The First Ten Focus Group Feedback for The King's Trial
Because The King's Trial 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.
Ekta Kumari
The book centers around the rebellion against a wicked queen. Yosyph aims to get help from outside the premise of the kingdom when he hears that the queen plans to enslave a third of the population, but, in order to do so, he has to survive a series of puzzles. The storyline has themes of courage and inner strength. Though I liked the concept, I wouldn't have read the book as I'm not much into the genre. The thing I did like the most while sampling is that the narrative has multiple layers, and it's not easy to be able to make out the future events of the story. This kept me engaged and in anticipation of what would happen next. I also like the characterization and a slow-building narration. The editing looks fine, and I would rate the book as professionally edited. I don't have recommendations for improvements based on the portion I read. However, I'll still not read the book as I'm not into the genre. I did see an official OBC review before sampling.
First Ten review added on May 28, 2021, at 4:59 am by Ekta Kumari.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
xsquare
I’m not really a fan of epic fantasy, so I wouldn’t have sampled this book if it hadn’t been part of the First Ten. The official OBC review did not convince me. I like the scene where Timothy, Yosyph and his father coordinated to communicate with Jack – it revealed a lot about their world. I did not see any typos. However, I found it a little difficult to visualise Jack’s rescue scene – it felt a little unrealistic to me. I wish the author had justified the rescue a little better. Unfortunately, I did not find the first ten pages compelling enough to continue the rest of the book.
First Ten review added on May 28, 2021, at 4:59 am by xsquare.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Jeremie Mondejar
The cover photo is pretty attractive and very eye-catching. I'm not fond of young-adult novel, so I will not sample this book if not for this program. The sample has a negative impact for me because of killing. I'm not yet ready to read books with heavy killing scenario. The only thing I like in this book is the cover photo. I'm glad that the book has OBC review, which is very helpful and affects my decision. The editing looks fine because I don't pick up any errors. I can't suggest anything for improvement because the book runs smoothly.
First Ten review added on May 28, 2021, at 4:50 am by Jeremie Mondejar.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
va2016
The title "The King's Trial", and the cover that shows an ancient human holding on to a rock to escape from a fire indicate that it is an ancient story. There are 43 Amazon customer ratings with an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars, which is pretty good. The Amazon summary gives the gist of the story, which is about Yosyph trying to save his tribe from being sent to the mines as slaves. As I am not interested in this theme, I would have skipped sampling if not for the First Ten program. As I sampled through the book, I found the narration describing Yosyph watching while Jack is being captured by the Queen's soldiers. As I am not interested in the overall theme, I am not going to read this book in full. I found the sample professionally edited. I didn't find any grammatical or mechanical errors. I didn't like anything specifically about the book. I don't have any recommendations for the improvement of the book. Although I found one OBC review of the book, my decision to not to read the book in full is based on my own sampling.
First Ten review added on May 28, 2021, at 4:48 am by va2016.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Manang Muyang
The title, cover, and blurb all point to a fantasy read, not my favorite genre. I would not have sampled the book on my own. However, the official OBC reviewer's enthusiasm intrigued me. The sample further convinced me to read the rest of the story. Of course, it didn't hurt that the book was free. The author is a great character builder; I enjoyed getting to know Yosyph and Halavant. However, while the OBC reviewer noted no errors, I found some. At 3% of the book, "The judge straitened his askew wig" should have used "straightened." At 7%, "I search for memories before this" seemed to need "searched" as the paragraph was in the past tense. At 9%, "You may have the privilege of sparing with your prince" misspelled "sparring." I hope the author can comb the book for such errors. The table of contents may need fine-tuning too. The titles are inconsistent: some are sentences while some have just a word. "How to steal a crown?," the title of Chapter 23, might not need the question mark. The errors didn't dampen my interest, though. I hope I won't regret this, fingers crossed.
First Ten review added on May 28, 2021, at 4:45 am by Manang Muyang.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Vickie Noel
I would have read this book outside the program based on its title and cover because I love fantasy reads. My opinion didn't change after reading the sample. I loved the beautiful descriptions with which the author told her tale, for example, "The prison nestled against the inner wall, a squat windowless building stretching hundreds of feet along the curving wall, hidden from the delicate eyes of the nobles, but not from their noses." I liked that Josyph used sign language to communicate his plan to rescue Jack from the Queen's men. It was interesting to watch him switch from the aggressive to the "dumb half-wit" tactic. I'd love to read more about his adventures. The book is professionally edited; I found no errors and have no recommendations for improvement. I saw an OBC review that had contributed to my interest in the book.
First Ten review added on May 28, 2021, at 4:36 am by Vickie Noel.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
smolbird
When I saw the book's cover and title, I knew I would sample this book, even outside of the program. I love the young adult genre, and I instantly knew this book would fall under that genre. I was happy to see that its official OBC review gave it a high rating because that meant I would be more likely to enjoy it. I really like the way the book started, as it's full of action and it displays Yosyph's courage and intellect. Based on the first ten pages, I believe that the book was professionally edited, as I found no errors. I'm really enjoying the book, and I haven't found anything that I dislike so far. I'm excited to read the rest, and I'm sure this series will be added to my list of favorite novels.
First Ten review added on May 28, 2021, at 4:24 am by smolbird.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Mutai Marshal
The cover page hinted at this read being a fantasy read. Therefore, I wouldn't have read it without sampling. My favorite aspect was the use of monologue. I liked how Yosyph deliberated on his next moves. The dialogues also portrayed the feelings of characters, such as the narrator's father. Neither the OBC review nor the sample changed my mind about this book. Therefore, I will not complete reading it since fantasy books are not my favorite genre. It seems exceptionally edited, and there are no suggestions for improvement that I can offer.
First Ten review added on May 28, 2021, at 4:10 am by Mutai Marshal.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Shrabastee Chakraborty
I loved the cover and the title font. The genre is my absolute favorite, and the official OBC review's rating made me want to read the book. I didn't find any noticeable errors in the first ten pages. They narrated Yosyph's story where his friend Jack was sentenced to death. Yosyph, his father, and his brother promised to rescue Jack. I loved the barest indication of sass in the narrative. The incidents made me want to find out more. I had no suggestions for improvement. I would love to read this book as this is my favorite genre.
First Ten review added on May 28, 2021, at 3:56 am by Shrabastee Chakraborty.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Howlan
The first ten pages are pretty decent. The genre is young adult fiction so major character growth is expected in the plot. The first ten pages start with the introduction of Yosyph, a teenager of royal descent and whose people are being oppressed by the Queen. He posses shadow powers and saves his friend from being executed. He learns of the assassination of the prince's fiance and moves to save her. The first ten pages have great action scenes. The narration is great and the plot moves fast. I am interested in the story, so I am going to read the rest of this book. No typos were found in the first ten pages. I found nothing to improve in the first ten pages. The Official OBC Review is present, and the reviewer rates it highly.
First Ten review added on May 28, 2021, at 3:54 am by Howlan.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Verna Coy
I found the cover of this book quite striking at first glance. What I liked best was how the action began with the first scene. There were no long information dumps, but it was still easy to learn the characters. What I liked best was how Yosyph valued his family and his Uncle Jack when he was taken. Although I like books from the young adult genre, the drama in this one didn’t quite grab me, so I don’t plan to read the whole book. I saw no obvious room for improvement in the pages that I read, It’s well edited and seems professionally done. I enjoyed the 4-star review by the Online Book Club. Great work, this book will appeal to readers who like inspirational messages woven into a fantasy world.
First Ten review added on May 28, 2021, at 3:41 am by Verna Coy.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Sou Hi
The cover looks nice, and the official review is interesting. There are a number of ratings on Amazon, but the opinions are inconsistent. Since the blurb is promising, I decided to give the sample a try. The story starts with the protagonist, Yosyph, who witnessed his friend's capture. Unable to let his friend die, he tried to free the guy and succeeded. However, the Queen had a bigger plan: Lansimetsa needed to be purged, so she intended to enslave those with impure bloodlines.
I like the book's interesting plot and the well-crafted characters. The editing can be considered excellent, as I found no countable errors. I have no suggestions for improvement. Since the book is appealing, I will buy it.
First Ten review added on May 28, 2021, at 3:17 am by Sou Hi.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Annelore Trujillo
I would not have sampled this book based on the genre, blurb, OBC review, cover and title. I don’t usually read young adult books, and this one about the queen trying to get rid of a fraction of her people because of their bloodline didn’t seem like something I’d enjoy. After reading the first ten pages, I won’t be finishing this book. I wasn’t into the story. It right away starts talking about how he found out he was a prince then starts talking about another prince. This isn’t for me. However, I did like that it started off with a bang. There was a lot of action when they worked to rescue Jack. This is a good way to pull people in. The book did seem to be professionally edited. There wasn’t anything that needed improvement.
First Ten review added on May 28, 2021, at 3:08 am by Annelore Trujillo.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Ann Ogochukwu
The cover of this book caught my attention on sight. This, coupled with the compelling OBC review, would have caused me to sample the book, regardless of this program.
I enjoyed sampling this book. The work was well-written and error-free. I especially liked the proverbial chapter titles. The main character, Yousef, had this mysterious aura, which I found intriguing, and if I were to complete this book, it would be to unravel the mystery of him. However, I won't be completing it because I feel it's for a slightly younger audience than myself.
I don't think this book needs any improvement.
First Ten review added on May 28, 2021, at 3:01 am by Ann Ogochukwu.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Jsovermyer
I like the cover art and title. It looks exciting, and I would buy it from the cover alone. The official reviewer liked this book and gave it a high rating. It is exceptionally edited, as I found no spelling or grammatical errors in the sample pages. When Yosyph saved Jack from the hangman's noose, it was very exciting. I didn't find anything I disliked so far. I am intrigued by the story and would like to finish it.
First Ten review added on May 27, 2021, at 11:59 pm by Jsovermyer.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Jennifer Donovan Smith
The cover is attractive, so I would have checked out the book outside the program. I enjoy YA fantasy, so I would’ve sampled the pages.
I enjoyed the sample and was very pleased that there were no errors. The book seems to be professionally edited. I particularly liked that Yosyph uses sign language to communicate covertly. I have nothing to suggest to the author.
I was thinking I would read this book, but then I read the official OBC review. While highly positive, the review made multiple references to Christian themes in the book. I avoid books where the lessons are based in religious faith. I have decided not to read this book at this time because of this. I may revisit it in the future.
First Ten review added on May 27, 2021, at 11:56 pm by Jennifer Donovan Smith.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Mary WhiteFace
When I first saw that this was a YA fantasy, I wanted to check it out. After reading a couple of Amazon reviews, I became a little hesitant when more than one mentioned a religious theme. Even so, I probably would have at least given it a chance even without the first ten program. I really liked the cover.
I found the first ten pages entertaining and didn't want to stop reading. I thought it was hilarious how the judge and the soldiers were blaming the rescue of a man they were about to hang on a "shadow demon summoned by the Yorel." They would have really been embarrassed to learn that the one doing the rescuing was the "mute half-wit serving boy" from the tavern. This is going to be an enjoyable read.
The book seemed to be professionally edited. I have no suggestions for improvements. There was an OnlineBookClub review which did not influence my decision. I will be reading the whole book, most likely the whole series as well.
First Ten review added on May 27, 2021, at 8:29 pm by Mary WhiteFace.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Kaitlyn Canedy
Based on the title, I do not think that I would have read the sample of The King's Trial. The cover reminds me of the scene in the movie The Lion King, which tells me that the boy in the picture is one that will have to face many challenges. I liked the action in the sample already; there is much detail to get immersed with straight in the beginning. I was unsure of what to think about this book based on the sample, so I read the official OnlineBookClub review for it. Apparently, this is a faith-based book pertaining to God and what seems to be Christianity. Even though the intended audience is young adults, I will be finishing it because I think that I would enjoy its premise. There were no noticeable grammatical errors, and I can think of no improvements that can be made to this book. Readers that like action and fantasy may like this book a lot.
First Ten review added on May 27, 2021, at 6:21 pm by Kaitlyn Canedy.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
MsH2k
YA and fantasy are my least favorite genres, and the cover did not attract me, so I would not have sampled this book if I were not part of this program. I usually do it in the reverse order, but this time I read the featured OnlineBookClub review before I sampled the book. I was surprised to discover the book referenced God. The reviewer mentioned how it encouraged them in their faith walk. The sample pages were engaging and descriptive. I could envision Yosyph saving Jack from being hanged. I am excited to find out what the letter from his mother reveals. Surprisingly, I will finish this book. I thank the author for the free copy. The book appeared to have been professionally edited; I did not notice any grammatical errors in the sample pages, and I have no suggestions for improvement. The OBC review encouraged me to consider this book.
First Ten review added on May 27, 2021, at 4:48 pm by MsH2k.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Alice Heritage
This is one I probably wouldn't have sampled on my own because I don't read young adult or Christian fiction. I enjoyed the sample and was close to deciding to read the rest of it, but was ultimately put off by the Christian theme. This wasn't obvious from the first ten pages: I relied on the OBC review and Amazon reviews to inform me that readers feel admonished to have faith. That doesn't appeal to me enough currently. I liked the excellent balance between description and action. For example, when the soldiers said they wanted "spiced cider" and particularly "anise beer", that caught my attention and I enjoyed imagining it. I also loved the detailed description of the city, which was long enough to paint a picture but not so long that it slowed the narrative down. This seems professionally put together, with a well-executed cover and error-free text for a nice change! Not much needs to be improved; Yosyph thinking "If only they knew" to himself was unnecessary, but I appreciate that this is aimed at a young adult audience. It was a little odd that the names were the same as those in our world - more made-up names like Halavant would have fitted better with a fully imagined world with the invented name of Lansimetsa.
First Ten review added on May 27, 2021, at 1:41 pm by Alice Heritage.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
MarisaRose
After reading the Amazon blurb for "The King's Trial," by M L Farb, I wasn't interested in purchasing the book blindly. I'm not a fan of YA novels, and I wasn't intrigued by the fantasy aspects described in the blurb. Nothing about the blurb made the book seem unique enough for me to want to read it, given the YA genre. Further, I read the official OBC review for the book, and although the reviewer had nothing but positive things to say about the book, the reviewer's recommendation that the book would appeal to a Christian audience was off putting. The reviewer's recommendation alone made me more sure I would not be interested in this book. After sampling the first ten pages of "The King's Trial," I was fully convinced this book was not for me. I found some aspects of the sample interesting. Like the hook in the first page, where Yosyph tells the reader he is a prince, but not the conventional kind. I was curious to know more about Yosyph and why his best friend was sentenced to die. However, after the initial hook, I thought the narrative plodded along at a slow pace, detailing mundane activities, like Yosyph and his father performing work in a field. Further, I wasn't impressed with the narrative perspective. I don't mind the first-person narration; however, the writing in this particular case was lacking. So many sentences started with "I", which became tedious to read. I will say I didn't notice any grammatical errors in the sample, and I do think this book would appeal to a YA audience based on the characterization I encountered in the sample. That being said, the book just doesn't appeal to me, so I won't be purchasing the book or reading any more of it.
First Ten review added on May 27, 2021, at 1:09 pm by MarisaRose.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Jorge Leon Salazar
In the first ten pages, the book is narrated in the first-person perspective from the point of view of Yosyph. In the beginning, he tells about the day he found out that he was a prince. Yosyph mentions Prince Halavant and describes him. Next, the book counts when Uncle Jack is captured and tortured for information. Yosyph seems to possess a rare power to turn into a shadow and slide around the edge of a door without being noticed. With that strange power, he manages to rescue Jack when he was about to be hanged.
From what I read in the first ten pages it seems that Yosyph and his uncle are participating in a plot against the evil queen. There is a character named 'the Yorel' who appears to be the leader of the rebellion. While Jack was being tortured, he told them that he was 'the Yorel' and apparently they believed him. In what I read, an expectation was raised around a hidden letter which apparently has to do with Yosyph's mother and the fact of being a prince.
The official review confirms the plot around the rebellion against the wicked queen. In addition, there are appealing aspects regarding that Yosyph must survive the King’s Trial and trust God to save the kingdom. The cover is impressive, as it illustrates the danger that someone runs to achieve a goal. The title is consistent with the content and genre. I consider the combination of title and cover would catch the target audience. The editing looks outstanding although on Page 11 in the phrase “the judge straitened his askew wig” it seems it should be ‘straightened’ instead of ‘straitened.’ Otherwise, I did not see anything else that I believe could be improved. What I read seemed interesting, and the plot is attractive. However, it didn't quite capture me since the fantasy genre is not my favorite. In summary, I think I will not read the rest of the book in the near future.
First Ten review added on May 27, 2021, at 12:05 pm by Jorge Leon Salazar.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Aubrey Lewis
The overall appearance of the book looks epic and pretty eye-catching, in my opinion. When I read through the official OBC review, I felt that I wouldn't be able to appreciate the book since I'm not fond of reading most fantasy novels. If I weren't a part of this program, I wouldn't have read the sample at all since the book's cover, genres, and summary didn't interest me enough to want to check it out willingly.
When I finished sampling the first ten pages, I decided not to read the rest of the book. The contents seemed professionally edited so far, and the author's writing style was polished and surprisingly fast-paced to my liking. The premise used an effective narrative hook due to the starting sentence as well as the events that followed after that. When the soldiers took Jack forcibly and Yosyph promised to get the older man's wife and children out of the city, I was very curious about why Jack had a lot of bows and arrows in his inventory. He was not allowed an explanation by the soldiers, so my interest was slightly piqued.
From Yosyph's actions and thoughts so far, it seemed that it wasn't his first time saving people from prison. Although the concept of the book is promising, nothing really interested me enough to want to read any further, so I will have to pass on this one, especially because I don't like reading epic fantasies at all.
Since my reason is due to my own personal preference, I don't think there are any improvements the author needs to make.
First Ten review added on May 27, 2021, at 11:40 am by Aubrey Lewis.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Sanju Lali
The cover and the title indicated to me that this could be a fantasy novel. So, I considered reading the official review of this book because I was curious to know the premise of the story. The official review helped me to understand that the book is about Yosyph, a young leader of an underground rebellion who has to solve a series of puzzles called King’s Trial. This information intrigued me to read the sample of the book before purchasing it. After reading the first ten pages, I realized that this book is not professionally edited because I found some grammatical errors in the sample. For example, the sentence, "One nicked my cheek, another ripped my cloak...". The sentence could have been as follows. "One nicked my cheek, and another ripped my cloak... ". The thing l liked the most is the premise of the story, where the protagonist Yosyph has to solve a puzzle to reach his goal, making the story very exciting. Unfortunately, I felt that the narrative lacked some necessary details of the scenes, making it a bit difficult for an average reader like me to visualize them. I could not visualize Jack's hanging scene clearly. My suggestion to the author would be to go for a round of professional editing and consider the difficulties faced by me, as listed in the above sentences. Looking at all these facts, I decided not to purchase and read this book today but wait until the author could help me by addressing my suggestion so that I could have a nice time reading the book.
First Ten review added on May 27, 2021, at 11:25 am by Sanju Lali.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
gen_g
Simply based off of the cover illustration and title, the book seems like a piece of thriller adventure aimed at young adults; I am not part of the target audience nor is the genre something I am looking for – hence, I would not have sampled it. I have come across a positive OBC review, but due to the genre mismatch/not part of the target audience demographic, I would not have sampled it. Still, after sampling, there are quite a number of errors. To illustrate, at 1%, there is an erroneous comma where there should have been the conjunction "and" (to join two adjectives): "...cooled my sticky (and) sweaty clothes...". I suggest more editing. Still, I like that the story starts off with a bang, in order to capture the reader's interest. For example, we learn that Yosyph's uncle, Jack, was being beaten up by soldiers just for purchasing 50 bows and hundreds of arrows. The soldiers felt it was weird, as Jack was a cobbler and should not have had use for so many weapons. One of the soldiers even spit in Jack's face, with the glob of spit sliding down Jack's nose. To further improve the book, it would be good, like most fantasy fiction, to include a map of the world geography at the beginning of the book, so that the readers are better able to grasp what is happening. A bit more background context woven into the story at the beginning would also be excellent. However, as I am not in the market for young adult fantasy fiction, I will not be reading the rest of the book.
First Ten review added on May 27, 2021, at 10:27 am by gen_g.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Sonya Nicolaidis
I had expected a book aimed at young adults from the cover design and the title, but the OBC reviewer's comments indicated that this book is equally aimed at more mature readers. This genre is not one of my favourites, so I doubt I would have stopped for a closer look. However, the review was so positive and glowing I knew there was great potential in this story. The writing was flawless and without errors, indicating it had been professionally edited. Also, I enjoyed the writing style: it flowed easily and was a pleasure to read. The titles of the chapters intrigued me as they seemed to paraphrase certain idiomatic expressions that were clearly pertinent to the development of the story. There was nothing I didnt like, and I cannot suggest any improvements. As this genre is not really my preference I would not read the whole thing. However this seems like an excellent option for fans of historical fiction.
First Ten review added on May 27, 2021, at 3:41 am by Sonya Nicolaidis.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Rodel Barnachea
Upon perusing the book's official OBC review and Amazon page, I opted not to purchase the young adult fantasy title. I'm not interested in the novel's premise, which is about the protagonist Yosyph having to survive the King's Trial in order to reach the savage desert lands where his mother's people reside. I also wasn't intrigued by the gift Yosyph possesses, which he needs to yield to save the kingdom. I believe the plot isn't my cup of tea. Reading the title's sample failed to change my mind. I wouldn't acquire the novel because my reading of its Amazon sample did not dispel the initial opinions I have about the book. Also, nothing in the text I read appealed to me or compelled me into reading the rest of the story. The first ten pages include the first chapter and some pages of the second chapter. My favorite part is when Yosyph's father begged the soldiers to forgive his son, Timothy, and offered them a tankard of ale as compensation. I wasn't able to identify any errors in the text; I believe the book is professionally edited. I have nothing to suggest to the author.
First Ten review added on May 27, 2021, at 3:41 am by Rodel Barnachea.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Catherine Hsu
I think the cover looks so cool so based on that alone I'd have read this book! I'm also a huge reader of YA fantasy. After reading the sample, I have not changed my mind. The first thing that jumped out to me was the table of contents, which had really interesting chapter names. The sample didn't change my mind. I really liked the perspective of Yosyph, whose perspective was really interesting from the first sentence about the sentencing of his best friend to the prince commenting on the way he is standing at the end of the sample. It was professionally edited, so there's nothing I'd change so far. The official review did not affect my decision and I'm so excited that there are also strong female characters in this.
First Ten review added on May 27, 2021, at 2:45 am by Catherine Hsu.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
J_odoyo
After reading the first ten pages of this book, The King’s Trial by M. L. Farb, I have realized that the book is seemingly well written. Its cover page is well designed and attractive. I didn’t have any problem with the book’s title, and I believe that the book’s description on the Amazon website served its purpose well. I didn’t encounter any typographical or grammatical errors, and I would wager that the book was professionally edited. The book also had an official OnlineBookClub review, which gave an insight into what the book is all about. The earlier pages of this book recount the story of Yosyph, a young man with the ability to enter places unnoticed, and his heroic saving of his uncle, Jack. The progress of this book is promising, and I can’t guess what is next. However, I’m not a fan of this genre. Therefore, I’m not going to finish reading it. Overall, the sample was well written, and I wouldn’t recommend anything for the improvement of this book.
First Ten review added on May 27, 2021, at 2:21 am by J_odoyo.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Kelyn
Even if I had not been a member of this program, it is possible that the genre would have led me to this book. Fantasy is one of my favorite genres, so I often peruse those aisles. The title and somewhat adventurous cover would have further spurred my interest. I am unfamiliar with the author, so that would not have affected my opinion. The blurb reminded me very much of another fantasy book with a similar plot which I immensely enjoyed. This was encouraging. There are many reviews on the Amazon site, both from customers and authors. The vast majority of them were positive. This was a further good sign toward reading the book. Although I did not see a review on the Amazon site explicitly identified as being from this program, if I had, I would have been interested in what the author had to say. The review on this program's site was highly complimentary of the book as well. This raised high standards for the sample. It did not disappoint. I loved Yosyph and Katrin's interactions in the sample, especially how feisty she was. I was also thrilled with his determination to save her despite her less than grateful behavior. Prince Halavant started showing promise when he admired Yoseph's skill with a sword despite thinking him dim-witted. I'm rooting for both princes now! I've already continued reading and am well into the book. I wouldn't change a thing. The book seems well-edited. I found no 'countable' errors in the sample.
First Ten review added on May 27, 2021, at 12:17 am by Kelyn.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Stephanie Runyon
The cover of the book is very colorful and fits with the fantasy genre. I would have sampled this because my youngest daughter is reading a lot of fantasy books. I liked Yoseph's first person narration of rescuing his uncle. The way the author described the environment was balanced, so I could picture the scenes without slowing the pace. There was nothing I disliked in what I read, and I will continue reading the tale. I encountered no errors and believe the book is professionally edited with no improvements needed. The OBC review had a positive impact on my decision with reading the novel because the reviewer stated the content is clean and appropriate for young teens.
First Ten review added on May 26, 2021, at 11:01 pm by Stephanie Runyon.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Ari Martinez
If it hadn't been for this program, I wouldn't have sampled this book based on its title, cover, or Official OnlineBookClub review because I usually find Young Adult novels to be a bit boring. After reading the first ten pages, I will read the rest of the book because I liked the setting and plot of the book. It felt different than other YA books I've read. My favorite part of the sample was the mystery surrounding Yosyph and what the future holds for him. I cannot think of any way to improve the book, and it does appear professionally edited.
First Ten review added on May 26, 2021, at 9:28 pm by Ari Martinez.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Mbrooks2518
The book's description on Amazon sounded very exciting and action-packed, so I would have sampled the book even without The First Ten. I liked that the first chapter set a fast pace with Yosyph saving his best friend, Jack, from being hanged. The official review also gave me the impression of a thrilling story with great characters, so I will definitely read the rest of the book. There were no editing mistakes, and nothing needs to be improved.
First Ten review added on May 26, 2021, at 9:24 pm by Mbrooks2518.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Gabrielle Sigaki
The King's Trial by M L Farb is a young adult novel with fantasy, adventure, religion, courage, and well developed characters. If I didn't sample this book, I wouldn't read it based on its Official OnlineBookClub review and its genre since I'm not interested in young adult Christian novels. After sampling it, I didn't change my mind and I won't read the entire book since I didn't found the religious aspects interesting. However, the book seems professionally edited, there's nothing to be improved in it, and I liked the fact that the author constructed a relatable main character for young readers since he seems to be a common boy, but he has special abilities too.
First Ten review added on May 26, 2021, at 7:56 pm by Gabrielle Sigaki.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Odette Chace
I like the cover and the title. The synopsis on Amazon was interesting. The official Online Book Club review gave the work a perfect rating of 4 out of 4 stars. I thought it was interesting that the reviewer noted that the book has an inspirational message. Most young adult fantasy novels do not address religion. After reading the official review, I want to sample the book even more than I did before. I did not like the narrator of the audiobook at all. "I'm opposite of Prince Halavant in every appearance, and most don't even notice me" (pg. 6). It should be, "I'm opposite of Prince Halavant in every aspect of my appearance." "The judge straitened his askew wig" (pg. 11). Straightened. I noticed a few other errors in the first ten pages and don't believe the work was professionally edited. I really enjoyed the sample. However, I didn't think it was believable for Yosyph to evade capture with Jack being seriously injured. It would have been plausible if only the judge and one or two guards were present, but there were multiple guards on the scene. Aside from that detail, I was wrapped up in the story from the moment I began reading. I will definitely be finishing the book at a later date. My favorite aspect of the first ten pages was the work's quick pace and opening action scene.
First Ten review added on May 26, 2021, at 7:09 pm by Odette Chace.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda
What a unique cover! Something about the title clashes with the image and makes me want to know more. I like the plot, too. And I applaud that the author didn't include a thousand praiseful reviews, but just a couple that are really meaningful. What made me hesitate were the mixed ratings and me not knowing the books with which this one is compared ("Blades of Acktar", "The Queen’s Thief", and "The Minstrel’s Song"). That's why I wouldn't have bought the book based on my first impressions.
What I liked the most about the first ten pages was how fast I got involved in the plot and how many questions did it raise in just ten pages. Why did they take Jack? Is his whole family organized to save him? It appears that Timothy distracts the guards, while Yosyph makes signals. Does the ale have any role in this? What time period is it?
I found a couple of minor editing flaws. On page 8, Yosyph’s thoughts should be italicized or signaled in some way: "Thank you, Father. Now my part. I scuffed a boot on the cobble twice. Jack turned his head." I would suggest fixing these minor mistakes and specifying the genre in the blurb. The official review is very enthusiastic, and it was the one that made me decide to keep reading the book.
First Ten review added on May 26, 2021, at 6:31 pm by María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Sarah_Khan
The cover of this book looks really cool, but the title is average. I would not have picked it up without the First Ten program because it looks like it is for a younger audience. The first few pages are well edited. I thought it was impressive that Yosyph, Timothy, and their father had special ways to communicate so that the soldiers would not catch on. The official OBC review was positive. Even though the reviewer recommended this novel to adults and teenagers, I still think it is better suited to young adults. So, I will not be reading the rest. I do not have any suggestions for the author.
First Ten review added on May 26, 2021, at 5:16 pm by Sarah_Khan.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Yvonne Monique
The book cover and title already indicate that this is a fantasy story (and series). As I like fantasy novels, I would have a closer look if I would see it in a book store. The blurb and OBC review explain that this book is written for young adults. I could not find any errors in the first ten pages. I liked the names of the characters. Yosyph, Hadron and Jonstone are all very original names. But besides that, the beginning of the book did not grab my attention. As I am not part of the target audience and because I did not really get into the story, I will not buy this book. I have no suggestions for improvement.
First Ten review added on May 26, 2021, at 4:22 pm by Yvonne Monique.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Chelsy Scherba
I enjoyed the first chapter where Yosyph used sign language to communicate with Jack that he’d help him escape captivity and get his wife and children to safety as well. I’m also curious to learn more about the prince. The review said he starts out terrible and then has a remarkable change of character, so I would like to see his development. The book and its premise appeal to me due to its Christian themes, so I would be attracted to the story outside of OBC. I also didn’t see any errors or mistakes in the professional editing. I love the cover. There’s really nothing I’d change about the book, so I have zero suggestions for improvements. I like the story so far, so I will read the free copy I received.
First Ten review added on May 26, 2021, at 4:00 pm by Chelsy Scherba.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Laura Ungureanu
This cover is intriguing, as it says that the book is full of action. I also like the bright colors. The OBC reviewer highlighted some attractive features of the book, making me interested. Since fantasy is a genre I like, I would've definitely checked this book out by myself. The sample is very captivating. Yosyph's perspective kept me turning the pages, as I needed to know what happens to him. The author's writing style felt very natural, which is a rare sight in fantasy. I was intrigued by the detailed descriptions of the characters' actions. The book introduced a lot of characters at once, which made things a bit confusing for me. If I could improve it, I would suggest focusing on fewer characters on the first pages. However, I don't need anything else to convince me that I want to read more. I didn't find any grammar errors.
First Ten review added on May 26, 2021, at 3:31 pm by Laura Ungureanu.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Kirsi Cultrera
This book had a captivating cover picture. Even so, I might not have sampled it without this program, as it was categorized under the Young Adult genre. The author’s style of writing was compelling. I was glued to my seat as soon as I had read the first page. This book seemed much more complicated than a typical fantasy story for younger readers. The plot seemed fascinating, and I even loved the little I got to see from the characters. I did not find anything to disapprove from this book. Even editing seemed to be on a professional level. It was clear that the writer of the Official OnlineBookClub review had really enjoyed this book. It confirmed my observations, and I decided to read this story further.
First Ten review added on May 26, 2021, at 3:14 pm by Kirsi Cultrera.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Timothy Rucinski
From the Official Review, I knew immediately that I would not be reading this book. I have no interest in novels with undertones of Christian faith as mentioned in the review. Nor am I that interested in fantasy novels of this kind. However, the author is a fine writer and it appears that the book was professionally edited as I found no errors. What I liked most was that the book started with a dynamic chapter, very engaging, and capable of hooking the reader with Jack's rescue at the end. There wasn't anything that I disliked other than the genre. The cover was also nicely drawn, perfect for a young reading audience, and one that will successfully capture a young person's eye in a bookstore.
First Ten review added on May 26, 2021, at 1:30 pm by Timothy Rucinski.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
PeterRabitt20
Judging by the cover and the blurb, I would read this book because it looks like an adventure in an ancient place. The boy hanging over the lava made me curious. After trying the sample, I changed my mind and would not continue to read this book. I did love the writing style and the witty subtitle; however, I was discouraged that the story sounded more religious. I was expecting a fantasy adventure. The OBC review helped me make my decision. The book seems professionally edited; I didn't find any errors. The only suggestion for improvement is to add the source of the subtitle phrase—if they are quotes. I really liked those phrases.
First Ten review added on May 26, 2021, at 1:08 pm by PeterRabitt20.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Mariana Figueira
Before reading the first pages of the book, I wasn't really interested in it, neither the cover nor the genre appeal to me. After sampling the book, I confirmed my first impression: despite the book seems professionally edited and the character Yosyph is versatile and interesting, I'm not going to read the rest of the book because the story failed to intrigue me. What I liked the most were the touches of historical fiction and the presence of a monarchy; I didn't see anything in particular that needed improvement. Lastly, this novel has an official Online BookClub review.
First Ten review added on May 26, 2021, at 1:02 pm by Mariana Figueira.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Scerakor
After reviewing the title, genre, cover, blurb, and review of this book, I would not have read this book. I'm not a fan of young adult novels and therefore wouldn't have picked this one up. 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 action and adventure that popped up immediately within the book. It was fun to see Jack and Yosyph's hangman escape early on. That being said, there wasn't enough in the sample that I read to convince me to pick up a genre that I'm not interested in. The book looked well written and edited as I didn't see any errors in the sample. The thing I would have improved from the sample I read has to do with the chapter titles. Albeit extremely minor, I would have capitalized all major words in the chapter titles like you would a book, film, or other major title. There was an official OBC review, but it did not affect my decision at all.
First Ten review added on May 26, 2021, at 12:22 pm by Scerakor.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Brenda Creech
I would not have chosen to check this book out based on the title or the cover because I am not an avid fantasy fan. I read fantasy novels to do official reviews, but not just to be choosing to read one on my own. After reading the official review, I read the first ten pages of the book. It is an intriguing story, and I am sure young adults will enjoy it. I did not find any errors in the part I read, and I did not see anything that needs improvement based on the genre of the book. Yoseph seemed to be the hero of the moment in the pages I read. First, he rescued his friend Jack's wife and children after Jack was arrested. Later, after dark, he rescued Jack from being hanged. Since this is not a preferred genre, I have decided to leave this one to the young adult audience and not read any more of the book.
First Ten review added on May 26, 2021, at 11:43 am by Brenda Creech.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Diana Lowery
I would not have chosen this book to read because it looks and sounds like it is a fantasy novel. The blurb confirmed this and also informed me that it is a YA novel. The review was positive and mentioned "thought-provoking concepts." I liked that the review said it was a good, clean book for teens. I did not see any errors in the pages that I read. I liked the scene where the boys were using a secret sign language. I do not have any suggestions for the author. I will not finish reading the book because it is not a genre that I enjoy.
First Ten review added on May 26, 2021, at 11:28 am by Diana Lowery.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Emy Katherine
The story follows the eventful journey of a courageous boy named Yosyph, who is on a mission to stop the cruel Queen of Lansimetsa from enslaving innocent people. While she plans to send them to mine the Stone Forest, Yosyph decides to ask the help of those people who live outside Lansimetsa. As I do not read fantasy novels, I would not have read the book based on the genre. Neither the OBC review nor the first ten pages convinced me to read the whole book, but I found the author's writing style clear and engaging. Also, I particularly liked that I was thrown into the action from the very beginning. The book seemed to be professionally edited; I only found a couple of errors. For example, I noticed a missing comma after "hands" in the following sentence: "I touched the back of one of his hands but he didn’t react." (page 13) It should be written "The judge straightened his askew wig" instead of "The judge straitened his askew wig." (page 11) Nothing needs to be improved. I am not the target audience, but fans of Christian fantasy novels will enjoy it.
First Ten review added on May 26, 2021, at 11:26 am by Emy Katherine.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
AntonelaMaria
I usually enjoy reading YA fantasy books. But after reading the Offical Onlinebookclub review, I realized that this might not be a book for me. The main reason is that it is more suited for a younger audience. After reading the sample, I still am not interested in continuing the book. Especially as it appears it will be a series. I didn't notice any grammatical errors. There is nothing I would change about the book. I like Yosyph as a leading character. He is an unexpected lead. The rebellion plotline is always exciting in fantasy books.
First Ten review added on May 26, 2021, at 10:57 am by AntonelaMaria.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Kajori Sheryl Paul
'The King's Trial' is written by M L Farb. The book is set in the fictional kingdom of Lansimetsa. Yosyph is a pioneer of the rebel movement taking place against the Queen. He is horrified when his best friend, Jack, is apprehended by the soldiers. The writing style is very engaging. I truly liked it. It immersed me in the story right away. The editing seems to be professional as well. The book has no scope for improvement. It seems to be perfect. Based on the cover, title, genre, blurb, editorial reviews, and customer reviews, I would give this book a try as I like the genre. The sample and the OBC review engaged me. Hence, I will give this book a try.
First Ten review added on May 26, 2021, at 10:49 am by Kajori Sheryl Paul.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Bertha Jackson
The attractive book cover, title, and genre would have caught my eye, and I would have checked it out. The blurb and editorial and customer reviews are all positive for this book. I enjoyed reading the first ten pages and got caught up in the plot. I like how the author starts the story with a rescue scene. The letter from Yosyph's mother made me curious about his plight. However, the OnlineBookClub review convinced me that this book would be one that I would enjoy reading. I did not see any errors or anything I would change in the first ten pages. The book appears to have been edited by a professional editor. I have downloaded the free copy of the book and will eventually read it.
First Ten review added on May 26, 2021, at 10:28 am by Bertha Jackson.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Total ~ 43%
The King's Trial earned a score of 43%.
In other words, out of the top-level reviewers who read at least the first 10 pages of this book, 43% 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.
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