Cover for Einstein's Compass

The First Ten Focus Group Feedback for Einstein's Compass: a YA Time Traveler Adventure

Because Einstein's Compass 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

896308
The storyline creates a fictional scenario where the mystical powers of the Shamir Stone is unlocked when Albert Einstein gets a compass that fell off from the ark housing the stone. But chaos erupts as a fallen angel of light also seeks this object. The story follows the aftermath and the adventurous tale that spans centuries. I would have read the book as the official OBC review and the blurb piqued my interest. And I quite enjoyed reading the sample. The thing I liked the most is that the book takes us back to the time when Raka, the fallen angel, decides to betray his people and work as a spy. The storytelling is wholesome and does not miss a single detail. The places and events are also portrayed well in the narrative. I wasn't able to find any editing errors, so I would rate the book as professionally edited. As I've enjoyed the sample so far, I will read the whole book. I read an official OBC review before sampling. I wouldn't recommend anything for improvements based on the sample.

First Ten review added on March 14, 2022, at 6:36 am by Ekta Kumari.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

Asma Aisha Ansari

1991474
As a sci-fi and fantasy fan, I would have chosen to sample the book based on the cover, the title, the genre, the blurb, the OBC review, and the Amazon reviews. However, I changed my mind after reading the sample because the plot didn't interest me, as it seemed very convoluted. Besides, I found the writing style too descriptive for my liking. Even for this genre, the character of Raka seemed weird to me. And, I'm not going to read the rest of the book because I didn't enjoy reading the sample.

The book seems professionally edited, as I saw only one error in the sample. Here it is: As he swallowed, he felt something a transformation begins—short, gray hairs started to replace the scales on his arm. In this sentence, it should be 'he felt a transformation' instead of 'he felt something a transformation begins'. I suggest that the book be edited thoroughly once for these errors.

First Ten review added on March 14, 2022, at 5:54 am by Asma Aisha Ansari.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Manang Muyang

176802
The cover shows Albert Einstein and pyramids, and the subtitle mentions time travel. I am not really into the sciences, so I would not have been interested in the book outside of the program. The official OBC review mentions Raka, a fallen angel of light, who wants to get even with his twin, Arka. The very similar names further discouraged me. The sample started with Poseidon in 10400 BCE and continued on to the time of 6-year-old Albert Einstein. I was amazed that the authors were able to combine Greek mythology, Bible stories, and Einstein's youth. I was not taken by the sample, though. I was unable to appreciate what drove Raka to seek vengeance at all costs. I also think that the graphic killings should be toned down, considering the intended audience of teeners. I likewise found errors in the book. The following errors are all at 89% of the sample: "He saw a tall, brilliant-winged being at the foot of his bed" didn't capitalize "being," but "The sick boy gazed at the luminous Being" had the same word capitalized. "Albert stunned, struggled to find words" should have had a comma after "Albert." "'I care for children like you when they get sick.'. Albert smiled and relaxed" had an extra period before "Albert." I have the utmost respect for Albert Einstein, but I do not think this book is for me.

First Ten review added on March 14, 2022, at 5:48 am by Manang Muyang.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Justine Ocsebio

1872914
As someone who has not been reading young adult fantasy books lately, I thought about skipping the book because the premise didn’t intrigue me. I like the descriptions in this book. The writers of this book paid attention to details and gave adequate descriptions of the world. However, I felt overwhelmed with a lot of information dumped on me in the first few pages alone. The book begins with the introduction of a man named Raka. He has a vial of stolen DNA, and he seems to be planning something evil or destructive. Afterwards, the story introduces the islands of Aryan and Atlantis. The general of the Aryan island seems to want to use Raka’s knowledge to outsmart the Atlanteans. There is so much going on that it is a struggle to keep up with all of it. This is the only thing I dislike. I wished the narrative focused on a single character first, so the story would be easier to follow. Aside from this, I no longer have any improvements to suggest. The book seems to have excellent editing, as I didn’t find any errors. I’m not going to read the book because I’m not fond of the story and the writing. The OBC review was helpful in my decision.

First Ten review added on March 14, 2022, at 5:24 am by Justine Ocsebio.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Dzejn_Crvena

2079692
Outside this program, I'd have sampled this book based on the cover and title. I want to read anything related to Albert Einstein, especially about the compass related to his childhood. The OBC review and the sample convinced me to read it because there's a piece of new information related to the Biblical stories that I'm interested in. In the book, the Shamir stone in Albert's compass activated his destiny. The mystical travelers who detected the activation of the stone were on a mission to protect him from the evil Raka, who awakened from his slumber to get the stone. He harbored a feeling of resentment towards Arka, his twin. I'd like to know the history between the twins and I'm curious about Albert's involvement with stone. I like the fast pacing of the story in the book that is engaging enough to maintain the attention of the young adult readers. The book seems professionally edited, so I don't have suggestions for improvements.

First Ten review added on March 14, 2022, at 4:47 am by Dzejn_Crvena.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

va2016

119030
The title "Einstein's Compass" and the cover with a compass indicate that the book could be about an invention of Einstein. There are 44 Amazon customer ratings, which is a sufficient number for me to decide to sample the book. The Amazon summary states that it is a young adult fantasy based on scientist Albert Einstein. As I am not generally interested in fantasy books, I would have skipped sampling the book if not for the First Ten program. As I sampled through the book, I found the narration describing a historical happening involving a character called Raka. As I am not interested in this theme, I am not going to read this book in full. I found the sample professionally edited. There were no grammatical or mechanical errors in the sample. 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 March 14, 2022, at 4:02 am by va2016.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Sou Hi

1445186
Without this program, I wouldn't have read this. The official review from OnlineBookClub and the cover look alright, but the ratings on Amazon are not very good. The plot doesn't seem to be my cup of tea either. Reading the first ten pages about Raka and his plot against his brother did not change my mind from my original guess.

I like the fantasy theme. The editing is alright, and I have no suggestions for improvement. However, the plot is not very creative, and I'm not interested in Albert Einstein either. Since it can't pique my interest, I won't buy this book.

Error example: What Raka did not understand was that the jolt he felt was not an earthly shudder, but a spiritual one. -> The comma is not needed.

First Ten review added on March 14, 2022, at 3:04 am by Sou Hi.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Annelore Trujillo

97769
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 the fantasy and supernatural elements that the review talked about for this one didn’t seem to be for me. After reading the first ten pages, I won’t be finishing this book. The book started out with Raka becoming a fallen angel in search of more power and greatness. This and the talk of the stone weren’t for me. It moves on to Egypt in the time of Moses, which also wasn’t for me. I did like that the chapters started by stating the time period and location. This helps things stay clear for the reader. There wasn’t anything specific that needed improvement. The book did seem to be professionally edited.

First Ten review added on March 14, 2022, at 1:49 am by Annelore Trujillo.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

brooke oakes

2554006
I think I would have sampled or read this book outside this program. I found it’s cover and title interesting. Also, both its OBC and Amazon review appealed to me with the mention of Albert Einstein and a magical compass. The book starts on the Island of Poseidon. Raka is an Atlantean healer priest. He notices an odd tremor in the earth but continues on his journey when it does nothing more. I liked the vivid narration of this book, and am curious to see where it goes as I read the rest. I don't notice any errors, while I read. I don't think this book needs any improvement.

First Ten review added on March 13, 2022, at 10:38 pm by brooke oakes.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

Scerakor

45879
After reviewing the title, genre, cover, blurb, and review of this book, I would not have read this book. The concept behind this book, although intriguing, isn't one that I would usually read. 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 liked the intrigue that the author introduced early on. For example, I was very interested in reading about what the consequences and benefits would eventually be to ingesting the dragon DNA. That being said, the book seems a bit too fantastical for me. Although the book looked well written and edited, there was one error that I picked up on. The author has chosen to capitalise "Firestone" in most cases, but I did see one instance in the sample where it was left as lowercase. The thing I would have improved from the sample I read is is to slow down a bit on the terms, characters and places. They came very quickly and I found myself a bit overwhelmed. There was an official OBC review, but it did not affect my decision at all.

First Ten review added on March 13, 2022, at 7:50 pm by Scerakor.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Sarah_Khan

89585
The cover and title of this book are nice and professional. After reading the blurb, I would not have sampled this because I am not a huge fan of time travel. The first few pages were well edited. I loved the line where the general says that the important question is where did the dragon go and not where it came from. The official OBC review, customer reviews and comments were all positive, but they were not enough to change my mind. The plot of this book is just not my cup of tea, so I will not be reading the rest. I do not have any suggestions for the author.

First Ten review added on March 13, 2022, at 7:44 pm by Sarah_Khan.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Jorge Leon Salazar

1225511
The title and cover are attractive and in keeping with the story. I think the target audience; especially young adults should be drawn to this book. I'm not a fan of the fantasy genre in general. The blurb expresses that the book features a time-traveling adventure centered on young Albert Einstein when he is given a jeweled compass by his father. He has no idea of the adventure that awaits him. The story takes place from the year 10,400 BCE on the Islands of Poseidon to Switzerland in 1903. Furthermore, the blurb notes that in this fantasy adventure, the forces of good and evil collide around a budding scientist. Most of the customer reviews are flattering and highlight the creativity of the plot. Based on these aspects, I am unsure to try this book. The first ten pages are set in 10,400 BCE in the Islands of Poseidon and focus on Raka. He suffers a spiritual tremor and becomes a fallen Angel of Light. In these first pages, the entire environment is explained. The Atlanteans are the ruling race and the Aryans are stronger beings, but they do not hold power. Ultimately, the approach of what I read revolved around the struggle between good and evil. Raka and the Aryans represent evil while the Atlanteans the good. I liked the descriptive writing style. The author manages to show attractive details like the aspects associated with the perceived mood of Raka's meeting with the Sons of Belial. I found the scenes of Raka's transformation into a dragon after ingesting the Draconian DNA vial amazing. Plus, it's astonishing he doesn't care about his new physical appearance since he is glad about his recent-acquired powers. It causes curiosity how what I read is going to be related to Albert Einstein and the time in which he lived. The official OnlineBookClub review stresses the supernatural power of the Shamir Stone and Albert Einstein's compass. The editing looked adequate as the only detail I saw was that in the expression “firestone crystal” sometimes “firestone” was in uppercase and others in lowercase. I think there should be consistency in that. Other than that, I didn't see anything else that I believe could be improved. What I read glimpses an interesting plot, although a bit complex since it covers different times. However, it did not capture me completely since the fantasy genre is not my favorite. In conclusion, I will not read the rest of the book.

First Ten review added on March 13, 2022, at 6:07 pm by Jorge Leon Salazar.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Shridhar Suryawanshi

2889899
If I had not actually sampled the first ten pages as part of this program, I would not have chosen to read or sample this book based on the cover, title, genre, blurb, editorial reviews, and customer reviews that I saw because I believe in "don't judge a book by it cover." I won't read this book because the text was too confusing for me. I didn't understand who the protagonist was and the setting descriptions were too jumbled. It is exceptionally edited since I did not find any grammar errors. I liked the pace of the book, but I suggest with more straightforward with the reader. An OnlineBookClub review did not affect my decision.

First Ten review added on March 13, 2022, at 5:05 pm by Shridhar Suryawanshi.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Stephanie Runyon

1424579
The title of the book caught my attention. I would have sampled this because of Einstein's connection to the story. I have read several accounts on Einstein beyond his theories and found them fascinating. There was an error that I noted, but it did not detract from the quality of the story. I have no suggestions for improvement. The OBC review did not influence my choice to pass on this book. I liked the imagery the author created, but I am not inclined to read stories about ancient Greek mythology; I have no interest in them. I didn't find anything online that persuaded me to pass on this book.



ERROR: And that they could and most likely would use this power to control the Atlanteans and take dominance over the entire planet.
There should be a comma before and and after likely.

First Ten review added on March 13, 2022, at 4:38 pm by Stephanie Runyon.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Chelsy Scherba

75151
It was sort of interesting that the story follows Raka, a fallen angel, and his desire to become powerful. I don’t typically read this sort of genre though, so I probably wouldn’t have found the story interesting outside of the program. I have no suggestions for improvements because the book is excellently edited and I didn’t see any errors or typos. I do like the cover and I think it’s interesting that real historical figures like Einstein and Jesus play a role. The OBC review was very positive and gave a nice overview of what to expect. The book had many editorial reviews and Amazon customer reviews that were very flattering, but again, the genre just isn’t my cup of tea. I didn’t see any blurbs.

First Ten review added on March 13, 2022, at 4:24 pm by Chelsy Scherba.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Kirsi Cultrera

1629804
I absolutely loved the beautiful cover art of this book and would have checked it out just for that even without this program. From the blurb and other available information at Amazon, I discovered that this was indeed an interesting story. From the Official OnlineBookClub review, I learned that this book mixes real historical characters with fictional events. This discovery made me want to read this book even more. The sample pages were written with flowing text, and there was enough action to draw me into the story. Raka's deceit and transformation into a dragon were enough to catch my full attention. My first impression was that this story wasn't at all one-dimensional, as young adult books often are. I found nothing to dislike from this book, and I did not encounter any errors. Thus, I think it has been professionally edited. I will be reading this book eventually.

First Ten review added on March 13, 2022, at 3:55 pm by Kirsi Cultrera.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

Rosemary Owolabi

2702082
Had I not actually sampled the first ten pages of this program, I would have chosen to read this book based on the cover, title, genre, blurb, customer reviews, and editorial reviews that I saw.
Because Albert Einstein was a well-known physicist, any story about him would interest me as a reader.

I am going to buy and read the whole book. I liked the concept, storyline, and plotline of this story. I liked the unexpected twist in the story. An angel visited Albert Einstein when he was six years old and sick.

I liked how his mother, Pauline Einstein, 26 years old, was so gentle and considerate with her son. She knew instinctively that it was time to call Dr. Klaus Weiss. Albert's father, Hermann Einstein, on the other hand, was also a concerned father, but he allowed his wife to handle the motherly duties of looking after their son. 
Angel Zerachiel assured Albert that an angel like him was a messager of light and an angel of healing.
 
Reading the first ten pages changed my mind from the original guess.

I would read the book because the writer wrote it beautifully. It was well-written, and the story telling was well-thought-out. I have nothing negative to say about the book up to the tenth page. I don't think anything needs improving. It seems perfectly written.

Based on what I read, the book seemed like it was professionally edited. I didn't notice any typos or errors.

What I liked most was the writing style of Grace Blair in the book "Einstein's Compass." It was written in an experienced way. I love it so much. In my opinion, the book is perfect. If the writer continues to twist the plot at the right moments, like (the angel aspect), I will enjoy every bit of the story. The angel brought hope to Albert's life and death situation.
 
The book had an official OnlineBookClub review that I saw, but this didn't affect my decision.

First Ten review added on March 13, 2022, at 3:27 pm by Rosemary Owolabi.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

Sanju Lali

739725
After reading the title of this book, I was under the notion that this is a science fiction book. I read the OBC official review of this book to know about the premise of the story. The OBC official review gave me the idea that this is a mystical fantasy book with elements of science fiction. This idea inspired me to read the first ten pages sample of this book. After reading the first ten pages, I realized that this book was not professionally edited because I found some grammatical errors in the sample. For example, the sentence, "Moses motioned for the men to follow him and they retraced their steps." The sentence could be as follows. "Moses motioned for the men to follow him, and they retraced their steps." I liked the courageous act of Raka of going alone to Aryan island and making a deal with General Tora-Tora-Fuliar. The naming of the characters and the places made me uncomfortable because it created confusion while reading. My suggestion to the author would be to go for a round of professional editing and make the book pleasurable to read by renaming the characters and places appropriately. Considering all the aspects of this book, I decided not to purchase and read this book today until the author helps me by considering my suggestion to make my reading pleasurable.

First Ten review added on March 13, 2022, at 1:17 pm by Sanju Lali.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Diana Lowery

1202329
The cover had a lot going for it and the title intrigued me. I probably would have picked this up to see what it was like. The blurb mentioned that Einstein would be a time traveler, and I liked that. The blurb also said that it was geared for grades 6-12. The OBC review mentioned the astral realm and mystical travelers, which I did not like, and I was convinced not to read the book. I did not like the description of Raka's transformation in the pages that I read. I noticed some inconsistencies in capitalization: The Temple of Light, the Spirit of life, the veils of Light, the priest of Light, etc. There was nothing about the book that I liked, so I am not going to finish reading it. I do not have any suggestions for the reader. I am sure that YA fantasy readers will enjoy this book.

First Ten review added on March 13, 2022, at 11:20 am by Diana Lowery.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Harsh Soni 3

2497648
After looking at the cover and title, the book seems like a non-fiction book about Einstein and his inventions that is one of my favourite genres. Then, I read the Official OBC review of the book (after that I don't need any other blurb or review) where I came to know that it is a mystical fiction related to the life of Einstein and other influential humans in the past that I, generally, don't read. So, I am going to pass this book because of the reasons mentioned above. But as we all know, everything has some positive aspects. After reading the sample, the author lined up historical events and characters so precisely that the reader will assume the fiction as reality. That is my favourite aspect about the book. I found no errors in the book. I have no suggestions.

First Ten review added on March 13, 2022, at 5:13 am by Harsh Soni 3.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Shrabastee Chakraborty

614426
I like YA fantasy books. Based on the official OBC review's rating and other available reviews, I intended to read this book. I found no errors in the first ten pages. They featured Raka, a fallen angel to whom the Temple of Light became closed. Driven by impulses, he deviated from his ancestors' path. I liked the author's fresh take and the way he revealed Raka's disdain for his uncle and twin. However, too many details at the very beginning made me feel overwhelmed. This was one area that could improve. Based on my reading experience, I decided not to read the book.

First Ten review added on March 13, 2022, at 4:40 am by Shrabastee Chakraborty.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Emy Katherine

94929
Without this program, I would not have read the book based on the genre, cover, title, and OBC review. I am not fond of fantasy novels, and sampling the book did nothing to change my mind. However, I appreciated the concise Amazon blurb and also noticed that the book had numerous customers reviews and editorial reviews. The story follows a young Albert Einstein who embarks on an adventure journey after receiving a magical compass as a gift that has the power to keep the world safe. As the story unfolds, four travelers will help Einstein protect the magical compass from a dangerous creature, Raka, who wants to use it for his evil purposes. The story was told from multiple perspectives by using a descriptive writing style. I was pleased that I was thrown into the action from the very beginning, but I noticed the book had editing issues. For example, it should be written "to make his move" in the following sentence: "Raka sensed the time was approaching for him make his move." (location 279 of 452 • 62%) It should be written "placing the palms of their hands on top of their feet" in the following sentence: "Starting with the figure on the right, Moses and his companions bowed low, placing the palms of their hands-on top of their feet." (location 314 of 452 • 69%) Other than another round of editing, nothing needs to be improved.

First Ten review added on March 13, 2022, at 4:35 am by Emy Katherine.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Verna Coy

1064106
After reading the sample I was becoming more confused by the minute on who was a dark character and who was a light character. Within the first few pages, I read what seemed to be character swaps. Some of them start out light and then are referred to as dark or seem to have dark thoughts. It became confusing right away and in the young adult genre, I don’t think the reader will follow it long enough to get into the storyline. In the long run, that is why I am not purchasing and reading this whole book today. The book seems professionally edited. I did not find errors in the sample I read. What I liked most about what I read was the lovely way that God’s garden was described. As a reader, I wanted to hear more about that.
As far as improvements, it seemed in the early section of the book that there were several information dumps that bogged the pace down considerably, so it would be an improvement to moderate or edit those down to a digestable amount of information for readers while still moving the plot forward.
I enjoyed the 4-star review written by the Online Book Club. I know that this book will appeal to readers who enjoy mysticism in very detailed plots and storylines.

First Ten review added on March 13, 2022, at 3:02 am by Verna Coy.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Ari Martinez

1624319
If it hadn't been for the First Ten program, I wouldn't have sampled this book based on its title, cover, genre, blurb, or Official OnlineBookClub review because I am not attracted to YA novels. I also don't tend to read too many fantasies/mystical novels. My favorite part of what I read was Raka's reaction when he examined himself after turning into a dragon. That was the first time I saw him as more than just a mystical "Prince of Light" I didn't really understand. After sampling the book, I didn't feel like learning more about Raka; therefore, I won't continue reading the book. I would have preferred to learn more about Raka's life before seeing him go to the Sons of Belial (but I understand the book isn't just about him). The book appears professionally edited, and I don't think it needs to be improved.

First Ten review added on March 13, 2022, at 1:53 am by Ari Martinez.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Vidhi Adhikari

2232380
The title and cover of this book are decent and seem to be in-line with the story. I was squite skeptical after reading the description since I was not on board with the idea of the scientific genius, Albert Einstein, in a fantasy fiction, despite the book having multiple positive customer and editorial reviews. My reservations were confirmed after reading the sample and I shall not be finishing this book as the writing seems to be quite complicated and I am not intrigued to know what happens at the end of the book. There weren't many errors that I came across while reading ('the angels became {remove 'as'} asleep to the Spirit within.') I did like the quote in the beginning by Einstein as it helped set a tone throughout the rest of the reading. I would suggest adding a scene with the scientist in the first ten pages so that the reader can get more comfortable with the idea of this genius in a fictional tale.

First Ten review added on March 13, 2022, at 1:42 am by Vidhi Adhikari.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Chinazo Anozie

1351397
I was intrigued with the title, cover, description, and the official OnlineBookClub review. Sci-fi fantasy is one of my favourite genres, and this book also has positive customer and editorial reviews. Reading the first few pages further convinced me to buy and read this book. I loved how the author chronologically explained the events with Raka in Atlantis, Moses in Egypt, Ezekiel, and then Albert. This book also seems professionally edited because I did not notice any typographical errors. I do not think anything needs to be improved.

First Ten review added on March 13, 2022, at 1:37 am by Chinazo Anozie.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

Gabriella H

2425845
I think the cover and the title are fitting, but when I read the title and saw the cover, I thought I wouldn’t want to read this book, as I thought it was a scientific book. However, I thoroughly enjoyed the OBC official review, and my opinion about the book was completely changed. I didn’t need to read any blurb, customer review, or editorial review after reading this lovely and well-written OBC official review. I also enjoyed the first ten pages, and I look forward to the impending battle between good and evil as Raka tries to steal the Firestone energy crystal from Albert Einstein. I will be completing this book, and I have no suggestions for improvements. I didn’t see any errors. If I weren't a part of this program, and I saw this book without reading any review, I wouldn’t have read it.

First Ten review added on March 13, 2022, at 1:19 am by Gabriella H.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

Rodel Barnachea

1816865
Upon poring over the title’s Amazon page and official OnlineBookClub review, I decided not to acquire the young adult science fiction novel. I am not fascinated by the supernatural power of the Shamir Stone. I am also not intrigued by how a dormant compass will change Albert’s life. I am not interested in learning if the mystical travelers will be able to protect Albert from Raka, a fallen angel of light. Reading its Amazon sample failed to change my mind. I would not purchase it because nothing in the text piqued my curiosity or convinced me I would enjoy perusing the remaining chapters of the novel. The first ten pages include the first ten pages of the section entitled “Prolog.” My favorite part is when the Aryan soldiers failed to detect Raka’s hidden vial. I was not able to identify any errors in the text. I believe the book is professionally edited. I have no advice to offer to the author.

First Ten review added on March 12, 2022, at 8:55 pm by Rodel Barnachea.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Hazel Arnaiz

1897704
The cover and title look like science fiction. The blurb talks about the adventures of a young Albert Einstein in a mix of fantasy and mysticism. Customer reviews are mostly enthusiastic. I seldom read young adult fantasy. Hence, I will skip this book outside the program. I appreciate that the book seems to revive interest in Albert Einstein. But sampling did not change my mind. I prefer reading the nonfiction version of his life story. For this reason, I will not finish the book. Here are some examples of editing issues.

Location 109. Grammar. Consider adding an article.

Throughout [] years, those attracted to the Temple of Darkness increased in number.

Location 324. Spelling. It seems that the hyphen does not fit in this context.

Starting with the figure on the right, Moses and his companions bowed low, placing the palms of their [hands-on] top of their feet.

I have no suggestions for improvement. Likewise, the official OnlineBookClub review is insightful. But I will skip this one.

First Ten review added on March 12, 2022, at 8:27 pm by Hazel Arnaiz.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Kaitlyn Canedy

1401101
If Einstein's Compass hadn't been the OnlineBookClub's book of the day, I would not have read the sample of it because I am not a fan of Einstein. His theories are better suited for people who like science and topics relating to it, and I do not fit the bill. The description and customer reviews on Amazon.com did not affect my decision to read the sample. I liked the description of Raka's transformation; the scenes were vivid and provoked the imagination. Because I am not a time travel fan either, I will be skipping this book. There were no grammatical errors in this title, and I cannot think of anything that needs improvement. An official OnlineBookClub review exists for this title, but I did not need to read it to make a decision. If a reader enjoys books with time travel and likes Albert Einstein, they may like this one.

First Ten review added on March 12, 2022, at 7:16 pm by Kaitlyn Canedy.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Jennifer Garcia 555

2026742
Based on the cover of this book, it appears to be historical fiction. I do not usually read this genre, so I would not pick this book to read. After reading an official OnlineBookClub review this book has an interesting idea. The review made me more interested in reading the sample pages. I read the sample pages and did not see any editing errors, so this book seems professionally edited. I liked how the main character turned into a dragon-like creature after drinking the vial. I have no suggestions for improvement. Readers that enjoy historical fiction and book that have religious themes would probably enjoy this story. I do not enjoy historical fiction books with religious themes, so I will pass on this book.

First Ten review added on March 12, 2022, at 7:07 pm by Jennifer Garcia 555.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Brenda Creech

1236408
I would not have checked this book out based on the cover or title because neither appealed to me as a
type of book that would interest me. While reading the OBC review, I didn't see anything that needed improvement. I found a few minor errors, such as this sentence at 47% of the sample: 'Could be this be from the dragon DNA he had ingested.' The 'be' after 'could' should be removed. Other than the few errors, the part I read was well written and well-edited. I found the piece I read to be a little confusing, but I tend to have that problem with all fantasy elements of a book. I think those who are fans of fantasy will enjoy this book, but I will pass on it, so I won't be buying the book today.

First Ten review added on March 12, 2022, at 6:07 pm by Brenda Creech.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

AntonelaMaria

1285898
I don't usually read sci-fi books, and time travel is not my favorite premise. So, just by that, I wasn't interested in reading this book. Other Amazon reviewers seem like they enjoyed it. There is also a helpful Official Onlinebookclub review. After reading the sample, I haven't changed my mind. While I like that the author used a real-life person, Albert Einstein, as a character in his story, I'm not curious enough to continue reading. There seem to be a lot of periods covered, judging by the sample. We get to see Egypt and Jerusalem before going to Switzerland. The author drew inspiration from mythology and religion. I like that. I noticed that on location 83 prologue is written as a prolog. I wouldn't change anything about the book.

First Ten review added on March 12, 2022, at 4:53 pm by AntonelaMaria.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

markodim721

2105861
I would choose to read a sample of this book because of the title and cover. I read customer reviews, Official OnlineBookClub, and the blurb but they did not influence my decision. Of the editor reviews, I would single out the one written by Diane Donovan because she pointed out the soul-searching element of the book and in that sense influenced my decision. The title of the book attracts attention because it contains the surname of a famous scientist. The cover of the book is well and appropriately designed and fits well with the title. I’m not going to read a book because I’m not in the mood to read books from the young adult historical fantasy genre right now. While reading the sample I did not notice any errors or typos and the book seems like it is professionally edited. Reading the sample did not change my mind from my original guess. I like the description of the carcasses of wild boar on the enormous marble altar because it seems authentic and as something appropriate to the era in which the event is set. I don’t like allusions to the Aryans and the Nazi SS organization, like Black Sun, and I think removing these elements could improve the book.

First Ten review added on March 12, 2022, at 3:34 pm by markodim721.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Yvonne Monique

1919118
The book cover has very attractive colours. However, as I am not particularly interested in Einstein, I would not pick this book up if I would see it in a bookstore. The customer reviews, blurb and OBC review all give a good description of the book and make me want to read the sample. The sample is well edited, but I found all the unfamiliar names a bit confusing. I also missed the connection with Einstein, although this will certainly show further on in the book. I tried to get into the story but unfortunately Raka's meeting with the general and colonels could not interest me enough. That is why I will not buy this book. I have no suggestions for improvement.

First Ten review added on March 12, 2022, at 3:33 pm by Yvonne Monique.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Kira Bonita Reece

2272578
Had it not been for this program, I would not have chosen to sample this book based on the cover, title, blurb, genre, editorial, and customer reviews. The reason for that is I don't enjoy reading supernatural stories. The sample was professionally edited and I liked how descriptive the scenes were. When Raka became a fallen angel, I could visualize everything that was taking place.

The official online book club review was well-written and the book needs no improvements. I think this book is perfect for people who enjoy this genre. Unfortunately, I won't be reading this one because I'm not a fan of supernatural and astrology stories.

First Ten review added on March 12, 2022, at 2:27 pm by Kira Bonita Reece.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda

712962
Just from seeing Einstein on the cover, my first thought was that I'm so science challenged that I don't need a "YA Time Travel Adventure," but a preschool version of this novel. Other than that, the cover is attractive and appropriate. The blurb is short but I think it explains enough to attract readers that enjoy (and understand) this genre. I'm not one of them. Though I've always enjoyed the combination of fantasy with actual historical events, the plot presented in the blurb seems too outlandish for my taste. Adding to this, the ratings for the book are mixed. Hence, I wouldn't have bought it based on my first impressions.
I didn't like the first ten pages at all. There's way too much description and little action or dialogue for me to hold my attention or be interested. Furthermore, these descriptions are incredibly abstract. For example,"The veils of Light that once surrounded the Angels of Light dimmed and the angels became as asleep to the Spirit within. The gross heaviness of fear descended around their bodies." The only thing that intrigued me was the use of the Aryan as an evil group, and that these people are "Seven feet tall, blond and blue-eyed." Are these the same Aryans that later on the Nazis idolized as a supreme race? I wonder, but I don't care enough to read the entire book. The first editing mistake I found is in position 118 where "cum" should be "come": "He and his cohort of four colonels had agreed to meet with the priest-scientist cum spy Raka." I suggest a second round of proofreading. The official OBC review didn't change my mind because the story is too outlandish and the narrative tone too dull for my taste.

First Ten review added on March 12, 2022, at 2:19 pm by María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Theresa Moffitt

857578
The cover of this book looks interesting. The image of Einstein and reference to Einstein’s compass piqued my interest in the story. I would have picked this book up based on the cover alone. The Online Book Club review that I read was very informative and recommended the book to readers. It noted that the story involves time travel and has unique characters. This increased my interest in the book. I didn’t read any additional customer reviews. The first ten pages introduce the character of Raka. He is described as a healer priest, and he has just stolen some DNA. He is young and handsome. From his inner dialogue, he is also ambitious and resents his uncle and brother for treating him like an errand boy. The first ten pages were well written and interesting. I didn’t see any errors, so I believe the book was professionally edited. I also didn’t see any area that the author could improve upon. Based on the first ten pages and the OBC review, I would like to finish reading this book.

First Ten review added on March 12, 2022, at 12:12 pm by Theresa Moffitt.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

Timothy Rucinski

697172
Since I often find myself browsing the sci-fi section of a bookstore, this cover would have caught my eye. It's a nice representation of Einstein's face with other softer images and warm colors. However, the cover states that this is a time travel book, and frankly, I'm tired of time travel books. Initially, I assumed that this book wasn't for me. Then I read the Official OBC Review and it didn't do much to convince me to read any further. I didn't read any other reviews or blurbs. After reading the first several pages, I was certain that this book was not in my wheelhouse. Besides the time travel element, I don't care much for the type of fantasy genre that features power crystals and dragons. There wasn't anything that I disliked other than the genre. What I liked the most was when Raka, following his metamorphosis into a dragon, actually reclined and sobbed, knowing that his change may be permanent. This was a nice touch that featured a softer emotional element to counter the hungriness of power. I believe that the book was professionally edited as I found no errors, and I have no recommendations or suggestions for improvement.

First Ten review added on March 12, 2022, at 12:00 pm by Timothy Rucinski.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Gabrielle Sigaki

1762417
Einstein's Compass by Grace Blair is a young adult book that brings some historical aspects from the life of Albert Einstein, but it also contains dragons and other mystical creatures, a mysterious compass, adventures, and a lot more. If I didn't sample this book, I wouldn't read it based on its Official OnlineBookClub review, its customer reviews, its blurb, and its genre since I'm not interested in young adult books based on history. The book's cover and title didn't affect my decision. After sampling it, I didn't change my mind and I won't read the entire book because of the reason I stated before. However, the book seems professionally edited, there's nothing to be improved in it, and my favorite aspect was the author's descriptions of the scenes since they were very detailed and complex, making the book resemble a movie. For example, in "Almost casually, he stretched out the reptilian claws at the end of his fingers and with a flick of his arm sliced open one of the warriors from chin to belt."

First Ten review added on March 12, 2022, at 11:31 am by Gabrielle Sigaki.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Bertha Jackson

1904023
I would have checked this book out because I enjoy reading about time travel, and the cover made it clear that it was about it. I did not understand the title until after reading the blurb that made it clear that the compass played a role in the book. The customer and editorial reviews did not influence my decision. The OnlineBookClub review made the book sound interesting. I liked the suspense in the first ten pages revolving around Raka’s deceit and betrayal. One of the things I dislike most about books is when they involve characters changing into dragons. Unfortunately, Raka did this after meeting with the Sons of Belial, which instantly turned me off. The first ten pages appear to have been edited by a professional editor, but I did find an error at 7% of the sample. “The veils of Light that once surrounded the Angels of Light dimmed and the angels became [as] (delete) asleep to the Spirit within.” The only recommendation I have for the author is to check the inconsistencies in the capitalization of “firestone.” I will not buy and read this book because of the dragon content.

First Ten review added on March 12, 2022, at 11:25 am by Bertha Jackson.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Total ~ 20%

Einstein's Compass earned a score of 20%.

In other words, out of the top-level reviewers who read at least the first 10 pages of this book, 20% 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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