01-10-2021, 05:08 PM | #1 |
Grand Sorcerer
Posts: 10,539
Karma: 225537496
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Estonia
Device: Kobo Sage & Libra 2
|
The Elf Gate series by Melody Daggerhart
I don't usually give book recommendations, because, well, tastes differ. But Melody Daggerhart is a self-published author whose work I recently discovered and I feel she deserves a word of praise, as she seems not to be well known.
The Elf Gate series (6 books so far, of which the last one came out in December) is epic fantasy. It's available from Amazon, Kobo and Smashwords (perhaps elsewhere too, but I didn't check). While the covers (drawn by the author herself) are, to put it mildly, not very attractive (to put it bluntly, IMHO they're pretty awful), the books themselves are very good. I've read all but the last two. Unlike the covers they're not childish at all, and while there's something resembling romance going on between the two main protagonists, they can't be classified as romance. Certainly the main focus is not on that. And the relationship evolves very slowly over the series, there's no insta-love or insta-sex in those books. The books are proofread and edited, there are no spelling or grammar mistakes that I could spot. Plus the story, while not entirely free of cliches, is not a carbon copy of other fantasy works. It's also long and pretty convoluted, so suitable for those who like to immerse themselves in another world for a while. All in all, if you're a fantasy fan, I'd suggest to give those books a try. I happened upon the first book entirely by chance, browsing the Amazon website, and my expectations weren't that high. But I was pleasantly surprised. (I'm also not connected to the author in any way, nor have I received any books in exchange for a review, or some such stuff). Last edited by Sirtel; 01-10-2021 at 09:43 PM. Reason: typo |
01-10-2021, 07:04 PM | #2 |
Resident Curmudgeon
Posts: 74,772
Karma: 131375596
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts
Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3
|
Given that they are self-published and the covers are terrible, I would have passed by these books. I may try the first one.
Last edited by JSWolf; 08-19-2021 at 06:40 AM. |
Advert | |
|
01-10-2021, 10:34 PM | #3 |
Grand Sorcerer
Posts: 10,539
Karma: 225537496
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Estonia
Device: Kobo Sage & Libra 2
|
Yep, those covers give a really wrong impression of her books. I wouldn't have bought them based on the covers either. But I read the sample and was interested enough to buy the first book, and all the rest after finishing the first.
|
01-10-2021, 11:31 PM | #4 |
Plan B Is Now In Force
Posts: 1,894
Karma: 8086979
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Surebleak
Device: Aluratek,Sony 350/T1,Pandigital,eBM 911,Nook HD/HD+,Fire HDX 7/8.9,PW2
|
I'll give it a try.
|
01-11-2021, 05:47 AM | #5 |
Fanatic
Posts: 505
Karma: 10488899
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Denmark
Device: Oasis 3, Kobo Sage and Libra 2,Ipad mini 5
|
A tempting review. I bought the first on
|
Advert | |
|
01-11-2021, 05:52 AM | #6 |
Resident Curmudgeon
Posts: 74,772
Karma: 131375596
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts
Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3
|
Have you tried to contact Melody to tell her that her covers really need to be changed as they are losing her sales?
|
01-11-2021, 08:13 AM | #7 |
Grand Sorcerer
Posts: 10,539
Karma: 225537496
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Estonia
Device: Kobo Sage & Libra 2
|
|
01-11-2021, 09:00 AM | #8 | |
Grand Sorcerer
Posts: 7,195
Karma: 70314280
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Atlanta, GA
Device: iPad Pro, iPad mini, Kobo Aura, Amazon paperwhite, Sony PRS-T2
|
Quote:
Seriously, thanks for the recommendation. For $3, why not? I'm always looking for new authors. Yea, neither the cover nor the blurb would have caused me to give the series a second glance without your recommendation. |
|
01-11-2021, 09:13 AM | #9 | |
Resident Curmudgeon
Posts: 74,772
Karma: 131375596
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts
Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3
|
Quote:
After I read the first book and if I like it, I'll tell her about her covers. I'll tell the truth that if if it wasn't for your recommendation, that after seeing the covers, I would have passed on them without having read the descriptions. If nobody tells her, then she'll lose sales The rule that a lot go by is that if the book is self-published and the cover is not good, bypass the book. |
|
01-11-2021, 09:29 AM | #10 |
Grand Sorcerer
Posts: 10,539
Karma: 225537496
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Estonia
Device: Kobo Sage & Libra 2
|
|
01-12-2021, 07:42 AM | #11 |
Grand Sorcerer
Posts: 44,839
Karma: 55647515
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Peru
Device: Kindle: Oasis 3, Voyage WiFi; Kobo: Libra 2, Aura One
|
I'm of the opinion that if an author has enough guts to put his or her name on a piece of writing, then it's a favor to the author to let her/him know - in a way that is constructive and helpful - and that, in this instance, these covers just don't work for [whatever] reasons. And my philosophy goes for an author's book, as well.
An author can ignore the critic. Or an author can see if there is any basis for the criticism. KEY: Constructive criticism. |
01-12-2021, 10:42 AM | #12 | |
Grand Sorcerer
Posts: 7,195
Karma: 70314280
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Atlanta, GA
Device: iPad Pro, iPad mini, Kobo Aura, Amazon paperwhite, Sony PRS-T2
|
Quote:
|
|
01-12-2021, 03:18 PM | #13 | |
Wizard
Posts: 1,232
Karma: 64273280
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Norway
Device: PocketBook Touch Lux (had Onyx Boox Poke 3 and BeBook Neo earlier)
|
From everything I've read, the majority of authors don't want to have negative feedback sent directly to them - and yes, that goes even if it's meant as constructive criticism. Here's one take on this, from Chuck Wendig: Hi, Definitely Don’t Tag Authors In Your Negative Reviews Of Their Books .
Quote:
Criticising the cover isn't quite the same a criticising the novel, of course, but especially since it's drawn by the author I would assume the same rule for politeness applies there. If you want to comment on it, I suggest writing it in a review at Goodreads or Amazon, that way the author can seek it out when/if she's in a mood to read negative feedback. |
|
01-12-2021, 04:24 PM | #14 | |
Resident Curmudgeon
Posts: 74,772
Karma: 131375596
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts
Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3
|
Quote:
I've read the first book in the Elf Gate series because of a recommendation I read by a MobileRead forum regular. If I had seen your eBooks on Amazon before the recommendation, I would have passed them by because the cover isn't very good. I don't take a second look at self-published eBook from an unknown author where the cover is not all that good. The story was good, but the cover is letting it down. I suggest that you have the covers redone so they catch the eye and get people to stop and take a look. If you have a better suggestion, feel free to say. Thanks. |
|
01-13-2021, 01:03 AM | #15 |
Wizard
Posts: 1,232
Karma: 64273280
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Norway
Device: PocketBook Touch Lux (had Onyx Boox Poke 3 and BeBook Neo earlier)
|
It's well written and gets your point across, but as I said, I suggest posting it as a review on Amazon or Goodreads -- that way the author can look it up when/if she's in a mood to appreciate constructive criticism.
Sending negative feedback -- even if it's done with the best of intentions, and is politely and constructively phrased -- directly to an author can be very unkind. I've seen even very successful authors writing about struggling with impostor syndrome and low self confidence, and how reading reviews (even mostly positive ones) can be hugely stressful at times, so it's something they need to be in the right mood for. |
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
7" Ainol Novo7 ELF Google Android 4.0 | applesauce | Android Devices | 0 | 05-07-2012 06:48 AM |
wrong ELF class: ELFCLASS32 | valdemar | Calibre | 2 | 04-25-2012 12:58 PM |
Pictureflow Error: Wrong Elf class on Ubuntu 8.04 AMD_64 | artcoffeewords | Calibre | 6 | 07-15-2008 03:03 PM |