Kirkus Reviews / Kirkus Indie (formerly Kirkus Discoveries)

Doc · Dec 14, 2015

Kirkus now offers a review service for e-books. The price is staggeringly high and the resulting review is a short slapdash few paragraphs. I, in my naivete, purchased a review. Because of many errors regarding events in the narrative, I believe, if the reviewer actually read the book, it was at a scan level.. I complained. Kirkus promised a full review of my complaint including a new look at the novel. Three days later ( pretty short look) I received a refusal to correct errors or offer any change or recompense Their argument is a review is subjective and the reviewer's opinion rules the day. Previous to Kirkus, I have had very good reviews from both readers and professional reviewers for this novel, THROUGH THE DARK DOOR OF TIME, SAN DIEGO 1867.
I believe that a Kirkus review is well worth the price for traditionally published books. But e-book writers BEWARE. My experience, including e-mail exchanges with the company, tell me that e-book reviews are purely and simply a cash cow for Kirkus.

I would like to hear from any AWers with Kirkus e-book experience, agreeing with me or opposed.

Doc

Perks · Dec 14, 2015

Doc said:
I believe that a Kirkus review is well worth the price for traditionally published books.

The Kirkus reviews for trade published books is not a paid service. The regular ol' Kirkus is just a review site (used to be a print publication) that publishes a selection of reviews of their choosing.

They have, in the last few years, run a parallel, paid service for self-published books.

cornflake · Dec 14, 2015

Doc said:
Kirkus now offers a review service for e-books. The price is staggeringly high and the resulting review is a short slapdash few paragraphs. I, in my naivete, purchased a review. Because of many errors regarding events in the narrative, I believe, if the reviewer actually read the book, it was at a scan level.. I complained. Kirkus promised a full review of my complaint including a new look at the novel. Three days later ( pretty short look) I received a refusal to correct errors or offer any change or recompense Their argument is a review is subjective and the reviewer's opinion rules the day. Previous to Kirkus, I have had very good reviews from both readers and professional reviewers for this novel, THROUGH THE DARK DOOR OF TIME, SAN DIEGO 1867.
I believe that a Kirkus review is well worth the price for traditionally published books. But e-book writers BEWARE. My experience, including e-mail exchanges with the company, tell me that e-book reviews are purely and simply a cash cow for Kirkus.

I would like to hear from any AWers with Kirkus e-book experience, agreeing with me or opposed.

Doc

Kirkus reviews are fine, and well-respected. They, like certain other well-known reviewers, offers a paid review service that's not really either of those things. Paid reviews usually turn out that way - sorry.

CaoPaux · Dec 14, 2015

Adding link: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/

Their pay-for-review program (launched 2005) began as Kirkus Discoveries and is now Kirkus Indie.

Perks · Dec 14, 2015

CaoPaux said:
Adding link: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/

Their pay-for-review program (launched 2005) began as Kirkus Discoveries and is now Kirkus Indie.

Wow! Has it been that long?

CaoPaux · Dec 14, 2015

Like sands through the hourglass, these are the days of our lives .... *shakes cane at clouds*

bibleinterpreter · Feb 1, 2024

Doc said:
Kirkus now offers a review service for e-books. The price is staggeringly high and the resulting review is a short slapdash few paragraphs. I, in my naivete, purchased a review. Because of many errors regarding events in the narrative, I believe, if the reviewer actually read the book, it was at a scan level.. I complained. Kirkus promised a full review of my complaint including a new look at the novel. Three days later ( pretty short look) I received a refusal to correct errors or offer any change or recompense Their argument is a review is subjective and the reviewer's opinion rules the day. Previous to Kirkus, I have had very good reviews from both readers and professional reviewers for this novel, THROUGH THE DARK DOOR OF TIME, SAN DIEGO 1867.
I believe that a Kirkus review is well worth the price for traditionally published books. But e-book writers BEWARE. My experience, including e-mail exchanges with the company, tell me that e-book reviews are purely and simply a cash cow for Kirkus.

I would like to hear from any AWers with Kirkus e-book experience, agreeing with me or opposed.

Doc

I also wonder why this company would keep changing names.

Maryn · Feb 1, 2024

Can you please stop bringing dead threads back to life? This one last had input in 2015, and your post didn’t provide new information. Don’t worry about being in trouble, but we’d greatly appreciate no more necro-ing oh dead threads.

Kirkus Reviews / Kirkus Indie (formerly Kirkus Discoveries)

Doc

Benefactor Member

Perks

delicate #!&@*#! flower

cornflake

practical experience, FTW

CaoPaux

Mostly Harmless

Perks

delicate #!&@*#! flower

CaoPaux

Mostly Harmless

bibleinterpreter

Maryn

Baaa!