Self-published books do get some reviews by critics, but I think it is easy to see that getting reviews from more established and/or mainstream reviewers, where there is no personal relationship, is hard to do. This is an interesting read in that it lays out the perceptions of at least one reviewer, right or wrong. Perceptions are probably the biggest thing a self-published writer has to go up against:
Thoughts – Reasons Why We Reviewers Won’t Read Your Self-Published Book | Gav Reads
Thoughts – Reasons Why We Reviewers Won’t Read Your Self-Published Book | Gav Reads