The First Ten Focus Group Feedback for Jane Grace: Library of Light

Because Jane Grace: Library of Light 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.

Vickie Noel

At first glance, the title made me feel that this book is either a young adult or a children's book. The cover art lent credence to my thoughts, so it was pretty unexpected when I discovered it was a sci-fi book. I like reading young adult, so I would have sampled it outside the program. Aa a sci-fi book, I wouldn't have bothered. Nonetheless, since it's a requirement of the First Ten program, I have checked out a few pages and would go no further. There's nothing wrong with the story, but I felt no immediate connection. I like to be invested in a story from the first few pages, but I wasn't getting that. Also, I've read quite a lot of books whose plot lines were of children being separated from their parents, so I'd like a little break from it. I felt Jane Grace's pain when she dreamt of her parents, but the post-apocalyptic depictions of the New World was not something I looked forward to continue reading. The sentence, "All right, here you go" was lacking a period. I didn't spot more errors, thus I believe the book is well edited. I had mixed feelings of whether or not I would like the book when I read the OBC review, but after reading the sample, I don't think I'll loose any sleep if I pass on it.

First Ten review added on July 9, 2019, at 4:56 am by Vickie Noel.

Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Ekta Kumari

I wouldn't have read or sampled the book as it didn't seem to be anything peculiar or interesting. This book starts off by introducing the readers to the post-apocalyptic city of Rubelle, and I like how the author provides subtle hints, distinguishing between the state of the city before the bombings and after it. I'm certain that the book has excellent worldbuilding. I didn't find any error and would rate the book as professionally edited. Though I wouldn't be reading it as the sample didn't intrigue me to read it any further, those interested can check out the official review.

First Ten review added on July 9, 2019, at 4:54 am by Ekta Kumari.

Do you plan to read the whole book? No

va2016

The cover and the title are not indicative of the theme of the book. There are no Amazon customer reviews. The Amazon summary of the book does not sound that interesting. As I am not interested in topics like nanotechnology, I would have skipped sampling the book if not for the First Ten program. Aa I sampled through the book, I found the narration Jane's life in the war-torn city. The story narrates how Jane, as a waste-picker, survives with the company of a dog. As I really liked the writing style, I am going to read this book in full. I found the sample professionally edited. There were no grammatical or mechanical errors. What I liked most about the book is its writing style. I don't have any suggestions for improvement of the book. Although I found 2 OBC reviews of the book, my decision to read the book in full is based on my own sampling.

First Ten review added on July 9, 2019, at 4:21 am by va2016.

Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

Fu Zaila

The blurb and reviews were not very appealing to me and neither was the cover, even though it's very pretty. It's been a while since I read dystopian and I liked how the books starts right off with the destruction of Rubelle. It seemed odd and fascinating how the author pays attention to trivial details like Jane sliding off the steel beam to get out of her apartment, the rubble and litter all around. I liked how Jane plays with the dog and the boot. There wasn't anything I disliked so I would like to read further. The writing was professionally edited and captivating.

First Ten review added on July 9, 2019, at 4:20 am by Fu Zaila.

Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

Gravy

Given the description, cover, and other info, I would not have sampled this, and the sample did not change my mind.
I didn't notice any errors. I can't say that I enjoyed the sample, though that is mostly because the story doesn't appeal to me. There were a few things that affected the continuity for me. When she woke up from her *nightmare* but it seems she was only dreaming of her parents, and she even describes it in a pleasent, if heartbreaking, way. Also, and I know it's a little nitpicky, but I find it hard to believe a glass bottle wouldn't break if it fell onto a concrete floor. These things pulled me right out of the sample.
I really liked the inclusion of Daisy (I also liked that she gave her the shoe).
Personally, I am not a fan of the cover, however, it feels like a throwback to classic sci-fi, so it works.
This one, unfortunately, just doesn't appeal to me, so I won't be reading it. There was a review for this, but that does not affect my opinion.

First Ten review added on July 9, 2019, at 3:31 am by Gravy.

Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Alice Heritage

I probably wouldn't have sampled this without the programme as I'm not currently looking for new science fiction. I liked some things about the sample, but on balance there was too much exposition and too much that seemed a little off-key, so I won't buy and read this today. I noticed some apostrophe errors: "survivor's glass bottles" (should read "survivors') " and "the groups collective stare" (should read "the group's "). I liked the descriptions of the dystopian world, including the burst copper pipes that contorted and tangled around one another. The book could be improved by using fewer adjectives. For example, reference is made to a "rocky" stool and a "rickety" chair, but the general impression that everything's in disrepair makes the adjectives superfluous. As mentioned in the OBC review that meets the required standards, there was too much exposition, and I thought the characters seemed rather benevolent for the circumstances - if water and stronger stuff were in short supply, I can imagine that might encourage thugs or at least some speculation.

First Ten review added on July 9, 2019, at 3:26 am by Alice Heritage.

Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Mercelle

Judging by the cover, I wasn't going to read this book, but the OBC review urged me on when it mentioned that at the heart of the story is a city trying to rebuild in a post-apocalyptic world. When I read the sample, I liked that the old man told the boy that the purpose of The World Council was to rebuild the world. Since I noticed no errors, I will conclude that the text underwent professional editing, but I won't read the rest of the book because it doesn't appeal to me. As it is, there's nothing I would change about the bit I read.

First Ten review added on July 9, 2019, at 3:22 am by Mercelle.

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 genre really isn't something it's usually read and the plot didn't interest mtee. 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 enjoyed the descriptions used in this book. One that stood out was the Bootlegger's Club where tables were held up by slightly mismatched legs of different length. That being said, this really isn't something I'd usually read and therefore wouldnt buy the book 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 9, 2019, at 1:58 am by Scerakor.

Do you plan to read the whole book? No

CrescentMoon

After reading the blurb, I don't think I would pick this book up. I wasn't really hooked on the premise. It seems like a post-apocalyptic thriller with shady characters and Jane going on adventures. It may be interesting for readers who like adventure and action, but the premise wasn't really grabbing my attention. After reading the first ten pages, I found it to be well-edited and didn't see any spelling or grammar errors. I thought the writing style was good and descriptive. I could easily imagine the run-down shabby apartment Jane is currently living in. I can easily picture how the sky looks and how deserted and abandoned the streets and cities are, full of broken glass. I can also empathize with Jane as she reminisces about her parents and the pain that they're dead and she will never see them again. So far, I think fans of post-apocalyptic stories and thrillers would enjoy this. I just wasn't hooked enough to want to read the rest.

First Ten review added on July 9, 2019, at 12:08 am by CrescentMoon.

Do you plan to read the whole book? No

srividyag1

The cover page looks like that of a sci-fi, particularly dystopian. The OBC review said the book was good. In the sample, we see Jane Grace trying to dream about her parents. The world has been set on fire after the great war. The survivors drink to forget their worries. They gather in a place called Rubelle, at a bar, and exchange stories about the watchers and the World council. Jane doesn't believe in those stories. From what I read, the book seems professionally edited. Since I'm not a big fan of dystopian fiction, I'm not going to read this book.

First Ten review added on July 8, 2019, at 11:36 pm by srividyag1.

Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Samantha Simoneau

The cover and title of this one are interesting, but the blurb felt like almost too much information. It's not that the premise isn't good, necessarily, but after the second paragraph, I felt like there was too much to keep up with and lost interest. I realize that the challenge of a blurb is to describe the book without spoilers and in a way that makes a reader want to read it, but I felt overwhelmed by all the proper nouns, to say the least. I also suspected, after reading the blurb's initial paragraph, that Jane herself was the "Chosen." If that's the big twist in the book, I think the blurb gives it away indirectly. Anyway, on to the sample. This book has definitely been well edited with regard to spelling, grammar, punctuation, usage, etc. I haven't found any errors of those kinds. However, some of the sentences feel awkward to me, such as: "With jet-black, frizzy hair, Jane walked over and knelt by the dog." I think it's Jane who has jet-black, frizzy hair here, but what does that fact have to do with the action of walking over to the dog and kneeling? They're two facts that are irrelevant to each other, so they're being linked into a single sentence here feels strange. Instances like this are distracting and have made it difficult for me to slip mentally into the story. Oh, wait! It's the dog that has frizzy hair. That means that sentence is simply disorganized. It's arranged in such a way as to indicate that Jane, the subject of the sentence, is the one with jet-black, frizzy hair. That's different, but not better. Phrases like "spanned between both doors" are also distracting. There are several instances where the phraseology is confusing. "Survivor's" should be plural in the sentence that introduces the bartender. There should be a comma between "Chosen" and "but" because that is a compound sentence. I just can't get absorbed in this book as it stands - at least not in the sample. I wouldn't want to spend $10 on this book based on what I've read so far.

First Ten review added on July 8, 2019, at 10:52 pm by Samantha Simoneau.

Do you plan to read the whole book? No

AA1495

Had I not sampled the book, I would not have read it. I do not usually read science fiction. However, I liked the color combination (black, white, blue and yellow) of the cover. Having read the sample, I was disappointed by the lack of a proper introduction. The cover was followed by the actual content, without an index, an introduction to the author or a prologue. However, I thought that the author introduced Jane's character well and effectively described her thoughts and emotions. In terms of editing and formatting, I had two minor issues. Firstly, I would have liked more spacing between paragraphs to make the sample easier to read. Secondly, I thought that most sentences were complex and should have been broken down into simpler ones. Since I do not read the genre usually, I will not be buying the book today.

First Ten review added on July 8, 2019, at 10:44 pm by AA1495.

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. After reading the first ten pages, I won’t be finishing this book. I personally think that people would be a little more proactive after society is destroyed. They weren’t really trying to rebuild, just sitting around and telling stories. While I did like the story the old man told about The Watchers and The Chosen, I just couldn’t see this being realistic. I know dystopian doesn’t have to be realistic, but I like it more when it is. It did seem to be professionally edited.

First Ten review added on July 8, 2019, at 10:40 pm by Annelore Trujillo.

Do you plan to read the whole book? No

LV2R

I like the interesting title and book cover. The Amazon Blurb described that survivors of Rubelle after the war were waiting for the Chosen to save them and rebuild the city. Jane is chosen by the World Council and visits a city with nanotechnology built by Trimere. She then goes on an adventure with her friend Lander. This sounded interesting. The sample began with introducing Jane Grace as having nightmares and drinking to forget her demise, missing her parents, and having no hope. The legend of the Watchers and the Chosen is laid out. I best liked the part that David Trimere has built a glass pyramid to travel quickly to anywhere in the world. This nanotechnology would seem like a powerful thing to have and experience. I was not sure about reading the book or not. The OBC review mentioned that Jane, after chosen to be on the World Council, visits the city of New Atlantis and the grand opening of the Library of Light. Though the author developed the characters well and spent time on world-building, the reviewer thought that the world building aspect sometimes interrupted the flow of dialogue or the present events. I do not want to read this book because I do not like that it is book one of a series and it seems too short (155 pages). I do not really like books that have a lot of background information because it seems too complex.

First Ten review added on July 8, 2019, at 10:02 pm by LV2R.

Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Dolor

The blurb and the official OBC review had piqued my interest, so I will read this book even without The First Ten program. The cover and the title are both catchy and thought-provoking. The first ten pages talked about Jane's nightmares and the ruined city of Rubelle. Jane dreamt of her dead parents who were smiling at her. As a survivor, Jane only knew two things in the New World: adapt and survive. Some drank to keep the past a hazy memory. Others tried to move on. Here are the errors I noticed:
*comma (,) after "best friend"*
Jane reluctantly listened to stories told by the other survivors as well as caught up on the latest with her best friend Lander.

*unnecessary comma (,) before "which"*
All she had to do was make her way around the piles of fallen buildings, jagged boulders the size of small homes, and not slip on the fragments of glass, which littered the streets of the ruined city.

*unnecessary commas (,)*
Everything was quiet on the street ahead of her, except for the whistle of the wind as it traveled around overturned cars stripped down to their frames and fault lines that spread throughout the city like veins on a leaf.

The buildings around her had fallen apart, with their pieces lying in uneven piles along the ground.

I was curious about the Bootlegger’s Club. I wondered what Jane would do there. I wanted to know more, so I will read on. I don't have any improvement suggestion for this book. Trace Sonnleitner's Jane Grace: Library of Light is a #YoungAdult #Dystopian and #ScienceFiction tale following the #Adventures of Jane Grace, a post-apocalyptic world survivor. The Watchers, the prophecy of the Chosen, and the city of New Atlantis come to life in this book. Can Jane Grace be the Chosen one?

First Ten review added on July 8, 2019, at 9:03 pm by Dolor.

Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

danielleamy

I may have sampled this on my own based on the description as I enjoy reading dystopian novels. I saw an Official review which made me think I would enjoy reading this.

At 65% there were some extra speech marks "Glad to have you back, kid. " Oh, and Jane,". The rest of the sample was well-edited.

I like the friendship between Jane and Lander. I wonder if they will find their families? I'm guessing Lander is going to introduce Jane to David Trimere. I am interested in how Jane has survived the Great War. There was nothing that I disliked about the sample, however the price for the kindle book is a little high at £7.67/$9.61 and it is only 155 pages long. I am not convinced enough by the sample to pay that much for only the first book in the series. Therefore I will not be buying and reading this today.

First Ten review added on July 8, 2019, at 7:48 pm by danielleamy.

Do you plan to read the whole book? No

OliviaLouise

After reading the review, I determined that this book is not for me because I, personally, feel that young adult dystopian fiction is repetitive. After reading the sample, I found that the author has a knack for creating vivid imagery. In chapter 3, the author describes the setting of The Bootlegger's Club upon Jane's arrival: "The survivors around her all wore ragged articles of clothing. Each garment was discolored from the harsh conditions they endured during the fallout in Rubelle. The color wheel they once knew had dulled to intricate shades of gray." Upon reading this section, I felt like I was personally in the scene with Jane seeing what she was seeing. Despite the fantastic imagery, I do not have any interest in reading the rest of the book because the topic does not interest me. I did not find any editing errors.

First Ten review added on July 8, 2019, at 5:56 pm by OliviaLouise.

Do you plan to read the whole book? No

desantismt_17

This book’s title and description hooked me. It looked like a fantastic science fiction adventure. Before sampling, I wanted to read this. After sampling, I still want to read. The book appears professionally edited. I noticed no errors. The introduction with a child dreaming about deceased parents felt a bit overdone, but I got over it quickly. When Jane drank the bottle’s contents into her soul and then looked out the window at the ash clouds, I was doubly curious. What did she drink? Who was this girl? How did the sky get this way? I wanted answers badly. I have no improvements to suggest at this time. I didn’t see an OnlineBookClub.org review, but I want to give this a try anyway.

First Ten review added on July 8, 2019, at 5:16 pm by desantismt_17.

Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

Emy Katherine

Having the Great War almost destroyed the entire city of Rubelle and killed most of its inhabitants, Jane Grace is having a hard time coping with her parents' death. Things take an unexpected turn when the World Council chooses her to meet the only man (the Chosen) who could help her and other survivors to rebuild the city of Rubelle. I do not read science-fiction novels, so I would not have chosen to read the book based on the genre, cover, title, and blurb. Reading both the sample and the OBC review did not change my mind. However, fans of dystopian novels will surely appreciate the engaging writing style and intriguing characters. Also, the book seems like it was professionally edited as I did not find any typos or grammatical errors. Based on the OBC review, it is a thrilling story full of suspense and adventure; therefore, fans of the genre will surely enjoy it.

First Ten review added on July 8, 2019, at 1:40 pm by Emy Katherine.

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. It's interesting that Jane's drinking problem is revealed right from the start (when it is shown that she imbibes alcohol right after waking up to dull the pain of dreaming a happy dream about her parents). I am also intrigued with the "New World" (which seems like a post-apocalyptic one) that the author has posited. I currently have no suggestions for improvement. However, I will not be purchasing the book today, as I am currently not in the market for fantasy/sci-fi.

First Ten review added on July 8, 2019, at 6:12 am by gen_g.

Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Hiruni Bhagya 81

Book cover is attractive and it captured my interest. But, after reading the OBC review, I didn't think this is the book for me due to some reasons. Its predictability, length(too short), and the fact that it belongs to a series are some of them. Even after sampling it, I didn't get the feeling that I have to read it despite all reasons. What I liked most in this book is its protagonist. Her character has strength and she is practical. I found her character admirable even if she seems to think that she can find all the answers to her problems at the bottom of a bottle. Though descriptions are essential for these types of books, I found them to be excessive. Other than that, I didn't notice any errors or anything else that needs improving.

First Ten review added on July 8, 2019, at 4:48 am by Hiruni Bhagya 81.

Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Chelsy Scherba

I enjoyed the detailed descriptions of Jane’s life as an orphan caring for herself in a dirty, rundown world where discarded boots can be traded for privileges and a stray dog named Daisy keeps her company while she rummages through trash. The review was very complimentary of this book and put it up there with some of the best YA literature of the decade. Fortunately, the sample didn’t disappoint. I’m not in the market for a dystopian novel today, but it looks very promising and one I would consider reading in the future. The editing is very professional and I didn’t spot any errors. I like the character development and world building as well.

First Ten review added on July 8, 2019, at 2:37 am by Chelsy Scherba.

Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Sonya Nicolaidis

My first impression of this book cover was that it was altogether too busy and that the title gets lost because of its coloring. For more impact, I think at the very least the title should stand out more. The OBC was very long and comprehensive and although this is a dystopian novel, and outside my preferred reading list, there was something about this story that captured my interest. I liked how the story focuses more on the personalities reeling from the last Great War, rather than the leaders and governments. This gives the story a more human slant. I also enjoyed the author’s wonderful descriptions of a post-apocalyptic world. There wasn’t anything I didn’t enjoy about the sample so far, and I’m pleased to report that I saw no errors thus far. One of the most appealing aspects of this book is the wording of the title: Library of Light. Not only is it alliterative, but it is very interesting and unusual. To improve the first impression, I would definitely consider redesigning the cover. In spite of my first impression, I would like to read this book.

First Ten review added on July 8, 2019, at 2:19 am by Sonya Nicolaidis.

Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

Lorraine De Vos

I would have chosen to sample this book based on the genre. I am a fan of post-apocalyptic type novels. After reading the first ten pages I am happily adding this book to my reading list. The author has a unique perspective and starts the book basically at the point of rebuilding, rather than the breakdown or already established new society. The first couple of characters are depicted in a kind and gentle manner and I look forward to seeing what is going to happen going forward. The book does appear to be professionally edited, as I did not notice any errors. The official OnlineBookClub review was thorough and provided a lot of insight into what the reader can expect from the book. I look forward to reading this book.

First Ten review added on July 8, 2019, at 1:33 am by Lorraine De Vos.

Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

briellejee

Based on the cover and title, I think I would have sampled the book. Both aspects are intriguing and appealing for fans of dystopian fantasy like me. But I do think the cover seems to reveal too many about the plot. As for the first few pages, I liked that the chapters were short. I mean, world-building sometimes overwhelms readers, including me. Authors tend to go on introducing the world immediately, but it just discourages readers to go on. As for this book, I didn't feel it that way. When Jane woke up with a nightmare and her realizing she's in the New World alone, that actually was a neat way to introduce the setting. The introduction of other characters as well like Lander was done with ease, and I think that's a good point. However, the author's writing style doesn't work well with me. It was okay at first of moving things slowly, but I think as the pages turn, the plot is barely moving and I was itching to see some action or something. There was a little thrill to make me go on, and with that said, I think I will not be buying the book today. I found no noticeable errors and the official OBC review was good enough to tell me to sample this.

First Ten review added on July 8, 2019, at 12:57 am by briellejee.

Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Mbrooks2518

Normally, I don't read dystopian fiction. However, the review and the first ten pages of this one piqued my interest. I always like stories that have prophecies as a part of them, and this book is a shorter read, so I will buy and finish this book. I liked the way that the author described Jane's environment at the beginning of the first chapter. It wasn't described in one go, instead small details are given as Jane is introduced, like the wobbly nightstand, the hole where the window used to be, and the pillow made of scraps of clothing.

I found one punctuation error on page 6. It said "'All right,' Jane gave in." The comma should be a period because the dialogue tag is an action. There as also a sentence on page 5 that was badly worded. It said "With jet-black, frizzy hair, Jane walked over and knelt by the dog."

First Ten review added on July 7, 2019, at 10:46 pm by Mbrooks2518.

Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

Kristin Ransome

The premise of this book seems interesting, and the author created an intriguing introduction to the story. After the first 10 pages though, it failed to involve me in the action enough to continue reading. Having found no errors in the first 10 pages, I'd say the book was professionally edited. My favourite part was the idea of the stray dog, Daisy, being friendly towards Jane, as I find in most post-apocolyptic books stray dogs are quite mean and territorial. My least favourite part was the fact that Jane was living on the 5th story of a crumbling building because I would have thought she would have found a safer place to live.

First Ten review added on July 7, 2019, at 10:13 pm by Kristin Ransome.

Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Nisha Ward

I had been hyped for this book after reading the review. I mean, a dystopia that starts right after the world altering cataclysmic event? Sign me up. However, reading this well-edited book, I've decided to pass up on it as it's just not for me. While I enjoyed the tiny moment Jane had with Daisy, in which she gave the dog the precious boot she'd found, it didn't resonate with me as much as I would expect it to resonate with a young adult audience. I'm not gonna read this one but I do recommend checking it out.

First Ten review added on July 7, 2019, at 10:13 pm by Nisha Ward.

Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Tamorie Hargro

Going by the cover alone, I think I would have sampled the book a bit, as the cover, especially the gleaming pyramidal library, is very visually striking. However, based on the official review I read, I became more hesitant to read the whole book than I was when I'd sampled just a few pages on my own. The review mentioned long paragraphs of exposition/world-building throughout the entirety of the book. Initially, I enjoyed the descriptiveness, especially concerning Jane's thoughts of her family and dreams, and I also liked the author's writing style. I did, however, notice a proofreading error in the few pages the sample provided. In Chapter 3, there was a missing possessive apostrophe in "groups": "Turning her head to meet the groups collective stare, Jane..." Though wary of the long descriptions, I think I'll give reading the whole book a try.

First Ten review added on July 7, 2019, at 9:32 pm by Tamorie Hargro.

Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

Kelyn

If I had not been a member of this program, it is doubtful that the title or author of this book would have attracted my attention as the author is unknown to me. The genre, cover, and blurb most assuredly would have prompted me to give it a look. The sample didn't need to change my mind about reading the book as just the blurb had made me decide to read it. The sample simply cemented that decision. It engaged me from the first page to the last. I didn't want it to end! My favorite part (so far) is the relationship between Lander and Jane. They have such a friendly camaraderie it's difficult not to empathize with them. The book seemed to be professionally edited. I found no errors.

First Ten review added on July 7, 2019, at 8:29 pm by Kelyn.

Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

Verna Coy

Had I not sampled the first ten pages through this program, I probably would have picked this book up for a second look. The cover is very well-done and drew my attention immediately. I don’t plan to buy and read the whole book, because although I found the reading sample interesting, dystopian novels don’t appeal to me. Reading the first ten pages confirmed my first impressions that it was a dystopian story when it described the war-torn world in which Jane lived. The book seems professionally edited, and I saw no errors is what I read. What I liked most in the sample I read was how Jane took pity on the stray dog she met and gave him the boot she found. I know this book will appeal to readers who love dystopian novels. I saw no need for improvement; all of the essential elements were present for a dystopian story: war, rebuilding, renewal, and human strength and resilience. I did read the Official Online Book Club Review and found it to be informative and insightful.

First Ten review added on July 7, 2019, at 7:41 pm by Verna Coy.

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 dystopian YA novels. After reading the first ten pages, I already like Jane Grace and her kindness toward the stray dog. I am also curious to hear more about the post-apocalyptic world she lives in and how it came to be that way. I thought the writing style was descriptive enough that I could visualize the ruined city without going overboard. I do plan to read this book, and I'm excited to see what happens! I didn't notice any errors in the section I read.

First Ten review added on July 7, 2019, at 7:27 pm by unamilagra.

Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

HRichards

I might have picked this book up as it sounded rather interesting. Having read the sample I won't be continuing on with the book as the content was rather strange. The sample deals with Jane, who lives in a destroyed world. She spends her time picking a living through the rubble. She goes to the Bootlegger Club. The writing is pretty good and I didn't notice any grammar errors. Those who like dystopian fiction might like this book. I just didn't find the content to be what I was expecting. I have not read any other reviews of this book.

First Ten review added on July 7, 2019, at 6:53 pm by HRichards.

Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Kendra M Parker

I’m often up for a good dystopian novel. Jane’s story does seem like it might be interesting to investigate. I liked that the chapters are short and quick with just enough intrigue to keep me interested. I find myself wondering more about the catastrophic event that happened to create the New World. Jane’s experience in the Bootleggers bar was interesting and made me consider how things might work. On page 1, there is a line that reads, “It burned as it sunk deep into her bones.”. Sunk should have been sank - sunk is the past perfect tense, sank is the simple past tense. While this book is interesting, I’m not likely to buy it. Even the Kindle price is way too expensive for a new-to-me author. If this was on KU, maybe I’d consider it, but not for $10.

First Ten review added on July 7, 2019, at 6:02 pm by Kendra M Parker.

Do you plan to read the whole book? No

lisalynn

Is this a young adult book? The description doesn't really say, but the simple language seems to fit that genre. I'm not sure how old Jane is, but since she's pining for her mom and dad, and another adult character calls her "kid", I assume she's young. However, she's alone in her apartment, so she's not a child. I'm guessing mid-range teenager. The cover art isn't all that striking, but it does clearly communicate what kind of book this is. At first, I thought Jane Grace was the author's name, and the title of the book was "Library of Light." Then I noticed "Trace Sonnleitner" in tiny little letters at the bottom of the cover. Don't be shy, Trace. Put your name out there where we can see it. I'm invested in Jane after the first chapter. We get the gritty hopelessness of a post-apocalyptic world in the description of her place, her clothes, and the street outside. "...fault line that spread throughout the city like veins on a leaf." That's a beautiful phrase. I'm actually disappointed when the Watchers, the Chosen and utopian New Atlantis where the world will come together to realize their similarities come into the picture. I'd prefer a straight survival story over one of magic where Jane is the one the world has been waiting for. I also wondered why Jane was still living alone. In such a circumstance, I'd think she and her buddy Lander would have joined forces by now. Although not a grammatical error, on page one the phrase "Up on the fifth floor of her apartment..." indicates that there are five floors in her apartment. Quite a lux place if that's the case. I believe the author means the apartment was on the fifth floor of the building. I'm on the fence about this one. There's a lot of promise here, but I'm not sure it's the kind of story I'd like. The writing is good enough in the first ten that I'm willing to give it a try. I didn't see any errors. No OnlineBookClub review influenced me.

First Ten review added on July 7, 2019, at 4:58 pm by lisalynn.

Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

Yoli García

I enjoy dystopian novels, so I would have sampled this book without this program. The OBC review sparked my interest. I liked that the story takes place during the period of reconstruction after the apocalypse. I think a professional edited the book. I liked that the chapters are short. I also liked that the main character is a woman, Jane, who is chosen as leader. However, I did not like that the story begins with her drinking herself to oblivion and then going to a club. The description of the ruins and mess in the city was exciting, though. I will not read the book because I did not like Jane’s drinking.

First Ten review added on July 7, 2019, at 4:50 pm by Yoli García.

Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Catherine Hsu

If I had not read the sample I would have read the book as I think this is my genre and the cover art looks very interesting. After reading the sample, I have not changed my mind. I loved how the shoe was described in detail and also given context, which was very interesting. However, I did find one grammatical error so perhaps more professional editing is needed: "All right, here you go" she said. A comma is missing before the second quotation mark. I did not read an official review but that did not affect my decision.

First Ten review added on July 7, 2019, at 4:27 pm by Catherine Hsu.

Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

Mary WhiteFace

The cover is appealing and would have drawn me, even without the first ten program. The synopsis revealed it to be my type of book. I usually enjoy stories that include mystical, magical elements that are portrayed realistically. The dystopian world with hopes of a Savior is an added bonus. Reading the first ten pages did not change my mind. By the end of the sample, I was hooked.

The author did a wonderful job of creating a dystopian world. It was easy to envision the city of Rubelle. As Jane walked through the dreary, colorless city towards the Bootlegger’s Club, I imagined that the club would be filled with rowdy, rough war survivors drinking alcohol in an attempt to reduce their emotional pain. Instead, the Bootlegger’s Club was a gathering place "...where the club’s owner, Henry Gounlin, filled survivor’s glass bottles with fresh cold water..."(location 82). That small detail made the narrative feel more realistic. Clean water would be a high commodity in dystopian world, maybe even more than alcohol.

The book seemed to be professionally edited. I have no suggestions for improvements. There was an OnlineBookClub review which reinforced my decision to read the whole book.

First Ten review added on July 7, 2019, at 4:10 pm by Mary WhiteFace.

Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

Kajori Sheryl Paul

'Jane Grace: Library of Light' is a book written by Trace Sonnleitner. 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 is a post-apocalyptic novel. Jane is one of the survivors of the New World. Her parents could of survive. She has vivid dreams about them. After one nightmare, she heads to the Bootleggers Club to meet her best friend, Lander. There she talks about the New World Order, the Chosen, etc. I like the premise. I did not 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 7, 2019, at 3:56 pm by Kajori Sheryl Paul.

Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

Sarah_Khan

At first glance, I would not have picked up this book because I am not a huge fan of fantasy. The title and cover seem pretty average to me. I thought the Amazon blurb was too long. The first few pages were well-edited. The chapters were short and filled with descriptions, which made reading the first ten pages tedious. Other than the initial emotion of sympathy for Jane who can only see her parents in her dreams , I had a hard time getting invested into the story. The OBC review also mentions the long sentences in the descriptions. So, for these reasons, I do not intend to read the rest of this book.

First Ten review added on July 7, 2019, at 2:18 pm by Sarah_Khan.

Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Washboard

I found the genre, cover, title, and official review of the book interesting enough to want to read it. The book seems professionally edited, and I like how the author was starting to build the world and protagonist with descriptive sentences. I don't know if it will hold true throughout the rest of the book, but the protagonist's behavior was already out of sync with realistic survival instincts that the post-apocalyptic world would require for survival (by giving an item valuable for trade to a dog as a chew toy), which already made me think that the protagonist would fall neatly into the trope of "you are the chosen one because you aren't like the others - you are kind". It gave me concerns that the book would be very predictable. I will not continue to read it, because I am worried the character will lack actual depth and growth.

First Ten review added on July 7, 2019, at 1:57 pm by Washboard.

Do you plan to read the whole book? No

sarahmarlowe randomeducator

I love the illustration and the title design on the cover. I would certainly have picked it up. The sample was well written. I found no errors, and the author is very good at world building. I liked being able to see Jane and Lander's surroundings. Jane is certainly suffering from depression, and I hope that the story follows her as she overcomes the trauma of losing her family and surviving in this new world. I have not read an OBC review of this book, and I won't be reading it. It looks like a good book, but it is not in a genre I normally enjoy.

First Ten review added on July 7, 2019, at 1:51 pm by sarahmarlowe randomeducator.

Do you plan to read the whole book? No

lavellan

I probably would have not read the sample of Jane Grace: Library of Light if it had not been a part of the First Ten program. The Book of the Day review seemed unprofessional, and it lowered my interest in the book. The book seemed like it was professionally edited, and I did not notice any errors while reading. I found the post-fallout world and the mystery surrounding its cause to be interesting. I didn't like how the author divided up the chapters. They all felt too short; Jane's journey to the Bootleggers' Club could have been combined into one chapter. As a result of this and the book not grabbing my attention, I will not buy it today.

First Ten review added on July 7, 2019, at 1:32 pm by lavellan.

Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Aubrey Lewis

The book title and cover look pretty epic. The official review also motivated me to read the first few pages of this book, but I did not expect much of anything because the genre is not my usual preference. Nevertheless, I read on, and when I finished the ten pages, I came to the conclusion that I will not be reading the rest of this book. This is because the writing style is not to my taste, and there were unnecessary commas in some sentences that disrupted my reading flow. One error I found while reading was this: ["All right, here you go" she said, tossing the boot into the air.] There is a missing comma before the double quotation marks which I quickly noticed, so it distracted me a bit from the story. In addition, Jane's personality so far is not very likable for me, especially because she seems like one of those typical main characters in fantasy books who has a different view from everyone else. However, this is only my personal preference.

First Ten review added on July 7, 2019, at 1:16 pm by Aubrey Lewis.

Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Laura Ungureanu

I wasn't persued neither by the cover nor by the review to try this book. However, I like dystopian books and this one painted the right image for the genre. We see the image of the destructed city of Rubelle through Jane Grace's eyes. It's cute that Jane cares for a stray dog. Jane goes to the Bootlegger's Club, where other survivors are. I'm not going to continue reading the book because I'm tired of the old Chosen One clique. I didn't find any grammar errors.

First Ten review added on July 7, 2019, at 12:52 pm by Laura Ungureanu.

Do you plan to read the whole book? No

ritah

Based on the cover and title, I would have sampled the book out of curiosity. I read the volunteer review and sampled Jane Grace. I liked the little interactions between Jane and her four-legged friend. The book appeared to be professionally edited as I did not find any errors in the pages I read. However, I won't be reading the rest of the novel because the narrative didn't capture my interest.

First Ten review added on July 7, 2019, at 12:31 pm by ritah.

Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Heidi M Simone

Without this program, I would not have sampled this book. Science fiction is a genre that I don't enjoy very much. Therefore, the genre, cover, and blurb would not have piqued my interest. The title seems interesting, but this alone doesn't convince me enough to want to read its sample pages. 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 aspect in any book. Having the book open with Jane's dramatic and emotional wake up, dreaming of her parents makes for an interesting introduction to Jane. It makes the reader wonder what happened to her parents. However, as Jane begins her day walking through the city of Rubelle and hearing the story of how their world came to be seems like a predictable storyline. Due to this and the fact that I'm not a big fan of science fiction, I do not plan on buying and reading the book.

First Ten review added on July 7, 2019, at 12:20 pm by Heidi M Simone.

Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Mai Tran

I wouldn’t have checked out this book since I don’t have much interest in dystopian novels and even less interest in “the chosen ones” cliché. The apocalyptic event happened before the start of this story reminds me of the Great Flood because of their similar purposes. The book seems well-written and well-edited, but nothing really grabs my attention except for the fact that Jane toss an “extremely valuable” find to a stray dog only for it to disappear with her loot. I won’t continue to read this book due to a lack of interest.

First Ten review added on July 7, 2019, at 11:04 am by Mai Tran.

Do you plan to read the whole book? No

cpru68

Jane wakes up from a nightmare and downs alcohol to help herself cope. Readers are soon made aware that she is living in what is called the New World after the old one has been left in ruins from being bombed. Jane decides to go see a friend and to get to where she wants to go, she must maneuver herself over many obstacles and rubble. She meets up with a stray dog that she calls Daisy. She finds a nice boot, but ends up giving it to the dog.

I won’t be finishing this book as I am not a huge fan of young adult dystopian novels. I generally read non-fiction, and this one just didn’t pull me in. I might not fit the demographic as I’m way past young adult. The writing seemed very well done. The review gave no mention if the book was professionally edited, so from the sample pages and finding no errors, I would say it has been professionally edited.

I appreciate the opportunity to have read the sample pages of this one, and without the online book club, I probably wouldn’t have found this one on my own search. I will send it out on my social media for others to look into.

First Ten review added on July 7, 2019, at 10:36 am by cpru68.

Do you plan to read the whole book? No

gali

I would have sampled the book on my own, as I love dystopian tales.
Unfortunately, I changed my mind after sampling the book. It was too generic for my taste. The book follows the adventures of a young woman, one of the few survivors of a post-apocalyptic world. The sample started well, with the protagonist dreaming of her dead parents. I liked the scene with the stray dog and the way the author introduced us to the ruined world, but the insertion of a prophecy makes it sounds rather generic. While the premise sounds intriguing, the book doesn't really offer anything new. I noticed a couple of minor errors: "Turned her head to meet the groups collective stare…"(Should be "the group's collective stare");"Watching him kneel to fill survivor's bottles…"(should be "survivors' bottles"). I won't buy the book, as it didn't engage me enough to buy it at that price. The volunteer review was rather short and bland and didn't sway my decision.

First Ten review added on July 7, 2019, at 10:26 am by gali.

Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Juliana_Isabella

I would definitely have picked this book up off a shelf because I love sci-fi and the cover art is interesting. It's also a good sign that it has a positive review on this site. I didn't find any grammatical errors in the first ten pages. However, I won't be finishing the book because the author didn't inclufe enough backstory in the first ten pages to get me invested. I know Jane lost her parents in some sort of apocalyptic scenario, but that's all the information I have. Due to this, I can't finish the book.

First Ten review added on July 7, 2019, at 10:15 am by Juliana_Isabella.

Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Theresa Moffitt

I like the cover of this book. It tells a lot about the story. Based on the first ten pages, the main character is Jane, so the title is appropriate. I would have picked the book up based on the cover alone. I haven’t read a review of this book. The first ten pages introduce the character of Jane. She has a dream about her parents and we learn that they are dead. She lives in an apartment in a city that is destroyed and in ruins. Jane encounters a stray dog named Daisy that she is familiar with. I didn’t see any errors in the first ten pages, so I believe the book was professionally edited. I thought the first ten pages were well-written and interesting, but this doesn’t seem like the kind of book I would enjoy reading. I will not finish reading this book, but I will read a review to see how the story progresses and I may change my mind based on the review.

First Ten review added on July 7, 2019, at 10:03 am by Theresa Moffitt.

Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Total ~ 27%

Jane Grace: Library of Light earned a score of 27%.

In other words, out of the top-level reviewers who read at least the first 10 pages of this book, 27% 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 Jane Grace: Library of Light