Martha

Good info, lots to ponder. Only one chapter, though, so make sure you buy at an appropriate price.

I'm giving this 3 stars only because it doesn't apply to me... If I needed the info right now, it would get 4. That might be unfair. Sorry.

3.5 stars, easily.

Good coverage of a variety of writing/publishing topics, with a good attitude.

He does talk about the basics of writing, branding, publishing, and marketing, but he also covers a lot of intermediate and a few advanced topics. A good book to grow with, appropriately, since he talks a lot about growing as a writer. I like that he doesn't believe in “one size fits all” for writers.

Unlike Write a Novel in 10 Days, this book actually gives ideas on how to improve (physical ones, like ergonomics, and mental ones, like attitude), and admits that it's a learned skill and you'll need to work up to it. Much more helpful than 10 Days!

I can boil down the whole book for you. Write faster, and spend more hours doing it. There you go.

Good advice, but all on the most basic level. If you're a bare beginner, it might be useful. Otherwise, you're probably already beyond it.

Suspenseful, with well-handled ethical dilemmas and appealing characters. For those of us who notice technical aspects, the writing is smooth and typos are seldom. The story was enjoyable for adults, but should appeal even more to the younger age groups for which it was written.

Good story spoiled by unnecessary explicit scenes.

2.5 stars. I finished it. It wasn't bad, but it was nothing special.

Speculative fiction/first contact handled in a very realistic manner. Loved the mix of messy real life, sci fi/fantasy, and warm family relationships.

Exciting, well-written, and a satisfying conclusion.

3.5 stars.

As much as I love Chima's writing and characters, I DNFed this book and am giving up on the series. I am so TIRED of reading about teenagers who decide to have an intimate relationship after a very short acquaintance. Also, I want to get back to the main story, and 100+ pages in, that still hasn't happened.

Not bad, but obvious & repetative.

Emotion thesaurus is better.

Started off with 3 stars for the acceptable-but-scant storyline and acceptable prose, but lost half a star for hopping into bed with someone you really just met, and another half for doing so in literally freezing weather, while under threat from a magical creature, and in a cave described as almost too narrow for the hero's shoulders (and he's gut-wounded, btw).

My biggest complaint: why did a whole room full of math & science whizzes never point out the mistake in their odds? 2 of 200 is 1 WHOLE percent, not one-half.

It started off wonderfully, then about halfway through, it tanked & never recovered.

The “I'm snarky because stupid people can't tell me what to do” MC became rude. The friendships dropped nearly out of the picture. His desire to see the world turned into an obsession with mermaids (and such a letdown when he found one). His attempts to make the diplomatic corp once again as important as the warriors turned into “I'm coming along just because I think you're incompetent.” His friend's double-track enrollment died to “I'm really a warrior,” without any decent explanation. The hilarious dialogue & writing became flat and/or vicious.

The MG/YA rating jumped to adult. His charming devotion to his intended girlfriend turned into “I'm bisexual & will sleep with anyone” (without prior hints, mind you). His admirable goal of world peace dropped to a sexfest.

I haven't covered everything, but you get the idea. It was a huge disappointment.

“Stephen King meets Stephen Hawking,” but it should add “meets improv comedy.” For a book about myriad nasty ways to die, it is hilarious. My children kept asking me why I was laughing. I also want to find a use for my new knowledge of the insect-bite-pain and motion-sickness scales, other than experiencing the related problems.

Very, very practical. Actually, too practical for my current stage, but maybe something to pull out again later.

I liked the characters but found myself unmoved by the plot.

Apparently this is the last book. disgruntled frown Now I'm very unhappy with the ending.

Yay for “too early for love!” (Although she did get there pretty quickly after.) Yay for brothers who hand over their brothers in an emergency! Yay for a loving family (his, not hers)! Yay for a princess who can't do everything, cuz duh, she's a pampered princess. (But she's going to fix that...) Yay for a realistically sad ending, but with hope left over.

Boo for the sequels not being written yet!