female. So if you want to read and review one with a female Bryn in it, then I can send you a copy once I publish it.

 

[pmmg]

I popped my first one up in Authentic. I notice also, they put a time limit on you to make a review after you pick a book. Its not very kind to slow readers like me

 

[ThinkerX]

I popped my first one up in Authentic. I notice also, they put a time limit on you to make a review after you pick a book. Its not very kind to slow readers like me

Anymore, I mostly go for the shorter ones. (Though the one I'm on now is 600+ pages.)

That said, 'review submitted' or 'review posted?'

 

[pmmg]

I saw yours. 1968 pages, 9 points and 10 days to read it....

I dont think anyone will pick that up. They need to give like 100 points and 100 days to read. That's a lot of pages compared to the others. I got 9 points for like 300 pages. (though for me to read 2000 pages would take at least a year).

Posted on amazon somewhere.

 

[ThinkerX]

I saw yours. 1968 pages, 9 points and 10 days to read it....

I don't think anyone will pick that up. They need to give like 100 points and 100 days to read. That's a lot of pages compared to the others. I got 9 points for like 300 pages. (though for me to read 2000 pages would take at least a year).

Posted on Amazon somewhere.

I thought that as well when I put 'Empire: The Complete Collection' up on Authentic the first time. But, I had the points, so why not? It has been reviewed FOUR times since then. I admire their dedication. The goal is five reviews, which expands the marketing options.

 

[ThinkerX]

Well, my review for 'Molly Lightfoot and the Time Crystal' just posted...and a fifth brave soul is tackling 'Empire: The Complete Collection.'

'Eye of Ebon' is still in the Authentic library, but somebody will soon snatch it...

 

[pmmg]

I would be very grateful to any that took on reviewing my 2000 page work.

Amazon is holding one of my reviews... I guess I put up too many is a short period of time.

 

[pmmg]

Someone did pick up my book but no review as yet. I have collected a bunch of points. Amazon keeps holding my reviews. Its funny, they send emails saying, 'keep it up', and 'Great job!" but their actions are saying...'not so fast...' Its an annoyance.

Just wait and see now.

 

[ThinkerX]

Still waiting for my last review to post - submitted it Saturday. When it does, 'Labyrinth War' goes out for its tenth review. After that...I'll probably put 'Capital' up again...because pmmg is eager to know what happens next...and it is up for a promo next week.

 

[ThinkerX]

And 'Labyrinth War' is out for review 10. Now to find another palatable 9-pointer so I can post 'Capital'

 

[pmmg]

Ahhh...Pmmg is not really a reader...

I do like your writing voice, and I might... I hate to say, but the book I am reading now, I might pass on reviewing. My editors brains sees too much that should have been fixed with editing.

I am shooting for 25 reviews from that place if I can get them. I have about 50 points so far.

 

[pmmg]

Got my first review from Authentic. She said pretty much, mostly nice things, but she did not like my long part breaks... I dont feel I am going to change that (wait till she gets to book 4 )

Many people have called it dark fantasy...I was not really thinking it was dark, but...I will accept. Next.

 

[pmmg]

I think Authentic needs to offer more points for some of the fatter books. I see it maxes at 9, but it needs to scale further than that.

 

[ThinkerX]

I think Authentic needs to offer more points for some of the fatter books. I see it maxes at 9, but it needs to scale further than that.

The longest books were worth 15 points when I first joined Authentic. Reviewing two of those books let me put three books up for review. The next step down was 10 points - review one, put one up.

I was tempted to quit Authentic and go elsewhere when they made that change (I even found another review pool), but then they dropped the membership cost, so...

As it stands, I have most of the reviews necessary to apply for the better low-cost email newsletter promo sites, so I might be scaling back with the reading in a month or three... Then again, I expect to release 2-3 books in the next six months that will need reviews, so...

 

[pmmg]

I see on authentic a person selected my book on the 21st, and posted a review on the 21st. I dont think anyone could read my book that fast... I've not seen the review yet, but I am wondering it they really put in the effort...

 

[ThinkerX]

I see that on Authentic, a person selected my book on the 21st and posted a review on the 21st. I don't think anyone could read my book that fast... I've not seen the review yet, but I am wondering if they really put in the effort...

I have wondered that a time or three myself, most recently with the last review of 'Labyrinth War.' Out on a Thursday, review submitted Friday. 700 pages. But...the review was like six paragraphs.

 

[pmmg]

I could not read 700 pages in a day. If I am really putting in effort, maybe 50-70 pages. But I am not a good reader. Still...if you are reading that fast, are you really feeling the words... Ah well, have to live with it now.

 

[ThinkerX]

I could not read 700 pages in a day. If I am really putting in effort, maybe 50-70 pages. But I am not a good reader. Still...if you are reading that fast, are you really feeling the words... Ah, well, have to live with it now.

I used to be able to read and comprehend 600+ page books in a single day. Anymore, with the eye issues...maybe 200 pages, usually less.

Best as I can tell, the person who last reviewed 'Labyrinth War' found it so gripping that they were up half the night.

This is their full review:

If you like your fantasy epic, weird, and packed with clashing empires, ancient alien tech, and a dozen storylines weaving together like a tangle of live wires - Labyrinth War is definitely your kind of book.

What stood out most to me was the scope. This isn't just one hero's journey; it's a multi-perspective saga with knights, sorceresses, rebels, musicians, alien scouts, and sentient cities - all playing their parts in a collapsing empire. There's bardic magic, political marriages, psychic labyrinths, and even full-on cosmic horror. One chapter you're knee-deep in medieval intrigue, the next you're inside a living maze trying to decode ancient alien tech.

The cast is huge, and while some characters like Curtis and Carina really shine, a few arcs felt a bit rushed (especially Octavos' sudden rise in magical power). Still, I was impressed by how much depth the author gave to each POV, including a non-human perspective that added a fresh angle to the story.

At times the pacing was a bit uneven - slow burns followed by intense action, and then abrupt switches between characters. The frequent perspective shifts were sometimes disorienting early on, but as the threads started to converge, I found myself more and more drawn into the world.

Speaking of the world… it’s massive and deeply detailed. The Solarian Empire, the sentient city Gawana, the alien Gotemik - it all feels alive and layered. The blend of fantasy and sci-fi here is bold, and while some of the tech-magic transitions were a bit jarring, the ambition behind it is admirable.

If you're the kind of reader who enjoys lore-rich stories, strange worlds, and ensemble casts, you'll probably love this. It’s not light reading, but it is rewarding. My only real gripe is that sometimes I wished the prose dug a bit deeper - more emotion, more texture - but it still kept me hooked to the end.