The system called “reciprocity”

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author reciprocation, indie authors, indie publishing, self-published

Author reciprocity can be a touchy subject. If Writer A shares Writer B’s blog post, hits “going” to her online event, “likes” her Facebook page, clicks “follow” on Tumblr or Twitter, it is only natural that Writer A want Writer B to do the same for her, yes? In a perfect world, everyone would turn around and immediately repay the favors other people did for them, but this is not a perfect world, we are not perfect people.

You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours—or not.

I go to a decent number of online events for different authors, review lots of books (or did before I started school), follow lots of author social media feeds, occasionally make graphic edits for books I liked, and recommend books on Goodreads and Amazon, but do I expect all those authors to do the same for me and my titles? Well, I’ll admit it would be nice, but no, I do not.

The truth is, it seems unreasonable to me to expect everyone to repay every “favor.” There are a number of people who left glowy reviews for my books, but I haven’t read theirs for whatever reason. I don’t always return blog comments and I’m horrible about sharing links to anything and while there are a few authors with which I have established strong relationships, I do not expect every author I’ve reviewed to return the favor.

In all fairness…

For one thing, they may not have the time. The author community is comprised of parents, students, and full time workers, people with day jobs, cats, and other time-consuming things in their non-literary lives. When they manage to find a spare moments between all of that and writing to read/review, who am I to say they should read my book instead of that one they’ve been wanting for over a year?

The slippery slope.

Then what if they don’t like it? That is their right, after all. Do I get angry because I left an awesome review for theirs and demand they lie to spare my ego?

The idea of author reciprocity is one of those things that is great in theory and can be great in practice, but can also get icky very fast. What do you do if you review the other person’s book and it turns out to be full of flaws? That’s even worse than the other way around. What if they get angry?

In general, I just do my thing and if other authors reciprocate, awesome, if not, I may still download their entire series and preorder their upcoming releases if I liked them. The way I see it, posting reviews keeps my blog alive and even if the authors themselves don’t check out my books as a result, maybe other readers checking out my reviews will.

And let’s not forget why we got into this business to start with.

Perhaps most importantly, I don’t think I should let the prospect of another person reading/not reading my work influence my enjoyment of their work. That’s why I started writing—because stories make me happy. I read stories I enjoy, I write stories I enjoy, and I try not to worry about what other writers are doing.

Review: The Shadow Prince (Mortal Enchantment, #0.5) by Stacey O’Neale @StaceyONeale

Tags

indie, mortal enchantment, novella, paranormal, self-published, shadow prince, stacey oneale

This prequel novella is FREE and available on Goodreads, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble!

Every sacrifice has consequences.

Sixteen-year-old Rowan has spent most of his life living among the mortals—learning to control the element of fire, impatiently awaiting the day his vengeful mother, Queen Prisma, will abdicate her throne. When he finally returns to Avalon for his coronation, his mother insists he must first prove his loyalty to the court by completing a secret mission:

Kill Kalin, the half-human, half-elemental daughter of the air court king.

Willing to do anything to remove his mother from power, he agrees to sacrifice the halfling. He returns to the mortal world with his best friend, Marcus, determined to kill the princess. But as he devises a plan, he starts to question whether or not he’s capable of completing such a heinous task. And what price he will pay if he refuses?

Blurb and cover from Goodreads

5 out of 5 stars
I read the first 30% of this book and then Life (that annoying thing that’s always meddling in Living) happened. It was a few days before I could get my hands on a few minutes to read it, but I made time, meaning to just get to the halfway point. That endeavor ended at 1:04 in the morning when I finished.

I greatly enjoyed this novella, in case there was any doubt. The mythology and the world building were new and fresh and it didn’t take long for me to develop a deep fondness for Rowan and Marcus. (Poor Marcus! Author, please let him come back!) I thought of Rowan as a bit of an annoying teenage boy at the beginning, but by the 35% mark, I was pulling for him.

The relationship with his mother is about as twisted as a pretzel, but at the same time I related to it. It really does suck to love untrustworthy people, but there’s no much to be done for it.

This was a very enticing taste of the series and the author’s writing and I am very, very excited for Mortal Enchantment. I definitely recommend this novella and if you get the chance to read the novel, I’d certainly jump at that, too!

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Review: Redemption (The Captive, #5) by Erica Stevens @EricaStevensCGP

Tags

Erica Stevens, indie author, indie book review, indies, paranormal romance, redemption, review, romance, self-published, series, the captive, vampires, ya, young adult

This is the fifth book in The Captive Series. It is a stand alone novel however it is recommended that the other books in the series be read. Available now!

A year has passed since the war against Jack’s father that freed the humans from their roles as blood slaves and servants to the vampire race. Having left the palace behind in order to ensure that the outer towns are obeying the new laws, Jack struggles to come to terms with the grief and haunting memories that drove him from the palace in the first place. He’s content to lose himself in the outer lands and the obscurity that they offer him. That is, until he encounters Hannah.

Growing up in the small town of Chippman, Hannah had long ago accepted the fact that she would never leave it. When Jack walks into her life, and turns it upside down, she quickly realizes that not everything is what she’d believed it to be. Knowing that Jack will reject her if he learns the truth about her, Hannah struggles to fight her growing attraction to him. For though the town of Chippman seems normal on the outside, its residents harbor secrets that they’ve taken great pains to keep hidden. Secrets that have forced the town to live under the rule of the one man that could tear Jack and Hannah apart forever.

Blurb and cover from Goodreads

5 out of 5 stars
By far the best book yet! Don’t get me wrong, I adored Braith and Aria (still do), but the plot, development, dialogue—the everything—the writing style has gone through such an evolution that it’s mind blowing.

The plot:
I had to force myself to put down my Kindle at 1:00 a.m. I nearly murdered my family because they wouldn’t let me read. I couldn’t stop thinking about this book no matter what I was doing. The plot grabbed me by the throat and dragged me through without a second’s rest. The “squee” moments and the “hell no” moments were mixed together with perfect balance to keep my eyeballs affixed to my screen. Highest marks here.

The characters:
In books 3-4, we get brief glimpses into Jack’s psyche, usually when he’s thinking about the war or trying to navigate Braith’s volcanic temper regarding Aria. In this book, we delve much, much deeper, exploring how Jack ended up with the rebels to begin with, and what goes on in that head of his. A lot of it I would never have guessed and it was all the more fun for it.

I adored Hannah! She’s tough, determined, but also has a plethora of insecurities due to her “defect” and the lifestyle she was raised into. She and Jack are beautiful together and they’re one of those couples to make the fangirls squee and scream with delight.

Some of the characters from the earlier books also make an appearance and I was a little surprised to see them again. There was one point where I was thinking “Braith and Aria—leave! This is Hannah and Jack’s story now!” But they fit in nicely and it was kind of funny to see Jack come to understand just what it is Braith went through when he lost Aria. (The “how did you not kill me” conversation was so funny!)

I have received word that there will be a sixth book—one dedicated to Aria’s brother, William. I’m a little hesitant, but then I was hesitant with this one. I have high hopes and it looks like I will be a fan of this series for some time yet!

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Review: The Soul Bearer and Other Poems by Bex Pavia @Bex_Pavia

Tags

anthology, bex pavia, indie, indie review, poetry, self-published, the soul bearer

Bringing you a selection of emotional, often dark, rhyming verse – seventeen poems have been chosen from the many this fantasy-loving author has written over the years, to deliver a pocket-sized introduction to her imagination.

From the heartfelt honesty of ‘A Prayer for my Children’, to the meandering tale of a lost king in ‘The Soul Bearer’, this is a little parcel of rhyme that offers a thought-provoking treat or two.

Blurb and cover from Goodreads

5 out of 5 stars
I’ve been following this author on Facebook for some time and was an automatic fan as she shares my penchant for Epic Fantasy and elves and dwarves and mages, etc. One of my favorite things about this collection was the author’s use of medieval and fantasy settings for some of her poems. That was one of the parts I appreciated the most, though there is so much more to be praised.

This is a compilation of poems ranging from romantic, to creepy, to tragic, to eerie. The author has a great grasp of rhyming and putting words to ideas and I enjoyed this collection immensely. I don’t normally read or recommend poetry, but this short series of pieces was highly entertaining and I laud the author on her fantastic work!

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Review: On Shadowed Wings (An Ash Grove Short Story) by Amanda Dewees @AmandaDeWees

Tags

amanda dewees, celtic mythology, indie, nerd boys, review, self-published, short story, ya, young adult

In this short story set in North Carolina, high-school senior Gail and college student Jim are drawn together on Beltane night when they team up to seek a mysterious butterfly hatching–and save a little girl from danger.

Blurb and cover from Goodreads

5 out of 5 stars

To start off, nerd boys forever! They are far, far underrated and if only nerdy love interests were more prevalent in literature. *sigh*

This is a short story, so this will be a short review. I adored Gail and Joy’s relationship and the sororal love between them. This was a splendid piece that made me grin, giggle, and beam with happiness in just the space of a few dozen pages. You may have already guessed that I loved Jim to bits and now I am dying to get my hands on the rest of this series to read about Joy’s adventures.

In summation, this is an excellent sample of the author’s work that left me wanting to try more!

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Review: Cornerstone (Souls of the Stones, #1) by Kelly Walker @KWalkerWrites

Tags

cornerstone, epic fantasy, indie book review, kelly walker, review, self-published, the souls of the stones, ya, young adult

Epic Fantasy combines with Young Adult romance in this stunning new adventure set in a richly developed medieval world.

When Emariya Warren learns enemy forces have captured her father, she’ll do anything to save him. Anything. Even marry a mysterious prince she knows nothing about in order to rally the strength to arrange a rescue. During her journey to Torian’s foreign castle, Emariya comes face to face with her mother’s killers–and a deadly secret.

Not only does Emariya possess a powerful but unexpected magical gift passed down through each of her families, the prince she’s promised to marry possesses a third, and an ominous prophecy has warned the three gifts must never be combined.

If she breaks her promise to marry Torian, she won’t be able to save her father and if she keeps it, she may bring a curse upon everything she holds dear. Determining which choice is best won’t be easy, but when she meets the gorgeous prince who may desire more than just her heart, she realizes she will have to fight just to have a choice at all.

Her heart wants him desperately. Her head begs her to run. If she doesn’t want to share her mother’s fate, she’ll have to find a way to untangle the truth from the lies in time to save herself.

Discover the heartbreaking betrayals, fascinating magic and fated love of Cornerstone.

Blurb and cover from Goodreads

4 out of 5 stars

I’m fairly certain this book was on my currently reading shelf for months. The fact is that I found it a tad slow and felt that the whole journey and traveling sequences took far too long and I was waiting for something to happen. Then I finally decided it was time to bite the bullet and just finish it already and I actually enjoyed it toward the end, so much so that I went and bought the rest of the trilogy (which I do not do lightly).

The plot:

There was actually a lot that went on through this book, I was just waiting, waiting, and waiting some more for Riya to actually meet this reportedly über-nasty prince. There were kidnappings, attacks, fights, rescues, and chases—meanwhile I was tapping my fingers, wanting to meet Prince Ahlen and see if he really was as bad as we were being led to believe. I probably should have put aside my impatience and forgotten about His Highness, but me and my idea of how the story should go got in the way.

The characters:

Riya means well, I’ll give her that. She’s willing to do whatever needs to be done for the sake of her people and was exceptionally courageous. She was a little sheltered and didn’t realize when she was being used, but became a tad wiser by the end and certainly grew over the course of the book.

Garith is the blacksmith’s son who has been in love with Riya since childhood, but has been tragically friend-zoned. He still faithfully protects her with his life and his loyalty was admirable, even if he could be misguided at times.

Jessa is Riya’s handmaiden and best friend. While a minor supporting character, she had a key part to play. I mostly thought of her as breathing baggage, but have to admit she showed pluck when it was needed.

Here is where I usually talk about the villain. But I can’t because, well, that would be breaking the book review blogger’s code of no spoilers, so I’ll just say if I hadn’t cheated and read the blurbs of the later books, I never would have seen it coming.

I really didn’t like the middle of this book, I’ll admit. But I adored the beginning and I adored the end and I dove into the sequels with a gusto and was not disappointed at all. I do recommend this series, but don’t wait for Prince Ahlen, because he doesn’t show his face until we get to the end.

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Review: Magic of Thieves (Legends of Dimmingwood, #1) by C. Greenwood

Tags

book review, c greenwood, epic fantasy, fantasy, indie author, indie book review, indies, negative, review, self-published, ya, young adult

In a province where magic is forbidden and its possessors are murdered by the cruel Praetor, young Ilan, born with the powerful gift of her ancestors, has only one hope for survival. Concealment. In the shadow of Dimmingwood, she finds temporary protection with a band of forest brigands led by the infamous outlaw Rideon the Red Hand.

But as Ilan matures, learns the skills of survival, and struggles to master the inherent magic of her dying race, danger is always close behind. When old enemies reappear and new friendships lead to betrayal, will her discovery of an enchanted bow prove to be Ilan’s final salvation or her ultimate downfall?

* * * * *
When I was small, my mother taught me about the magickless—evil men who hunted our kind to destroy us. They came from across the water to steal the lands of our ancestors. Pretending to want peace, they enslaved us and sought to extinguish what they couldn’t possess, the one thing their harsh laws could never control. Our ancient powers. One day, my mother warned me, violence would shatter the safety of our home, and when that day came, we must fight. And we must win.
* * * * *

Blurb and cover from Goodreads

3 out of 5 stars

This review will be brief because it won’t take much to sum up my thoughts.

This is not a long book and I feel like that was its largest problem. I usually have nothing against short books or novellas, but this felt like the first 20% or so to an epic fantasy novel ripped out and sold on its own. It takes the main character, Ilrun, from five years of age to sixteen with no clear focus to the story. It felt like there wasn’t a defined goal yet, as if I was just reading backstory, and I spent most of the book being mad at Ilrun.

For me, the main character doesn’t have to be my favorite, but I do have to at least like him/her. I did not like Ilrun. I couldn’t really understand why she idolized the leader of the bandits as she did and I got mad when she shamelessly double-crossed other characters. She had her relatable moments, but there weren’t enough of them to redeem her for me.

On the other hand, the author did create an original and fascinating world I think I would have been more interested in exploring had this been part of a larger book. The world building was probably the best part of this story and I do laud the author on an interesting fantasy realm.

I think this could have been a good book if the writer had made Ilrun a little less brutal and given us something to resolve at the end instead of a continuous storyline that just stops. But as this story is, I really can’t recommend it.

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Review: Hidden (The Hidden Series, #1) by M. Lathan @hiddenseries

Tags

dystopia, futuristic, hidden, hidden series, indie author, m lathan, paranormal, self-published, ya, young adult

Sixteen-year-old Leah Grant has given up on being normal. She’d settle for stopping the voices in her head, intrusive visions of the future, and better odds of making it to her seventeenth birthday.

That’s the thing about pretending to be human in a world where magic used to exist – at any moment, her cover could be blown and she’ll be burned to death like the rest of the witches.

Everything changes when she loses control of her powers and flees the orphanage she grew up in. She desperately wants to be invisible but finds her face plastered on every news channel as humans panic over the possible resurgence of her kind. And now the hunters won’t give up until they find her.

Making friends for the first time in her life and falling in love with one of them drives her to discover why she is unlike any being she’s ever met – human or otherwise. The dangerous powers inside of her that would repel Nathan, her new, handsome reason for living, are priceless to some. The locked up forever kind of priceless. And to others, they are too dangerous to allow her to live.

Let’s hope she can stay hidden.

Blurb and cover from Goodreads

5 out of 5 stars

Whoever said indie books aren’t quality should take a shot at this one. I was extremely impressed with Ms. Lathan’s storytelling and her ability to weave a tale riddled with twists and turns and yet keep it focused. In the beginning, when Leah is taken to the mansion, her rescuer’s explanation for the deed felt a bit contrived and awkward as well as the whole set up at the house. However, that proved to be part of the plot, so I shan’t hold it against my overall rating. I greatly appreciated the elements of forgiveness and mercy in the storyline and think they are greatly underrated themes.

The plot:

Hidden is a book that kept me guessing. I confess I didn’t see the twist about the parents coming, though I wasn’t quite sure about CC. The storyline stressed me in the way that I felt I had to know the ending. It was a book that grabbed me and wouldn’t let me go and I think that is sure sign of the author’s talent.

The characters:

Leah is a girl burdened by the belief that she is evil and that she is a cursed being without a soul. Having grown up in a girls’ home where the nuns preach the evils of witches with a vehemence, guilt and a desire to “be good” is what keeps her from lashing out against the constant bullying of the other girls. Then one night she finally loses it, but before she can harm anyone, a mysterious old woman teleports into the school yard and whisks her away to a California mansion. There we see the true depths of Leah’s self-hatred and her desire to atone for the most minute of things. Her journey to self-acceptance and discovery was one that progressed beautifully and it was impossible not feel for her through her struggles.

Nathan, a shapeshifting boy who turns into a dog, is just what Leah needs. He doesn’t try to push her into anything, he’s considerate, funny, sweet, and understanding. Though he has plenty of unresolved issues of his own and a good many things he has to get sorted for himself. He was the cause of many “aww” moments and I thought their friendship and later romance was an adorable addition to the story.

There are a number of minor characters who appeared on the side as well as several other major characters who were unknown in the beginning. The twist about Leah’s parents was startling and their story heart wrenching. All the major characters were clear-cut and defined, making me worry about them—sans villains—from the beginning.

The bittersweet ending to this book left me with a sad smile and I look forward to the sequel and the author’s future work.

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Review: The Light Keepers (ShadowLight Saga, Prequel) by Mande Matthews @MandeMatthews

Tags

epic fantasy, indie author, indie book review, mande matthews, mytholgoy, nordic, norse, novella, prequel, self-published, series, the light keepers, the shadowlight saga, viking, ya, young adult

Isolated because of what she is—because of the power she holds inside—Astrid longs for contact with another human being. Her well-intentioned mother locks her away from society in order to protect her from an evil that seeks to use Astrid’s abilities for his own means. But the resulting loneliness drives Astrid deeper into the shadowwalk—a power she is forbidden to use, a magic that lands her directly into the arms of the Shadow.

This short prequel to the ShadowLight Saga offers a revealing glimpse into the history of the beautiful and mysterious warrior maiden known as Swan, called Astrid in this prequel. It takes place a few moons before Bonded begins and is a self-contained novelette of approximately 10,000 words.

Includes bonus chapter preview of Bonded, Book One of the ShadowLight Saga.

Blurb and cover from Goodreads

4 out of 5 stars

This is one of my Kindle freebie grabs that I half-heartedly opened out of desperation thinking I had nothing but time to lose. The result was me gripping my Kindle, debating how soon I could get the rest of the story.

The plot:

This is a brief book that still boasts sword fights, magical intrigue, and deeply rooted mysteries. I found myself enjoying it far more than I expected to and whizzed through the brisk plot in no time at all.

The characters:

We do see some of Astrid’s mother and her mother’s protector, who is also Astrid’s teacher. However, the main focus is undoubtedly on Astrid. Astrid has many frustrations, mostly about her inability to speak and her lack of understanding just what it is her mother and mother’s protector are preparing her for. It was easy to understand why she got so angry, even if it was also easy to see why they pushed her mentally and physically. I don’t usually find rebellious characters sympathetic, but I adored Astrid and I was very eager to read Bonded.

A plunge into a fantastical world based on Norse mythology complete with dark lords, mystery, and lots and lots of sword fights. I highly recommend this series and am eagerly awaiting the third installment.

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Review: Beyond the Iron Gate (A Lost Kingdom of Fallada Novella) by Alicia Michaels @fantasybyalicia

Tags

alicia michaels, beyond the iron gate, fairytale, fantasy, indie author, lost kingdom of fallada, novella, rapunzel, retelling, self-published, ya, young adult

In the year 1845, before the mystical land of Fallada was separated from the realm of men forever, the two worlds coexisted in harmony. Man could mingle freely in the world of the Elves and Faeries at will and peace reigned. In the hills of Shropshire, England, just miles from the gate separating the village of Ludlow from the world of mystical creatures, farmer’s daughter Zara Wells longs for answers. It is not only the golden hair that trail feet behind her, or the strange hue of her violet eyes that separates her from the other girls her village. There is something inside of her, something touched by magic that longs to know more about what lies on the other side of the gate. In Fallada, darkness has begun to spread. As the youngest and most beautiful girls of her village begin to disappear, Zara comes closer to discovering the true circumstances surrounding her birth. Little does she know, that the closer she comes to the answers she so desperately desires, the closer she will come to being ensnared in the dark queen’s web of growing treachery.

Blurb and cover from Goodreada

5 out of 5 stars

If you are acquainted with the bloggersphere of Tumblr, you have probably heard the term “oh, so many feels.” If not, that means you have a life and I congratulate you, but this book left me with “oh, so many feels.” It was so sweet and beautiful and romantic and charming and heartbreaking all at once and is a kind of fairytale we need more of.

The plot:

I read this in one sitting. The story trots along at a pace that keeps you hooked, showing us the villain’s diabolical workings to maintain the suspense while things are going apparently well for our heroine. It was a perfectly paced plot that packed a lot into a short space, but didn’t feel rushed or hurried at all. When I got to the end, I was left with a bittersweet feeling and a definite desire to read the rest of this series.

The characters:

Zara is the Rapunzel in this retelling. Naive and warmhearted, she can’t help but feel she belongs in the world of the fey rather than that of the humans. She was a sweet and innocent character who liked to think the best of everyone and never failed to find the wonder in the world around her. She was like a little girl about a lot of things, but still brave, and that made her irresistibly endearing both to me and to Kai.

Kai is the elf who first finds Zara in a pixie-induced sleep when she wanders too close to Fallada. He becomes her friend, her guide, and eventually something more. He was a noble, protective character and it was hard not to love him to bits.

(On a side and slightly spoiler-ific note, while they weren’t actually married, I really liked that they were at least promised to each other before Kai took Zara as a lover. What? Stop looking at me like that. I’m old fashioned, shoot me.)

Even the main baddie, Queen Eranna, is sympathetic in this story. While the reader still understandably wants to dunk her over a very steep and rocky precipice, she’s not pure evil and I pitied her in many ways. But once she goes over the edge, she goes over in a big way and I think she must be a simply epic villain for the rest of the series.

The end of this novella left me a little sad and with a teeny tiny longing to wring Eranna’s snow white neck, but at the same time it was so gorgeous and I call for a round of applause for the author for this exceptional piece.

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