So, you want me to review your book?

I have rules for the books I review.   That’s because I am detail-oriented when I read books and try to discuss everything I like and don’t like.

But many LitRPG novels are written by complete amateurs, and the last thing that they want is for a critic to come into a niche genre and rip their book apart.  However, if a new author writes a book that is insanely good like Travis Bagwell, then it will potentially get a full review.

I’ve only informally reviewed one book that was written by an unknown author and don’t want to post it up here because it’s just going to be me ripping into a guy who is just getting started.

So I typically review books that are:

1.)  Written by authors who are established in the genre or in other genres.  I.e. people I feel as if my review will not impact too negatively or positively.

2.) Generally well-liked.  Most LitRPG books are written by amateurs, so people know that going in.  Thus, most of the books are given to effluent praise.  So if someone is ranking at a two or three star, that is really not a good sign.

I have done advanced reviews of books, and I have two that I need to sit down and finish reading, but if you are worried about a bad review appearing on here needlessly, don’t.

That said, if you ask me to review your book and put it online, don’t get offended if I do that.  I’m not going to tamper my review just because I like you, it’s a criticism of your work, not of you.  Which is cold comfort if you’ve worked on a novel for years just to see some critic rip it apart, but it’s like the saying, ‘Be careful what you wish for.’

On the flip side, if your novel is good, I will praise it appropriately and recommend it.  But my conclusions are not foreordained, they will be strictly based on the merits of the novel.