Authentic

[pmmg]

#pmmg

I just put 'Empire: Capital' up for review on Authentic.

Did you figure out what was going on?

Are you planning to read 'Empire: Estate'?

Side note: some of the knights in 'Capital' appear in 'Labyrinth War.'

What do you mean by, did I figure out what is going on? As in, in the story of Empire Capital? I am still reading, closing in on the end. I am expecting something Cthulhu'ie to happen, but there is not a lot of space left. My guess is, I will not have an accurate guess, but maybe...


Is Estate the next one? I have done book 1, and this one is book 2.

I plan on sending you some of the corrections, as I did for the last one. I very much like your writing voice, but I feel there is room for improvement. I dont know at all what is going on. At the end, the characters from the first book are showing back up, Silam, Lu Pang...I suspect Lu Pang is the great antagonist of the tale. Something is coming that will pop him front and center. My guess might be, he is looking to replace the emperor somehow. But its a loose guess.

So far, the book has been a lot of, a day in the life of, for many characters. I like following peter and Tia, but I am not so much into Kyle (though he does seem to be one with a lot more capability than he gets credit for). But...Peter has lands, so now maybe something with He and Tia can happen. Though, if I am being honest, I am not sure I would want to marry any of these. Everyone is so sleazy, and no seem to feel any love for what they do...They just do things cause there is no better alternative. I hope Tia marries for love in the end.

 

[ThinkerX]

I am contemplating doing a straight Grammarly edit of the whole series at the end of the year.

Yes, 'Estate' is the next one. (Book 3.) It ends on a bit of a cliffhanger.

'Metropolis' = Book 4. 'Spiral' = Book 5. 'Judgment' = Book 6.

 

[pmmg]

Well...I am trying to get some credit on Bookroar, but amazon is holding my review. Amazon if very aggravating when they do that. Some go through in just a minute or two and some go into so black hold of a 10 day wait. It been more than a few days. It would be nice if they would release it, or give a reason its taking so long.

 

[ThinkerX]

I stopped the reviews for a week to focus on finishing the first rewrite of 'Exiles Pilgrimage.' Now that the rewrite is done, I am reviewing a book for Authentic.

Somebody on Bookroar decided to tackle 'Empire: The Complete Collection after it sat there for almost two weeks.

 

[ThinkerX]

Ok, pmmg:

My current review for Authentic just went live.

From the other thread, I grasp that you had reservations about 'Empire: Capital.'

'Empire: Estate' is more of a mystery story. The characters know something sinister is going on almost from the outset and are actively investigating, but there is a bunch of other stuff going on. Hard action (fight scenes), not so much.

If you want, I will put it up on Authentic.

Or, you could select 'Labyrinth War' from Bookroar. 'Labyrinth' abounds in combat and intense drama.

 

[pmmg]

I am not so sure about bookroar. I reviewed a book and posted it in, but I cant find out what happened to it. Its like it just disappeared. The site does not have much in the way of tools or dashboard, or ways I can search. Maybe I just need to wait, but...I feel like there should be something.

Guess I am waiting.

 

[pmmg]

Ok, pmmg:

My current review for Authentic just went live.

From the other thread, I grasp that you had reservations about 'Empire: Capital.'

'Empire: Estate' is more of a mystery story. The characters know something sinister is going on almost from the outset and are actively investigating, but there is a bunch of other stuff going on. Hard action (fight scenes), not so much.

If you want, I will put it up on Authentic.

Or, you could select 'Labyrinth War' from Bookroar. 'Labyrinth' abounds in combat and intense drama.

I've red two books, and I am following mostly Tia in her efforts to get a husband from the nobility. But really, that is all that is holding my interest. I've seen you say that she might pair up with Peter, but so far, neither of them has made a move or had a strong intimate moment together. Tia seems to sleep with her suitors first before coming to a decision, like they get to try her out once or twice...that does not really go with romance. What must Peter think of that? I would not think that marriage materiel.

I think you have gift for finding a way to bring the dreary resource spent world into reality, and the characters seem to have accepted that world, and are trying to find their way in it.

But I feel you are giving me too much of their day to day activities and not enough of the conflict that will keep the reader interested. By conflict, I dont mean action. I mean something that the evil group is doing, that the good guys are trying to prevent. But near as I can tell, throughout most of book 2, they dont even know they are there, until very close to the end. I think the story need to hit a place where searching for a suitor gets dropped over the greater goal of staying alive, and doing something about these evil wizards.

Maybe that comes in book 3. But, to be honest, I am not a reader. An actual reader may feel differently.

IMO, you need to bring the conflict earlier, and spent more time on the characters being alarmed and trying to prevent the baddies from achieving their aims, even if it means Peter does not become sheriff, or Tia gets married to lord boring.

I want you to do well. You've put in so much effort, I want you to have your reward. But you gotta do things that bring them in. Your book had a lot of errors in it, and even the back cover is in a font so small it cannot be read. I want you to up your game.

FTR, I almost never read a book 2, and I never read for enjoyment. Most times I am reading just to get a feel of how others do it. Reading for enjoyment is not coming back for me until long after I finish my last book. I am just not sure who I will feel after that.

 

[ThinkerX]

I've red two books, and I am following mostly Tia in her efforts to get a husband from the nobility. But really, that is all that is holding my interest. I've seen you say that she might pair up with Peter, but so far, neither of them has made a move or had a strong intimate moment together. Tia seems to sleep with her suitors first before coming to a decision, like they get to try her out once or twice...that does not really go with romance. What must Peter think of that? I would not think that marriage materiel.

I think you have gift for finding a way to bring the dreary resource spent world into reality, and the characters seem to have accepted that world, and are trying to find their way in it.

But I feel you are giving me too much of their day to day activities and not enough of the conflict that will keep the reader interested. By conflict, I dont mean action. I mean something that the evil group is doing, that the good guys are trying to prevent. But near as I can tell, throughout most of book 2, they dont even know they are there, until very close to the end. I think the story need to hit a place where searching for a suitor gets dropped over the greater goal of staying alive, and doing something about these evil wizards.

Maybe that comes in book 3. But, to be honest, I am not a reader. An actual reader may feel differently.

IMO, you need to bring the conflict earlier, and spent more time on the characters being alarmed and trying to prevent the baddies from achieving their aims, even if it means Peter does not become sheriff, or Tia gets married to lord boring.

I want you to do well. You've put in so much effort, I want you to have your reward. But you gotta do things that bring them in. Your book had a lot of errors in it, and even the back cover is in a font so small it cannot be read. I want you to up your game.

FTR, I almost never read a book 2, and I never read for enjoyment. Most times I am reading just to get a feel of how others do it. Reading for enjoyment is not coming back for me until long after I finish my last book. I am just not sure who I will feel after that.

The slow pacing in 'Capital' was deliberate: a normal day of intrigue, and then everything blows up.

Bookroar has a waiting period before you can post a review - a little countdown timer. Maybe you posted too soon?

 

[pmmg]

I think i posted my book to bookrroar. But i am not sure. Their site lacks clarity. I saw yours there though. It is in the pick list.

 

[ThinkerX]

I am not seeing your book on Bookroar. What categories did you choose?

 

[pmmg]

Fantasy for sure.

 

[pmmg]

It says i currently have one review ongoing.

 

[pmmg]

There is a dude kind of stalking me on goodreads who wants me to try out revvue.com. Might be another you can get reviews from.

 

[pmmg]

With the new out of this world review group forming, I have enough credits to get to the magical 25 reviews number. That should give me enough reader cred that other may start to bite at advertising, so....I am very close. The launch of book 2 would help a lot. Both the cover artist and the editor say they are close to done. I dont think I will launch on Aug 1st, but probably in Aug, it will be out.

 

[ThinkerX]

'Eye of Ebon' snatched for review already!

I have two novellas that might see digital print in late August or early September.

 

[pmmg]

Well...much to my disappointment, my last two reviews from Authentic, and the one from Bookroar, all of which were four and five starts, did not increase my review count. I am still at 18. Seems they went up on amazon.au or such and did not count for Amazon.us. Seems kind of lame. Amazon should know a review is a review. Where should not matter. I still have the karma to cross the 25 review line, but I was eager to have it sooner and not later.

 

[ThinkerX]

Well...much to my disappointment, my last two reviews from Authentic, and the one from Bookroar, all of which were four and five starts, did not increase my review count. I am still at 18. Seems they went up on amazon.au or such and did not count for Amazon.us. Seems kind of lame. Amazon should know a review is a review. Where should not matter. I still have the karma to cross the 25 review line, but I was eager to have it sooner and not later.

You seem to be having more trouble than I am. I received one review for the 'Complete Collection' and expect another sometime this week, plus some brave or twisted soul is reviewing 'Heat.' I'm hoping that somebody will snatch 'Labyrinth' from Bookroar, but whatever.

 

[pmmg]

Yes is does.

I think part of the reason is, I've popped it up there 8 times and gotten 8 reviews. Now the pool of people who were interested has become thin. I need to wait a while and let a all the faces behind the screen change, then I will get selected more. I am okay, or rather, I am still happy with the site. I was just looking forward to 20 reviews, and not 18.

My out of this world group is lingering with two more people needed. Then it should be good for four. If any here want reviews, the good reads group is waiting...just sayin...

Just got two books in the mail today...maybe I can finish one while I'm waiting. One is cause I opened my mouth and said I would, the other I will keep secret.

 

[ThinkerX]

Hmm...

My Dashboard at Authentic says I have received 42 reviews and given 36. When I started, I reviewed books worth 15 points, two of which let me post three books, plus they gifted me with points a time or two. I have two books listed there and am awaiting a review on a third.

With Bookroar, I have reviewed six books and received four. I have one book listed there and am awaiting a review on a second.

Goodreads...I have written 24 reviews and received 23, owing to a reviewer getting bounced for rule violations.

There are too many conflicts for me to join the current 'Out of This World' group at Goodreads. That is the issue with Goodreads: the more groups you participate in, the more conflicts arise. Those conflicts made it difficult for me to get into the last couple of groups, as I kept getting bounced.

 

[pmmg]

Well...you are having better luck than me, but you have a wider variety of books seeking feedback. I have just the one. It may change.

My cover artist says they are near complete, and my editor says he is pushing to have something by this weekend. I am waiting on both.