One of the things I find fascinating about book reviews is how much they can vary.
What one person may find to be an exciting, gripping read is a pile of camel crap for someone else.
It's also one of the reasons why I don't take reviews too seriously, both as a buyer and a merchant. That doesn't mean I do not value them or go out of my way to scoop them up for my books.
I certainly do.
I just don't let them affect my decisions much.
Sadly, the same cannot be said for some of my peers who have been known to descend into despair when their brainchild is slapped with a one- or two-star review.
I've even known some scribes to quit altogether, which is a true shame.
No, the only metrics I monitor with a wet index finger are sales and engagement.
Everything else is noise.
If both are trending upwards, then we're doing something right. If they are falling off a cliff, then it's time to call an urgent council.
Anyway, back to reviews:
While I was busy waiting around for Lady Laura the other day, I scrolled the fantasy bestseller list for a new book to buy, only to end up having a nosey at a title that has dominated the charts in recent years.
(If you're expecting a name drop, think again. I've never enjoyed the musty odour of a courtroom.)
That's when I happened across the following two-star review that broadly highlights a growing problem in modern fantasy.
Take a butcher's:
I'm so disappointed. This book started off strong and then a little less then half way in it quickly took a nose dive. Did a horny teenager write this book? When I started reading this book I thought "Oh good, this sounds interesting." And I started out really enjoying it, but then it soon turned into a constant whiny, and unrealistic teenage lust at which seemed to be dominating the story line. I'm soon found myself skipping through chunks of pages so I would not have endure stupid cringey sexual dialog like a dog in heat. The only reason I did not give this book one star is because I really liked the dragon.
Now listen, I'm no prude, nor do I judge those who enjoy a little extra sauce on their hotdog so to speak.
(Yep. Awful pun.)
I just believe that books wearing the skin of Epic Fantasy when they are, in fact, a raunchy erotic YA fantasy romance, should be categorised as such. Not only does this spare the readers who do not enjoy this type of content, but it also reduces reviews like this.
Or maybe retailers are to blame?
Or maybe I'm just becoming a relic?
In any case, I cannot begin to tell you the number of customers who graciously completed my post-purchase survey at my Storehouse echo many of this reviewer's complaints.
Whiny teenager protagonists…
Lustful language…
Sexually charged scenes…
And, in some cases, X-rated scenes.
All they wanted was to follow a flawed character on an interesting quest in a world that is fun to traverse.
To those readers, I say this:
You are safe in The Divided Region.
There are no randy elves, no whiny teenagers, and certainly no lusty love stories underpinning this one.
No, no.
This series leans far more on classical fantasy, staying closer to The Lord of the Rings, only with a bit more grit and the pace of a thriller.
Mind you, there is some crass language and occasional swearing (as already addressed in yesterday's rather insightful email).
If that sounds like your kind of story, here's where to go:
https://djjwatsonstore.com/products/TDR-Bundle
DJJW