The First Ten Focus Group Feedback for The Blacksmith's Daughter
Because The Blacksmith's Daughter was Book of the Day, some of our most trusted members have carefully looked over the cover, the description, and other aspects of this book as a part of purchase-intent focus group. We then asked each participant in the focus group if they planned to buy and read the book, and why they planned to buy and read the book or not. Their answer to that question and reasons are displayed below. We call this awesome feature The First Ten Focus Group.
Keep in mind, the responses from the members are not reviews. This is purchase-intent focus group which means the participants are people who have NOT yet bought or read your book. A purchase-intent focus group is an important and extremely useful marketing tool for any product, not just books. For other products, you might walk on the street and show people an item in a package and poll them about whether they would buy if or $X or not. These kind of focus groups are one of the ways big marketing companies find the ideal price points for products and test the effectiveness of different packaging. The focus group can help you identify your market so you how to target ads of your book, and it can (but may not) provide you new useful info about your "packaging" (e.g. your book cover, your book synopsis on Amazon, etc.). The point of the focus group comments is to give you information from people who have not bought or read your book about why they plan to buy your book which will help you in marketing the book. These are not reviews or critiques of your book because they are not from people have read the book. This is a marketing tool, not reviews. The trick of book marketing and book advertising is that you have to convince people who have not read your book yet that your book is worth buying and reading. For marketing, it doesn't matter much if people love your book after reading it if you cannot convince potential buyers before they read it that they will love it.
IMPORTANT: Any score over 10% is considered very good. And any score above 0% is acceptable. This is because we only poll about 20 or so readers, and all readers have to say "no" to almost all books. Over a million books are published each year. Even a very active reader cannot come close to even reading 1% of books out there.
This is also why publishing books is such a tough industry.
Alice Heritage
I wouldn't have sampled this without the programme as I'm not looking out for new fiction at the moment, and don't usually sample the historical genre. However, I will buy and read it today because the period it covers meshes well with some aspects of history I am learning about at the moment. The book seems well edited, although I noticed an error in this phrase: "where his, and the Nazi's, monstrosities" - it should read "Nazis' ". I liked the details, which seemed accurate. I particularly enjoyed learning about Avicenna - I'd heard the name, but didn't know that he wrote an informative medical textbook. Nothing necessarily needs to be improved. I was a bit confused that Serena killed Hitler so readily when she specifically intended to capture him alive, but I trust that this may be explained elsewhere. The OBC review I saw was helpful in that it confirmed that the book is well researched and well edited.
First Ten review added on July 27, 2019, at 4:45 am by Alice Heritage.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Vickie Noel
This book is a fantastic read. I love women-themed books, so the title would have attracted me to the book outside the program. I don't quite understand the concept behind the split face of the woman on the cover, but it doesn't really matter; perhaps the interpretation would be revealed deeper in the book. The sample has proved totally engaging, and I certainly will be reading more. I love how the story started right off the bat with Ian and Serena invading the Germans' hideout to kidnap Hitler. I also couldn't take my eyes off the page while reading Desiree's story as the new town's apothecary. The book is well edited although I found it quite strange that the word "widow" was capitalized in the middle of sentences as if it was a proper noun, as in "the Widow" especially as the article "the" kept preceding it. The OBC review was enthusiastic, but I'm even more excited about the book now that I've read the generous sample provided by the author.
First Ten review added on July 27, 2019, at 3:54 am by Vickie Noel.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Mercelle
Judging by the cover, I wasn't going to read this book. The OBC review, however, urged me on when it mentioned that the lead characters' youthful appearance never faded, causing suspicion among their fellow knights. When I read the first ten pages, I liked that Desiree encouraged Gabrielle to cut back on his wine consumption. Since I noticed no errors, I will conclude that the text underwent professional editing, and there's nothing I would change about the bit I read. I will, however, not read the rest of the book because it doesn't appeal to me.
First Ten review added on July 27, 2019, at 3:32 am by Mercelle.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Gravy
I am rather obsessive about reading books out of order, I would never sample the third book in a series, so I wouldn't have sample this. I guess the sample could have tempted me into trying the series, but historical just isn't something I often enjoy, and the sample did not convince me otherwise.
I did not notice any errors in the sample, however, there were multiple errors in the discription on Amazon (Template Knights instead of Templar, an where it should be and), which would normally stop me from ever sampling a book. I would suggest fixing that.
The cover is appealing, the writing is interesting, I enjoyed much of the dialogue, and the historical aspect seemed well done (for the most part). My one issue is Desiree using the word 'plaster' when dealing with Cherie's broken arm. This is, as far as I have found, not historically accurate. Granted, it could be because of the, I'm assuming, time travel aspect of the story? Still, I would assume she would be trying to fit in, so, personally, I found it off-putting and unbelievable.
There was a review for this book, but that doesn't affect my opinion. I won't be reading this due mainly to its genre not interesting me.
First Ten review added on July 27, 2019, at 1:52 am by Gravy.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Annelore Trujillo
I would not have sampled this book based on the genre, blurb, OBC review, cover, and title. I don’t usually read historical fiction, and this time period didn’t interest me. After reading the first ten pages, I won’t be finishing this book. I liked the prologue. I thought the mission to kidnap Hitler was interesting. I liked how they turned the death into an apparent suicide. However, I lost interest once the book went back farther in the past. I also noticed errors that tell me the book isn’t edited. For example, “Nazi’s had” should be “Nazis had”. I don’t like to read books that aren’t edited.
First Ten review added on July 27, 2019, at 1:13 am by Annelore Trujillo.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
unamilagra
Before sampling this book, I may have picked it up because I tend to enjoy both fantasy and historical fiction novels. Although I was only supposed to read ten pages, I admit I read well beyond that because the book captured my attention immediately. I couldn't wait to see if Ian and Serena were going to capture Hitler and change history. Because I want to know what happens next, I do plan to read this book. I didn't notice any errors in the section I read.
First Ten review added on July 27, 2019, at 12:00 am by unamilagra.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
AA1495
Had I not sampled the book, I would not have read it. I usually read pure romance books. However, the image of the woman on the cover made me curious about the book. Having read the sample, one of the first things that caught my attention was the index. With only chapter numbers and no chapter titles, the index seemed plain. Further, the fact that the book had fifty four chapters made it seem tiresome to read. Having read the sample, I had a few issues with the editing and formatting of the book. Firstly, there was inconsistent spacing between paragraphs (while there was a gap of a line between some paragraphs, there was no gap between some). Secondly, the paragraphs were of varying lengths. While some seemed long, some were a line long. However, the author described Ian and Serena's thoughts and emotions well. Since I do not read the genre usually, I will not be buying the book today.
First Ten review added on July 26, 2019, at 11:58 pm by AA1495.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Mbrooks2518
I've read reviews for this book before and was interested, so I will buy this book. I like the way the book starts out with Serena and Ian on a mission to capture Hitler. It gives a sense of the ways that the characters are involved in history.
There was a sentence on page two that was missing a comma. It said "If they were caught they would be shot as spies."
First Ten review added on July 26, 2019, at 11:47 pm by Mbrooks2518.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Nisha Ward
The Blacksmith's Daughter is part of a series that had held my interest from the second book, so I knew I wanted to read this even before I saw it as the Book of the Day. Intriguing and still reminding me a bit of Assassin's Creed, now I'd like to know what happens to Ian and Serena after they killed Hitler in the book's opening. Superbly edited and wonderfully crafted, I'm going to read this as soon as I can.
First Ten review added on July 26, 2019, at 11:18 pm by Nisha Ward.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
va2016
The title is indicative of the theme of the book. The cover does not convey much. There is only one Amazon customer review. The Amazon summary of the book does not interest me. As I am not interested in world domination stories, I would have skipped sampling the book if not for the First Ten program. As I sampled through the book, I found the narration describing Serena's and Ian's attempt to kidnap Hitler. As I am not interested in historical war related stories, I am not going to read this book in full. I found the sample professionally edited. There were no grammatical or mechanical errors. I didn't like anything specifically about the book. I don't have any suggestions for improvement. Although I found one OBC review for the book, my decision to not to read the book in full is based on my own sampling.
First Ten review added on July 26, 2019, at 10:15 pm by va2016.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
CataclysmicKnight
The cover of this book was a bit odd at first glance, as it looks a lot like one of those makeup or cleaner commercials where half of the face is treated and half isn't. I do love fantasy settings, though, which often involve blacksmiths, so I probably would've looked into this anyway if it wasn't the book of the day.
So far I'm not a big fan of what I've read. The more recent bit of story shows the lead characters attempting to capture Hitler alive and setting in motion the "suicide", while the further-in-the-past portion shows a woman treat two different people in her new apothecary. Both scenes seemed a bit drawn out and, with some tightening up, could've been a bit better. I also found a single error - "doubtful the Nazi's had dogs" should use "Nazis" - but the writing was smooth overall. I just wish things were a little more fast-paced.
First Ten review added on July 26, 2019, at 9:07 pm by CataclysmicKnight.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Sonya Nicolaidis
The dual picture on the front cover of this book is a good way to make a reader stop for a closer look. This, and the title, caught my interest, and I had the idea I was going to enjoy this book. The OBC reviewer seemed to enjoy the story thoroughly, especially the inclusion of the historical Knights Templar and the different epochs that this story covers. I saw no errors in the grammar of the sample which indicates excellent editing. The part I enjoyed most was the prologue which described the unexpected and sudden end of Hitler’s life. It’s not what I expected at all. There wasn’t anything I didn’t like about this sample and certainly everything points to an excellent book. I would like to read this one as I’ve always been fascinated by the Templars and their history. I have nothing further to suggest by way of improvements, as this is a wonderful book on offer today.
First Ten review added on July 26, 2019, at 5:56 pm by Sonya Nicolaidis.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Sarah_Khan
At first glance, I would not have picked up this book because it is part of a series. I thought the cover was a little creepy, the title is okay. The first ten pages seem to be well-edited. It was exciting reading about the mission of the main characters to capture Hitler. Unfortunately, I haven't read the other books in the series and I always like to read them in order, even if they are stand-alone novels. So, I will not be reading the rest. I did not read any OBC review.
First Ten review added on July 26, 2019, at 5:41 pm by Sarah_Khan.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Jsovermyer
This is a beautiful cover. I don't know the significance of the title, The Blacksmith's Daughter, but think it is interesting. This is historical fiction with a touch of fantasy. Two of the main characters are part of the Knights Templar. I like that the female characters are strong women with unusual occupations. My favorite part was about Desiree setting up her apothecary shop and being worried that the townspeople might not trust her being a Muslim woman. Then the Sheriff came in holding his daughter, who had fallen off her horse. After that she gets more business because the Sheriff told everyone Desiree had helped him. The official review rated this book highly, and I would agree that this story seems professionally written. I didn't find any spelling or grammatical errors and believe this book has been professionally edited. I liked the part I read, but the story seems to have a very complex storyline. I will not be finishing it at this time but will keep it in mind for a later date.
First Ten review added on July 26, 2019, at 3:09 pm by Jsovermyer.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Scerakor
From the cover, blurb, and review of this book, I wouldn’t have read it. The book seemed a bit all over the place to me and I didn't think that I would enjoy it. After reading the first ten pages I didn’t change my mind and therefore will not be buying and reading the rest of this book. I loved how the book made you wonder what the premise was going to be early on. Within the first chapter, the characters literally shot Hitler in the head and therefore this accentuates the intrigue completely. That being said, I'm really not into this kind of book and therefore wouldn't be willing to pay for and read the rest of it. I didn’t see anything specific that I would have wanted to change within the sample that I read, but it did seem well written and edited. The official review did not affect my decision at all.
First Ten review added on July 26, 2019, at 1:47 pm by Scerakor.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Emy Katherine
I rarely read historical fiction novels, so I would not have read the book based on the genre. Reading both the sample and the OBC review did not change my mind. Furthermore, this is the third book in The Fellowship of the Ancient Covenant series, and I did not read the previous two books. The story is set in 1102 AD and follows the adventures and misadventures of four young people (Serena, Desiree, Jacques, and Ian) who have the magical ability to stay young with the passing years. Although I enjoyed the fast-paced, descriptive writing style, I did not feel invested in the story. However, those who enjoy reading suspenseful, action-packed novels involving treasure hunting, pirates, and knights will surely like it. Unfortunately, I am not sure the book was professionally edited; I found several misplaced commas that were quite distracting. For example, there should not be a comma after "outrun" in the sentence, "I don’t think we can outrun, them." (location 506 of 737 • 69%)
First Ten review added on July 26, 2019, at 12:26 pm by Emy Katherine.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Aubrey Lewis
The overall appearance of the book is all right, in my opinion. It's not too attractive, but not too bland, either. When I finished sampling the first ten pages, I came to the conclusion that I will not be buying and reading the rest of this book. The premise was quite interesting as it immediately jumped into action with characters Ian and Serena, and then Chapter One with a nurse named Desiree treating patients. However, although the book seems professionally edited, the genres are not of my interest and the storyline so far doesn't intrigue me enough to buy the book.
First Ten review added on July 26, 2019, at 11:08 am by Aubrey Lewis.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
gen_g
I have not come across reviews of this book; it also seems professionally edited, but there are still a few errors here and there. For example, at 5% of the sample, it should be "...doubtful that the Nazis had dogs...", instead of "...doubtful that the Nazi's had dogs...". Also, I would suggest that the editor/author include line breaks after each paragraph for ease of reading. The book certainly starts off with a bang, where Ian and Serena manages to infiltrate the Nazi camp, and Serena manages to put a bullet into HItler's head in his own sitting room before he could manage to fire his own pistol. However, I will not be purchasing the book today, as I understand that this is book 3 in the series. I will be reading book 1 first.
First Ten review added on July 26, 2019, at 5:10 am by gen_g.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Hiruni Bhagya 81
The cover of this book made me curious about it. When I read the OBC review on it, I didn't think I'd enjoy it due to the abrupt time shift in the middle of the story. After sampling the book, I didn't want to read it for a completely different reason. Even after reading the complete sample, I still don't know the relationship between the protagonists and other characters. Due to this, it felt as if it contained too many characters. Maybe the author didn't realize the need to introduce characters and their relationship with each other since this is the third book of a series. But, those who haven't read the first two books might find it too confusing. So, this aspect needs to be improved. But, despite this minor flaw, I have to say the author is quite talented. He was able to portray each and every scene in the mind of the reader. When I read about the fight with the pirates, I felt like a spectator in it. Also, it was apparent that this book was professionally edited due to the absence of errors.
First Ten review added on July 26, 2019, at 4:58 am by Hiruni Bhagya 81.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Chelsy Scherba
I enjoyed reading Serena and Ian’s encounter during the last moments of Hitler’s reign. I like that they only used chloroform on the boy sentry and that Serena shot Hitler before he could shoot her. The details about Eva and the dog, Blondi were interesting to include because I’m sure they match the history accurately. The book is a sequel so I’m reluctant to read it until I finish the others. I like the title and cover image and didn’t notice any errors. The review was positive and described the book as mostly historical, so I’ll consider reading it in the future.
First Ten review added on July 26, 2019, at 3:42 am by Chelsy Scherba.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Verna Coy
Had I not sampled this book through the First Ten program, I probably would have picked it up for a second look because the cover appeals to me, and I like the title. Being a blacksmith’s daughter myself, it made a connection with me. I don’t plan to buy and read the whole book at this time because I didn’t like the section of the story dealing with Hitler. I understand the importance of writing about war, but sometimes I don’t like to read about it. Reading the first ten pages confirmed that this book was as interesting as the cover promised. It seems professionally edited, and I saw no errors. What I liked most in the bit that I read was the part of the story where Desiree gave medical treatment to the old widow lady and helped her. I feel that the herbal remedy style apothecary shop she had opened added authenticity to the book. I know readers who love adventure will enjoy this story. I saw no need for improvement in what I read. I did see the Official Online Book Club Review and found it to be enjoyable and informative.
First Ten review added on July 26, 2019, at 2:43 am by Verna Coy.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Cristina Chifane
I wouldn't have sampled this book without the first ten program since it is book 3 in a series. The title reminds me of the epic series that I like, but the military aspects of the plot put me off. The book has only one customer review. The prologue is full of action and offers an interesting alternate history of Hitler's death in the bunker. In terms of editing, I noticed some unindented paragraphs in chapter one: "Desiree looked around her shop." (16% of Sample) or "Bright and early the next morning [...]" (25% of Sample). The four protagonists are definitely well portrayed and their adventures keep you tuned in from one chapter to another. My favorite are Serena and Desiree. Considering the enthusiastic OBC review, I think this is a book I might enjoy.
First Ten review added on July 26, 2019, at 2:26 am by Cristina Chifane.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Catherine Hsu
If I had not read the sample, I would not have read the book as it does not look like my genre. After reading the sample, I have not changed my mind. I was a little put off by the writing, as it felt like a lot of "tell, not show" and I wish there was more variety in sentence structure. For example: "Ian dashed from behind the tree...He grabbed the boy's rifle...He pulled the boy's arms..." was how three consecutive sentences went, and as I read it felt a little too rhythmic and repetitive. It did seem professionally edited, however. I did not read an official review but that did not affect my decision.
First Ten review added on July 26, 2019, at 2:03 am by Catherine Hsu.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
CrescentMoon
After reading the blurb, I wouldn't pick this book up because it's the third in the series and judging by the description, I can tell I'll already be lost without reading the first two books. I'm sure I missed the necessary world building and terminology that is specific for this book's setting like "The Select." After reading the first ten pages, I saw a few minor errors. In the prologue, "...where his, and the Nazi's, monstrosities..." I think it should say Nazis because Nazi's means that there is only one Nazi monstrosity when it should be plural. Other than that I didn't really see any errors. I like that the book started with action with Ian and Serena dressing up as soldiers and planning to take out Hitler. I also enjoyed the diversity of the characters. I wasn't expecting Desiree to be a Muslim healer and I like that the book addresses the unfortunate prejudice and discrimination she faces because of her background. I definitely think the setting feels like a magical historical timeline which is perfect for the book. Unfortunately, I wasn't really hooked into reading the rest. I don't really understand what is going on and who these characters are not having read the first two books so I don't really know the connection between Ian and Serena and Desiree and Luc. The sample also wasn't enough to make me want to read the first two books in the series so I won't be reading the rest.
First Ten review added on July 25, 2019, at 11:48 pm by CrescentMoon.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Gabriel Merêncio
I wouldn't have chosen to read the book based on its blurb since it gave me the impression the plot wouldn't make sense without reading the previous novels in the series. The OBC review might have convinced me to at least sample the book. Having read the first few pages, I was intrigued by how the medieval and modern-day plotlines would connect, so the beginning does a good job at hooking the reader. I didn't spot any typos or errors, and there was nothing in particular I disliked. That said, historical fiction is not the sort of read I'm usually interested in, so I won't be reading the rest of the book.
First Ten review added on July 25, 2019, at 11:14 pm by Gabriel Merêncio.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
srividyag1
This is an interesting cover page because of the two halves of the face. The OBC review said that this was a historical fiction blending two timelines. When I read the sample, two operatives Ian and Serena visit Hitler's bunker and kill him. They see Hitler has already poisoned his wife. The next chapter is set in France where we meet an apothecary lady named Desiree. I am not sure how historically accurate this is since ladies weren't allowed to practice medicine in the 12th century. They were further branded as witches, if they healed. However, I am not sure about the exact timeline for this. The book seems professionally edited. Since the characters didn't intrigue me enough and the first ten pages didn't offer anything suspenseful or thrilling, I am not going to read this book.
First Ten review added on July 25, 2019, at 10:47 pm by srividyag1.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Juliana_Isabella
I was drawn to this book due to the female protagonist and positive review. I didn't find any grammatical mistakes in the first ten pages, but I didn't like that the author opened by telling the reader about the group's plan. I thought the scene would be more exciting if he just starting with them attempting to kidnap Hitler. Because of this, I won't finish the book.
First Ten review added on July 25, 2019, at 10:22 pm by Juliana_Isabella.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Tamorie Hargro
I am a fan of both the title and the cover of this book, as both leave much to the imagination as to the story's contents. They are enough to prompt me to give the book a chance. After reading the book's sample, however, I don't believe I will buy and read the entire book from there. While I was pulled in by the action of the book's prologue, I found myself drifting in interest and concentration during the next several pages following the start of the first chapter. I'm also very unaware of the story leading up to this book, as it is book three in the series and seems as though the book cannot stand alone. As mentioned, the bit I enjoyed the most was the story's intense beginning following the stealthy actions of the skilled spies, Serena and Ian, quickly and quietly taking out their enemies. I noticed some grammar mistakes, such as using the possessive 's' rather than the necessary plural 's' for the word "Nazis" in: "It was doubtful that the Nazi's had dogs to guard the bunker...," as well as some missing commas that would do to separate clauses. While the OBC official review of the book managed to incite some curiosity in me concerning some of the book's action, I don't feel compelled to read the whole novel.
First Ten review added on July 25, 2019, at 9:38 pm by Tamorie Hargro.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Heidi M Simone
Without this program, I would not have sampled this book. As I didn't read the previous books, this would not have piqued my interest. Also, the blurb and genre aren't ones that I'm interested in. The cover and the title seem to go well together, but I'm not sure how this relates to the blurb. The positive OBC and customer ratings do not affect my opinion of the book. I didn't see any glaring errors while reading, which is always a positive sign in any read. I found the beginning where Ian and Serena's mission was to capture Hitler toward the end of WWII. It was a bit exciting when Hitler aimed his gun at Serena, but then she shot him and staged a suicide. Also, when Desiree helps the Sheriff with Cherie's injury after falling from a horse, it was a bit exciting. It's good to see that the girl ended up being okay. As I know there are sensual scenes, I do not feel this is the right type of book for me. Therefore, I do not plan on buying and reading this book.
First Ten review added on July 25, 2019, at 8:58 pm by Heidi M Simone.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
LV2R
The book cover and title were both very good and interesting. The Amazon blurb described the Four: Ian and Jacque, as Template Knights; Desiree, as an apothecary; and Serena, as a ship’s captain in ancient days. In modern days, they are a team to stop a group from creating nuclear weapons and taking over the world. The sample began with Serena and Ian on a mission in 1945 to kidnap Hitler but ended up killing him and making it look like a suicide. Then the time went back to 1102 and described Desiree setting up an apothecary shop in France. I best liked that though it may be difficult for people to trust Desiree at first, her helping the sheriff’s daughter with putting on a cast on a broken arm will help change people to begin to trust her. This showed that Desiree is a good businesswoman with good character. It will be interesting to see her character in different timelines. The book seems to be edited well, as I did not notice any errors. The OBC review mentioned that the author wrote very well and that the adventure of finding treasure 1,000 years ago was interesting and captivating. I want to read this book, but I do want to read the first two books of the series first to fully appreciate the storyline. I want to read this because it is written well and it is interesting to go back 1,000 years and find treasure under a temple.
First Ten review added on July 25, 2019, at 8:56 pm by LV2R.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Mary WhiteFace
I usually don't read books involving wartime or groups attempting world domination. Yet, my interest was piqued by the description which speaks about the Four's ancient adventures as well as their modern day activities. I was curious to see if the Four were one set of immortals, or if they were two different groups of people sharing the same title passed through the generations. Even without the first ten program, I would have wanted to at least sample this book.
After reading the first ten pages, I found myself wanting to continue reading. The author's writing style was easy to follow. The scenes were easy to envision. The characters were interesting. There were two different things that I especially liked. The first: the Prologue was set in Führerbunker, Germany on 20 April 1945; Chapter 1 was set in Toulon, France in 1102AD; both made mention of Serena and Ian. (My theory of immortals may prove true.) The second: at location 125 Ian referred to 3:30am as o'dark thirty. (I just liked that phrase.)
The book seemed to be professionally edited. I have no suggestions for improvements. There was an OnlineBookClub review which I did not read before writing this review. I would like to find out more about the Four and their adventures, so I will be reading this book.
First Ten review added on July 25, 2019, at 8:15 pm by Mary WhiteFace.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
sarahmarlowe randomeducator
The cover is interesting. I like the illustration, and the title is easy to read. It looks like a romance, so I probably wouldn't have picked it up. I did enjoy the sample, however. The author has spun an interesting story full of good guys, and bad guys. How can you go wrong with a plot that includes Nazi-killers, pirates, and immortals? The author also throws in some things I think are anachronisms (like the cast and the cuffs), so they may be time travelers. Hmm. The sample is well edited, but I did find a few mistakes like this one at 2 percent of the sample: "hand to hand combat" instead of "hand-to-hand." I haven't read an OBC review of this book, and I will not be reading it, simply because it doesn't sound like a book I would be interested in.
First Ten review added on July 25, 2019, at 8:14 pm by sarahmarlowe randomeducator.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Nuel Ukah
The cover page is quite compelling, and the title is befitting. I'd buy and read the book because I want to read about Hitler and the German war in an entertaining way. Serena and Ian are intelligent characters that make me want to read this book. What I liked most was how Ian and Serena think and plan tactically on how to penetrate Hitler's camp.
The book seems to be professionally edited as I found no error. Yes, there was an Official OBC review which gave an impressive overview of the book, propelling to read it.
First Ten review added on July 25, 2019, at 7:42 pm by Nuel Ukah.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Samantha Simoneau
The cover and title are certainly interesting. The blurb seems hastily written: "d" is missing on the end of "and." Should "Template Knights" be "Templar Knights"? The premise here, though brief, is intriguing. "Loose fitting" should be hyphenated. "Army" should be capitalized when "German" precedes it. There should be a comma between "caught" and "they." "Hand to hand" should be hyphenated. There should not be a comma between "old" and "and." "Knock out" should be hyphenated before "formula." "And innovative cuffing devices" does not need to be offset with commas. There should be a comma between "Ian" and "looking." There should not be a comma between "tree" and "and." "Chloroform soaked" should be hyphenated. There should not be a comma between "him" and "and." "Above ground" should be hyphenated before "entrance." There should be a comma between "overhead" and "further." I'm going to stop noting errors now, but, I'll be honest, the sheer number of punctuation-related issues would make for very distracting reading, although I do think the setting and circumstances so far are interesting. The phrase "the sentry" is becoming quite repetitive and monotonous. I know I said I would stop noting errors, but why would there be a comma between "cup" and "had"? "The other cup, had a lipstick smudge ..." These things would drive me crazy while reading, and I couldn't slip into the story. I would be interested in reading this one after it's been placed in the hands of a thorough editor, though. It's a great premise with characters that seem like they'd be interesting, and I love history and fantasy. I just don't love poor editing.
First Ten review added on July 25, 2019, at 7:28 pm by Samantha Simoneau.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
lavellan
I probably would have not read The Blacksmith's Daughter if it hadn't been a part of the First Ten program. The Book of the Day review was positive, but I'm not very interested in historical fiction. The book seemed like it was professionally edited, but I noticed an error while reading. In the following phrase, "Nazis" should be used instead of "Nazi's": "...that the Nazi's had dogs..." I found it interesting how the author took a spin on how Hitler died. I didn't like how the book suddenly transitioned from Nazi Germany to 11th century France. As a result, I will not buy the book today.
First Ten review added on July 25, 2019, at 6:25 pm by lavellan.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Kelyn
Had I not been a member of this program, it is unlikely that the title, cover, author, genre, or customer review would have enticed me to pick up this book. The author is not one I am familiar with, and the title gives no hint about the content of the novel. The genre advertised is not one I usually investigate. After reading the sample and official review through this program, I was able to gather that the novel has a slight sci-fi aspect (immortality) and that it is the latest in a series of books. As I do not normally enjoy historical fiction and the sci-fi aspect (which I do enjoy) seemed to be such an under-represented part of the story, I decided not to continue to read the novel. The fact that it is the third in a series and I have not read the first two also played into the decision not to continue. The book seemed professionally edited. I found no errors.
First Ten review added on July 25, 2019, at 6:07 pm by Kelyn.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
danielleamy
The cover of this is stunning and eye-catching. I would pick this up as I thought it looked intriguing. I don't tend to read historical fiction though, so I wasn't sure if I would enjoy this. After reading the sample, I don't think I will be reading any more of this book, or the series. I was not very interested in the character Desiree. I do not have much interest in that time period either. There was nothing in particular that I disliked, this just wasn't a book for me. However, for those that enjoy historical fiction set in the 1100's, this would probably be interesting. There were also no errors in the first ten pages which is promising. I read the official review, but it did not convince me to carry on reading this.
First Ten review added on July 25, 2019, at 5:18 pm by danielleamy.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
ritah
Based on the cover and genre, I would have sampled the book because it appealed to me. I read the official review and sampled The Black Smith's Daughter. I liked that Ian decided not to kill the boy but dealt with him in a way that he and his group could still go on with the mission unnoticed. I did not spot any errors in the pages I read. I found the plot to be truly fascinating, which is why I will be reading the rest of the book.
First Ten review added on July 25, 2019, at 4:39 pm by ritah.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Kajori Sheryl Paul
'The Blacksmith’s Daughter' is a book written by Patrick John Donahoe. The title, blurb, and cover did a good job at convincing me to give this book a try.
The first ten pages leads me to believe that it starts off in 1945. Serena and Ian go to kidnap Hitler. When they find Eva and his dog dead, they shoot him and stage it as a suicide. The book that shifts to 1102 AD. Desiree, a Muslim woman has opened a apothecary in Toulon, France. She knows Ian, Serena, Jaques, Gabrielle, etc. I like the premise. I did not to find any error. I consider it to be professionally edited. I will give this book a try as I like reading books of this genre.
First Ten review added on July 25, 2019, at 4:33 pm by Kajori Sheryl Paul.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Washboard
The cover, title, and genre all caught my attention, and the official review made the book sound even more interesting. The prologue follows two spies, Serena and Ian, on their mission to attempt to kidnap Hitler during WWII. I enjoyed the writing style, didn't notice any errors, and am intrigued to read more. I going to add this one to the "to read" list, along with the other books in the series.
First Ten review added on July 25, 2019, at 4:28 pm by Washboard.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Theresa Moffitt
I like the cover and title of this book. I would have picked this book up based on the cover alone. I haven’t read a review of this book yet. The first ten pages reveal this book to be historical fiction. The main characters are a man and woman whose mission is to kidnap hitler at the end of world war 2. The first ten pages are interesting and well written. I didn’t see any errors in the first ten pages so I believe this book was professionally edited. I think this book seems interesting and I would like to finish reading it
First Ten review added on July 25, 2019, at 1:44 pm by Theresa Moffitt.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
cpru68
Readers are swept right up into the action of Germany 1945 as Ian and Serena attempt to kidnap Hitler from his bunker. They get past several sentries by using chloroform to knock them out. Once inside, they find Eva dead with foam around her mouth, and Serena shoots Hitler in defense as he is about to kill her.
I will be finishing this book as I loved the writing style and quick pace. The time period it began in intrigues me and the review added to my interest of various characters and missions. I want to see how it all flows together.
I believe this has been professionally edited because I didn’t find any errors in punctuation, spelling or grammar. I would probably not have found this without the online book club, and I will send it out on my social media for others to look into.
First Ten review added on July 25, 2019, at 1:26 pm by cpru68.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
HRichards
I normally wouldn't have picked this book up because the summary didn't really appeal to me. Having read the sample I won't be continuing on with the book as I didn't really like the book's stilted writing style. The sample deals with Ian and Serena, who are leading a raid during WWII. They manage to infiltrate Hitler's bunker and kill him. The writing is okay and I didn't notice any grammar errors. Those who like fantasy books might like this. I didn't really like the rather awkward writing style. I have not read any other reviews for this book.
First Ten review added on July 25, 2019, at 1:22 pm by HRichards.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Erin Painter Baker
The cover of the book does nothing for me. And the blurb actually makes me a little uncertain, given that Ian and Jacque are described at "Template" Knights instead of Templar Knights. But, the OnlineBookClub review actually made me really excited to read this book.
Reading the sample itself, I can see how I would definitely benefit from having read the previous books, in that I would already know all the characters. I actually missed that Serena and Ian, the characters in the 1940s from the prologue, were Serena and Ian, the characters in the 1100s at first. I liked all the characters, though, and felt that the author knew them well, even if I did not. My biggest issue, so far, is that the tone of the book feels way too modern. Even in the prologue, set less than 100 years ago, there were a couple of moments that felt too modern. The scenes from the 1100s do not feel true to that time at all. For example, the casualness of the relationships between Desiree and the townspeople, even though they don't really know her. Or the acceptance of everyone involved of Serena a ship's captain. And the conversations held between the characters also were just missing something that would have made it feel true to the time period.
All of that said, I totally bought the book. I love stories of immortals, Knights Templar, and CIA covert operations. This is a book I expect to enjoy as a fun, fantasy adventure, not a piece of actual historical fiction.
I noticed no formatting, punctuation, or grammatical errors.
First Ten review added on July 25, 2019, at 1:16 pm by Erin Painter Baker.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Laura Ungureanu
The cover and the review didn't make much of an impression on me. In the beginning of the sample, Ian and Serena are trying to kidnap Hitler from his bunker and bring him to justice. That's a captivating premise for the book. However, I'm not interested in a historical fiction right now. "where his, and his Nazi's, monstrosities" contains too many commas.
First Ten review added on July 25, 2019, at 1:01 pm by Laura Ungureanu.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
dorebri2020
I must say that the cover art is stunning. I love the font, the tones, and the visual comparison of the timelines. I was immediately attracted, and the fantastic review drew me in as well. I was disappointed to learn it was part of a series, as I currently do not have the time to commit to a full series. When reading it, the writing style seemed exquisite, and the descriptions were beautiful as well. The dynamic between Ian and Serena seems enjoyable, and the multiple timelines sound fun as a concept. Unfortunately, I did notice a grammatical issue on page 4, which said, "The other cup, had a lipstick smudge..." where the comma is unnecessary. Outside of potential grammar issues, I would not change anything, but I, unfortunately, can not read this book.
First Ten review added on July 25, 2019, at 12:45 pm by dorebri2020.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
gali
I would not have sampled the book on my own since this is the third in a series and I haven't read the previous books. The book continues the adventures of four semi-immortal beings, Ian, Jacques, Serena, and Desireeas during the crusades and present times. This time they try to stop an attempt to achieve world domination by creating chaos. As I didn't read the other books, I found it difficult to get into the book. I liked the scenes with Desireeas the best. The way she treated the woman with the teeth issues was brilliant. However, the rest of the sample didn't keep my interest. I didn't notice any glaring errors, always a plus. I will not read the book, as it doesn't appeal to me. The official review further steered me away from the book by mentioning the abrupt time switches.
First Ten review added on July 25, 2019, at 12:30 pm by gali.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
desantismt_17
This book’s title and description didn’t hook me. While the sci-fi/fantasy elements were interesting, they weren’t presented in a way that grabbed my attention. Also, this being later in a series that I hadn’t read the previous books of made me not want to read it without knowing what came before. I also wasn’t interested by the historical setting. Before sampling, I wasn’t thinking about reading. After sampling, I’ll pass. The book appears professionally edited. I noticed no errors. The tension at the beginning is strong. The life-or-death situation Serena and Ian are going into comes across in a tangle of fear, hope, and determination. The POV felt a bit distant for my liking. Serena and Ian are frequently referred to as a single unit. “They” did this, and then “they” did that. As a result, I didn’t feel very connected to either of them as a person. Perhaps this was the intention—for the events to be more forward than the characters. While this may work for some readers, it doesn’t usually work for me. A closer POV would have improved this, but other readers may feel differently. I didn’t see an OnlineBookClub.org review, but I don’t think one would have changed my mind. This isn’t for me.
First Ten review added on July 25, 2019, at 12:26 pm by desantismt_17.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Total ~ 33%
The Blacksmith's Daughter earned a score of 33%.
In other words, out of the top-level reviewers who read at least the first 10 pages of this book, 33% plan to read the whole book.
IMPORTANT: Any score over 10% is considered very good. And any score above 0% is acceptable.
Over a million books are published each year. Any given person could not even read .0001% of the books out there. This means readers have to be very selective. Even taking the time to look over reviews and blurbs, let alone read samples, is more time than most readers can afford for most books. The First Ten is a powerful focus group that addresses those issues. It creates a helpful tool for authors, publishers, and other readers.
Go to main Bookshelves page for The Blacksmith's Daughter
