Review Policy

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