I started Sam @RiverMoose-Reads ARC TBR Read-A-Thon reading last month, and I’m excited that it’s time for another weekly blog post!
The first week we were to do our list of ARCs we currently had and I also explained the read-a-thon a little bit more fully, you can see my original post here.
On my list of TBR Arcs are:
- Metaltown by Kristen Simmons
Bad Blood by Dimitria LunettaQuinsey Wolfe’s Glass Vault by Candace RobinsonFallen Flame by J.M. Miller- Dragon Redeemer by Amy Bearce
House of Ash by Hope Cooke- Fall of Thrones and Thorns by Jennifer Ellision
- Riot of Storm and Smoke by Jennifer Ellision
- The Ghost King by Jeff Altabef
- When I Cast Your Shadow by Sarah Porter
- Immersed  by Jennetta Penner
So far, I still haven’t received any news on whether or not I’ve been approved for any more eARCs from NetGalley.
Week of July 6th:Â Explain You Review System/ Review Policy
Everyone has their own way to give star ratings, and I try to be very subjective when giving them out. I think I am very picky when giving out 5 star ratings, and I tend to give more 3 and 4 star ratings than anything else. Below I broke down my star rating system.
5 Stars – LOVED IT!  Would recommend the book to others.
4 Stars – Enjoyable and a great read.
3 Stars – An okay read – did not love it but liked it.
2 Stars – It was okay.
1 Star – Did not like it – was not enjoyable and lost interest in it.
Typically, for eARCs on NetGalley I only request the ones I have an interest in, so I never have a problem with deciding if I want to read the ARC or not. When a publisher or author asks me to review their book, I typically want to know what genre their book is in and the blurb. That way I can also look up what else the author has written and decide if it is something that I am interested in. I also take into account how many ARCs I already have, and if I have any deadlines coming up whether its for reviews or in my personal life. After accepting an ARC, I keep my reviews pretty unbiased and stick to just what I liked and didn’t like about the book. If an author/publisher requests a review, but asks that I contact them first if I am going to give anything less than 4 stars, I typically go ahead and pass on those books. I don’t like being told that in order to read a book and leave a review I have to follow certain guidelines and potentially skew my review just to fit their criteria. I like giving 100% honest reviews, and there are other books out there that I could read that lets me do that.
How do you  review books? What is your star rating breakdown?