If you’ve got a published book, or an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) that’s ready for release, I’m all set to step into your world.
Requests are OPEN
Book Review Wish List
I want new worlds and exotic creatures and cultures, so I’ve decided to narrow down my wish list to be a little more specific.
Send me:
Adult books.- Second world (or high) fantasy.*
- Second world science fiction.*
- Second world steampunk.*
- Second world fantasy romance or science fiction romance. Open to all heat levels.*
Bonus points! I would love to see stories with:
- Any mashup of the above genres.
- Diverse voices from underrepresented groups, BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and OwnVoices.
- Diverse romantic entanglements F/F, M/M, reverse harem and polyamorous.
- Brooding heroes—the broodier the better.
- Dragons & portal worlds.
- Grimdark – the darker and weirder the story the better.
* A note on second world stories: What I’m looking for is new worlds, places I’ve never been that have absolutely nothing to do with Earth and aren’t in the same universe. Think D’Ni, Middle Earth, or Jayvee 9. However I will accept stories that have a very thin tie to Earth. Think Ringworld or the Moss World series where more than 90% of the story is on another world.
Still not sure? Here are some of my favorite stories to give you an idea of what I love.
Do Not Send Me
Sorry, but I’m not the right reader for the following stories.
- Young Adult, Middle Grade, or any story aimed at children
- Angels, demons, vampires, or werewolves
- Anything religion-focused
- Non-fiction
- Contemporary or general fiction
- Virus, outbreak, political, or medical fiction
How I Review:
The philosophy I carry with me through each story is I review for readers with graciousness toward the author and all the hard work they put into their book. Because I’m both an author and a reviewer, I understand both sides of the struggle and try to take this into consideration. Even if I don’t love your book, I still love you.
One thing I’d like to mention to authors is that I’ve written quite a few DNF (do not finish) reviews lately, hence why I’m focusing my wishlist on secondary worlds. But DNF does not always mean a negative review, it simply means it wasn’t the story for me. Here’s my perspective on DNFs.
Take a peek at the format I generally use for my reviews (sometimes slightly modified):
- Why I picked up this book.
- Cover + Blurb
- Rating (Green Stars)
- What I loved
- Areas I didn’t connect with
- Overall thoughts
If you’re curious to see this more in-depth, you can check out my reviews on Goodreads.
I post all of my reviews** on this blog, my secondary blog, and Goodreads. I will also advertise the revew on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
** Note: If I DNF your story, I will only post the review on Goodreads as I don’t feel it’s fair to the author if I’m shouting “didn’t love this story” in everyone’s space.
How to Request
If you’re still with me, hooray! It probably means you have something I’m excited to get my hands on. If you think I might be a good fit for your story, here’s what you’ll need to have handy to fill out the request form:
- Query or book blurb
- The first 5 pages of your story
- Story must finish by the end even if it’s part of a series, no ‘to be continued’
- Story must be standalone or first book in a series (unless I’ve read the prior books)
If you have any other questions, aren’t sure if your story quite fits my Book Review Wishlist, or would like to find out information on having an interview, cover reveal or a guest post on my blog, feel free to shoot me a message via the general contact page.
Cheers and I can’t wait to hear about your story!
K. J. Harrowick