I read fantasy and science fiction almost exclusively, and occasionally horror with supernatural elements. Please at least skim through my reviews to see if your book and I might be a good fit before contacting me. I’ve also made a quick list to help you decide quickly whether your book and I might get along. Mandatory = must haves; Pros = preferred; Cons = things I generally don’t enjoy, but surprises happen/things I’ll put up with if the book has enough good things going for it; Absolutely Not = absolutely not, hard no, will not read under any circumstances.
Mandatory
- Diversity. Your main cast must include characters who are queer (including the ace spectrum) or BIPOC or neurodivergent or disabled/chronically ill or, at absolute minimum, cis women – preferably some combination thereof. If your book has an all-white, all-ablebodied, all-nuerotypical, all-cishet male cast, don’t bother
- Correct formatting. If your e-book is full of formatting errors, I can’t focus on the story
- SFF. Your book must be Fantasy or Sci Fi or Science Fantasy. Horror is only acceptable if it contains fantasy/supernatural elements.
Pros
- Past-tense third-person PoV
- Detailed worldbuilding
- Secondary-world setting
- Lyrical/beautiful/descriptive prose
- Dragons
- Unicorns
- Found-family
- Humour/snark
- Strong friendships
- Matriarchies
- Queernorm settings
Cons
- First person PoV
- Hard magic systems
- Gender-based magic systems that do not acknowledge gender as a spectrum
- Greek gods
- Norse gods
- Medieval Europe-esque setting
- YA
- Coming Out stories
- Ghosts
- Heists
- Investigative plotlines – police, solving a murder, government agencies, etc
Absolutely Not
- Present-tense first-person PoV
- Violence towards animals
- Erotica
- Paranormal Romance
- Grimdark
- Graphic gore
- Sexual violence
- Military SFF
Due to my fibromyalgia and complications, I can’t hold paper books, nor comfortably read PDF files. If your book isn’t available in ePUB, MOBI or AZW3 formats, then I must decline. I also require the book to be listed on Goodreads. I am equally happy to read traditionally-published books, self-published books, and books from small or indie presses.
If you want to contact me about potentially reviewing your book, please email me at siavahda@everybookadoorway.com