My Process
As a reviewer, I strive to be as transparent about my rating criteria as possible. I follow a rubric style with five categories that can earn up to five points each. These categories are Plot, Writing Style, Characters, World Building, and Overall Experience.
I have a list of criteria I look for in each category and rate how well the book met each criteria. As a standard, a score of one in a category means that the criteria was not met at all, a score of three means the criteria was met but did not exceed expectations, and a score of five means all criteria was met and exceeded expectations. Scores of two and four act as bridges between the other scores.
Once I score every category, I add them together then divide the total by twenty-five to get the average. I then round that average up or down as needed and the final number becomes the star rating.
The Rubric
Plot
The plot is the main meat of the story. If the plot’s not engaging, then no amount of beautiful writing will keep a reader’s attention.
When scoring the plot, I look for originality, whether or not the story progresses in a logical way, the amount of plot holes, and assess whether or not the overall story was engaging. Most books will score a three, meaning they fulfilled the basic expectations for a published book. A score of one or two means that there were several issues with the plot the negatively impacted the reading experience. A score of four or five indicates that the book’s plot went above and beyond my expectations and industry standard.
Writing Style
If the plot is the meat of the story, the writing style is the seasoning. An author’s writing style can make or break a book, and not even the most engaging plots can overcome an awkward or difficult reading experience.
I score writing style based on overall fluency, sentence variation, and uniqueness. I also assess how the author used the writing style to convey the tone of the story, the personality of the characters and/or narrator, and their use of literary elements. Once again, most books will score a three, meaning that they fulfilled my expectations and met industry standard. A four or five indicates the writing style actively contributed to the reading experience, while a one or two indicates that the writing style negatively impacted my experience.
Characters
Readers want to read stories about characters they like- or at the very least- find interesting. If the characters fall flat, the story will as well.
For characters, I look for how distinct and well developed the characters are. Do they have multi-faceted personalities? Are they complex? Do they blend into other characters in the story, or do they stand out as individuals? If a character seems flat, or relies too heavily on caricatures and stereotypes, they are seldom multidimensional and compelling. A three means the characters were reasonable developed and distinct, but could have been fleshed out more. A one or two means the characters felt flat or had minimal substance and a four or five means the characters were distinct and compelling.
World Building
As someone who mostly reads fantasy and sci-fi, world building is incredibly important to me. I’m a firm believer that it can make or break a book.
Overall Experience
The last category is based on my overall enjoyment and my willingness to recommend the book to others.
- One Point
- I would actively recommend against reading this book. I did not enjoy it at all and it was frustrating to read.
- Two Points
- While I wouldn’t recommend the book, I wouldn’t try to dissuade others from reading it. I personally didn’t find it enjoyable or interesting, but I can see how others might.
- Three Points
- I would recommend this book in certain contexts. Maybe it fits a certain mood or a trope that I know others would enjoy. It was a decent book, but it didn’t stand out as either particularly good or bad.
- Four Points
- I would recommend this book if someone was looking for a new book to read. I found it enjoyable and engaging, and can see myself rereading it in the future.
- Five Points
- I absolutely adored this book and will shout it from the rooftops. This is a book that I will actively recommend and want to reread it over and over again. It is a truly memorable book.
The Review Blog
The Book
This section will introduce the reader to the book. It will provide the title, author, genre, tropes, recommended age group, and the Goodreads blurb. Content warnings will also be provided if applicable.
At a Glance
The at a glance section will feature a quick look at the overall rating, if I would recommend it, and the score breakdowns for each category.
In Depth Review
In this section, I discuss my overall thoughts on the book and what stood out to me- both good and bad.
Reviews By Candle 