End of the Year Stats

It's been an interesting half a year: I started reviewing for Dark Divas, and about three months later, Jessewave gave me a shot. The requirements are different for the reviews, which is why the styles jump around a bit here, and the books we are offered differ as well, certain publishers don't request review at Wave's who do at DD. Keeps the TBR pile balanced, I suppose.

I've also started crossposting at Amazon. They don't seem to be as accepting of terminology. :S

Here's how the last six months break out.

39 reviews at Dark Divas, they had a head start.
15 reviews at Wave's
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54 total      A few are written but are still to post, something I have more control over at Wave's. Apologies to all who have been waiting on reviews; the Dark Diva reviews have all been delayed by the big holiday extravaganza, but should be appearing presently.

I have a couple books out, best get reading! The stats here are going to be combined.

By publisher:

Amber Quill		4
Carina		1
Cheyenne		1
Dreamspinner		12
eXcessica		1
JMS Press		2
Loose Id		2
MLR		5
Nazca Plains		1
Pink Squirrel		1
Riptide		2
Samhain		1
Self		2
Silver		3
Storm Moon		2
Torquere		12
Total E-Bound		1
Untreed Reads		1

Guess it's reasonable that the bigger pubs are better represented; I do try to catch a variety. But never again on Nazca Plains: that book was scarring, and after reading the pub site, another equally bad experience seems far too likely.

About authors:  a couple of authors that I've read more than one from: I'm allowed to have favorites.  Eden Winters, Carole Cummings, JL Merrow, Mara Ismine, Val Kovalin, and Josephine Myles all turn up more than once. I do try to sample a lot of folks.

By Genre:

Anthology		3
Contemporary		18
Cowboy		2
Fantasy		7
Historical		7
Paranormal		10
Science Fiction		2
Spiritual		1
Steampunk		3
Bizarro		1

No BDSM. My choice, no apologies.

Ratings

1	1
1.5	1
2	1
2.5	3
2.75	1
3	10
3.25
3.5	7
3.75	1
4	13
4.25	2
4.5	4
4.75
5	9

My gradations have gotten a little smaller since coming to Jessewave's, where reviewers use quarter stars. I really don't want to cut it any finer. I average 3.73, which isn't too surprising; I don’t ever choose to read a book I expect not to like. Some trends: I'm giving out fewer 5's, partially, because I'm getting pickier, but mostly because I’m getting a real rash of just-okay books. I try to judge each story on what it's trying to accomplish and has it done that. If it's a humor piece, did I actually laugh? If it's science fiction, did I believe in the world? It's supposed to be m/m, did I get a CWD/m? I'm always a little perplexed by having to rate a short humor piece on the same scale with a thoughtful novel.

Some of the stories haven't had happy endings, and they've been rated very high, at 4.33 average, probably because it has to be a superior story to even see the light of day without an HEA or HFN.

It was an interesting year, and I'm looking forward to 2012!