I don’t often post about the reviews my books receive. Reviews are really for readers, a way for someone who’s read a book to summarise what they liked and disliked about it, so that potential readers can judge whether a book is their cup of tea or not. So even a negative review can be helpful. Some reviews of my books say that they’re long or have slow patches or that the main character is hard to like. I wouldn’t argue with any of that. And it means that anyone looking for a fast, action-packed story with a likeable main character will know to move along. A review complaining about explicit sex or swearing will warn off readers who would find that disturbing. A review praising the gender equality in my worlds will alert readers to the possibility of something a little outside the norm.
So all reviews are useful. But occasionally a reviewer gets under the skin of one of my books in a way that is truly heart-warming. It means the reviewer really got what I was trying to say. For me, as a beginner at this writing business, this is just a wonderful moment.
Rachel Cotterill of Strange Charms, a blog which showcases female authors of speculative fiction, had this to say about my ‘unlikeable’ main character:
“Kyra herself is a great heroine. She sets out with a grim determination to train as a scribe, taking extra jobs to make ends meet. […] Almost every choice Kyra makes is goal-oriented, and in her head at least, she’s coolly logical in her decisions (though she’s a somewhat unreliable narrator when it comes to her own emotions).”
This is a perfect summary of her, and a real thrill for me to read. You can read the full review (and many other excellent reviews) here.
Rachel Cotterill reviewed one of mine, too, and she was most gracious. Yay you!
Thanks! I’ve reviewed at least one of hers, in the past. She’s an excellent writer.
I was lucky enough to get a free copy for an honest review so here we go. Kyra would love to be a law scribe and after some years in school she does a spell for her sister that goes horribly wrong and bang goes her hopes and dreams. A stranger see her gift and helps her go to another city and tells her that she is a living mage with loads of magic inside of her.