The First Ten Focus Group Feedback for The Prophecy of the Heron: An AI Dystopia Novel
Because The Prophecy of the Heron 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 storyline centers around a dystopian world run by AI and controlled by mega-corporations. The central character, Kim, struggles to survive in this ruthless world after she is exiled under allegations of unsanctioned intimacy, which is apparently a crime. I found the plot to be quite interesting, and I would have read the book based on its blurb and title because I have already read the first part in the series. So, I'm already familiar with the basic premise. However, the cover page wouldn't have caught my attention if it wasn't for the program. I also went through the Amazon customer reviews, which were mostly positive. The book starts off with a basic overview of the dystopian setting. The author highlights the gender roles and the use of language in this world, which are structured to prevent individuality. I found myself engrossed in the part I have sampled so far. What I liked the most was the vivid description of the setting, whether it was the geographical details or the characterization. The author does a good job at summarizing Kim's background story, which landed her in District 33, without long-winded paragraphs or descriptions. The text seems to be well edited for the most part, and I would rate the book as professionally edited. I plan on reading the whole book based on what I have sampled so far and because I feel involved in the main character's story. I saw a useful official OBC review, but it didn't affect my final decision. There's nothing I would suggest for improvement.
First Ten review added on April 6, 2023, at 7:32 am by Ekta Kumari.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Ntokozo Joy Ndlovu
I would have read or sampled this book even if it was not part of the First Ten program. The title and cover were interesting, and the blurb added a hint of suspense into the mixture. The editorial and customer reviews called this an exciting book. In the sample, the protagonist is arriving at her new home after she has been exiled from the upper class life she was used to. The sample was very descriptive, which played a big role in the world building. I found no errors and nothing to dislike within the sample. The OBC review complimented how well written the book was, noting that it can be read as a standalone despite being a sequel. Having read the first installment, I was looking forward to reading the next one. After reading the sample, which has heightened my excitement in this series, I have decided to read the rest of this book.
First Ten review added on April 6, 2023, at 4:56 am by Ntokozo Joy Ndlovu.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Jeremie Mondejar
I sampled this book based on the title as a sequel to the book "Term of Service." I haven't read the first one, so I've already decided not to read this one. I like the explanation of the dystopian setting at the beginning of the book, as well as the warning. I don't like dark theme books such as sex and all kinds of violence. Though the book had a lot of reviews, it didn't affect my decision. I read the OBC review, which also noticed that the book has a heavy topic about violence. I don't see any errors or anything that needs improvement.
First Ten review added on April 6, 2023, at 4:54 am by Jeremie Mondejar.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Manang Muyang
This book is the sequel to "Terms of Service." I am not fond of science-fiction reads, so I would not have been enticed to look into this one outside of the program. As I worked through the sample, it was easy to grasp the workings of this dystopian world through Kim's eyes, even though I had not read the first installment. I liked that. However, I didn't think I could finish the book when the unprovoked violence started. I found only one error in the bit I read. At 87% of the sample, "Not much of friend" seemed to need "a" before "friend." I have no suggestions for improvement; I think sci-fi fans will find the book riveting. The official OBC reviewer took a star away for the poor dialogue, but I did not notice that in the pages I read. The review did not factor into my decision. I am just not a sci-fi fan and dislike unreasonable violence, so I will say "No" to the book. It would be good to mention that this is the second book in the series, though, to alert interested readers.
First Ten review added on April 6, 2023, at 4:54 am by Manang Muyang.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Gabriella H
The title and book cover didn't grab my attention. So, I wouldn't have sampled this book without this program. I became interested in it because it is the sequel to "Terms of Service." I like how easily the writing drew me into the story. Kim seems like an interesting character, and I'd like to see how she survives in District 33. I wonder what happened to Shan, though, since Kim was punished. The part where they were made to watch a socially uplifting video reminded me of George Orwell's "1984." I'll buy and complete this book. This decision was influenced by the prequel, the genre, the OBC official review, and the first ten pages. The OBC blurb, the customer reviews, and the editorial reviews didn't influence my decision. I didn't find anything to dislike in the bit I read. So, I don't have any suggestions for improvements. I believe the first ten pages were professionally edited because I didn't see any errors.
First Ten review added on April 6, 2023, at 4:31 am by Gabriella H.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Heidi M Simone
Without this program, I would not have sampled this book. Books in the science fiction genre, especially with AI, aren't ones that appeal to me. Therefore, the genre and blurb would not have piqued my interest. The positive OBC and customer ratings do not affect my opinion of the book. I didn't see any glaring errors while I read.
I am really enjoying the author's writing style as he describes Kim's exiled situation. The encounter with Mags and Luz was a bit exciting. On the other hand, I can't shake off the feeling that I'm missing something. This makes sense since this book the second book in the series. I realize that this book could technically be read on its own, but not understanding exactly where Kim is and why she is considered a "noob" is confusing to me. Due to the fact that I haven't read the first in the book, I do not plan on buying and reading today's book.
First Ten review added on April 5, 2023, at 10:52 pm by Heidi M Simone.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Shanesha Sammerson
The Amazon summary and OBC review piqued my interest and compelled me to peruse it. I had read the first novel in this series, so when I saw the title, I knew what it was about. I would not purchase it after reading the first ten pages because the book's sexual orientation does not appeal to me. I enjoyed Kim's predicament with the two thugs at the terminal when Ned came to her aid. I discovered no mistakes.
First Ten review added on April 5, 2023, at 10:08 pm by Shanesha Sammerson.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Hazel Mae Bagarinao
By its title, book cover, genre, blurb, editorial, and customer reviews, I'll read the whole book because it looks and sounds positive and interesting. I want to follow through with the characters since I read the first series of the book. I found no errors in the first ten pages. I like the amazing storyline and the intelligible writing skills of the author. Besides, there's no fault in the book; it was incredible. Yes, OBC reviews will help a lot in deciding whether to buy the book. If there are no reviews on OBC but I've seen many positive reviews on other platforms, I still want to grab the book.
First Ten review added on April 5, 2023, at 10:02 pm by Hazel Mae Bagarinao.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
OTrain Disene
The book cover at first didn’t elicit any interest from me. But after reading its blurb, I got interested because it now made sense. The title and cover would have made me choose this book, even if it wasn’t because of this First Ten programme. The book opens up with a character called Kim. Kim seems like a person with a lot of regrets. A lot has happened to her in the past. Now she is secluded. Sleeping with Shan seemed to have been one thing she was not allowed to do in this world run by Artificial Intelligence that went rogue. This is what I got from the bit I read. I liked how slow the pace was. This enabled the setting to be established quite well. Already it was filled with a lot of backstories that made the character of Kim interesting from the get-go. I also loved how the scenes were vividly captured with perfect descriptions. There is nothing I disliked about the bit I read. I am going to read it because I am interested in the theme of AI-dystopia, plus I want to see where Kim as a character will end up. I have no suggestions to improve anything, as I didn’t come across any errors. The official OBC review was very helpful in reaching my decision.
First Ten review added on April 5, 2023, at 7:14 pm by OTrain Disene.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Annelore Trujillo
I would not have sampled this book based on the genre, blurb, OBC reviews, cover, title, editorial reviews, or customer reviews. I don't often read science-fiction, and this book about an AI-run society didn't seem to be for me. After reading the first ten pages, I will be finishing this book. I was interested in how this society sent Kim out after she was intimate with her partner. I also thought the author did an excellent job discussing the gender used throughout the book. The links at the beginning for more information are another added bonus. There was nothing specific that needed improvement. The book did seem to be professionally edited; I didn't see any errors in the first ten pages.
First Ten review added on April 5, 2023, at 7:05 pm by Annelore Trujillo.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Donna Walker
I really like the cover. It makes me think that it is watching me! It looks completely different from Book 1, "Terms of Service." I really enjoyed the sample and found zero errors or areas for improvement in the first ten pages. I love Orwell's 1984," so this type of book really interests me and is something that I would have picked up to read without seeing it on OBC. I will read this for sure, but I will read book one first because that's how I like to do things, even though the official OBC review does say that this could be a stand-alone novel. I'm actually really excited to read on, but I'm going to be patient! "Terms of Service" first.
First Ten review added on April 5, 2023, at 3:44 pm by Donna Walker.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Mariana Figueira
If I wasn't part of the First Ten program, I wouldn't have read the book because nothing on the cover or the title got my attention. After sampling the book I don't want to continue reading it because the story didn't captivate me. I like the thought that went into worldbuilding, which shows in the glossary that the author provided, the thing with the pronouns... that's really cool. This book seems professionally edited, I didn't see any typos; plus, it has an official Online Bookclub review but that didn't affect my opinion about not reading the book. I didn't see anything that needed improvement.
First Ten review added on April 5, 2023, at 1:10 pm by Mariana Figueira.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Kelsey Roy
I was initially intrigued by the cover and title of “The Prophecy of the Heron.” The cover art is AMAZING. I love the symbolism of the cover art, and it’s beautiful. Additionally, I noticed that I read the prequel to this book and enjoyed the read. The genre is fantasy/science fiction, which I usually enjoy. I also read about AI dystopia in the author’s first book, which I enjoyed. The blurb and OBC got me excited to see where Kim’s banishment to the outer perimeter of society takes her mentally and emotionally.
I found no errors in the sample pages. I enjoyed this sample just as much as the prequel. It’s fascinating to see the change in life between the inner and outer circles of society. The increased freedom leads to danger, but I hope for more happiness for Kim. At least she finally got to eat a greasy burger! I found nothing to dislike in this book, I’m excited to read the entire thing! I have no recommendations for the author.
First Ten review added on April 5, 2023, at 12:25 pm by Kelsey Roy.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Sanju Lali
I liked Kim's talent in training Kimberly, a fifth order artificial intelligence. I learned that Kim and Shan were in an intimate relationship. The eye-catching cover and title influenced me to sample this book even outside The First Ten program. I found an editorial review in the book description and a few of customer reviews praising the book. The OBC official review influenced me the most to sample this book, apart from the cover, title, and genre of this book. When I read the sample, I learned that this book needs a round of professional editing because I found several grammatical errors. For example, the sentence, "For the last four hours, she’d managed to pretend that this wasn’t happening, that it wasn’t real, but all too soon she would be out on those rough and dangerous streets, alone and with no one to protect her." This sentence could have been as follows. "For the last four hours, she’d managed to pretend that this wasn’t happening, that it wasn’t real, but all too soon, she would be out on those rough and dangerous streets, alone and with no one to protect her." I could not visualize the scenes clearly because of the inadequate descriptions of the scenes. My suggestion to the author is to consider describing the scenes with adequate details for the average reader like me to visualize them clearly. I will not buy and read this book today until my suggestion is considered.
First Ten review added on April 5, 2023, at 9:27 am by Sanju Lali.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Vidhi Adhikari
The book makes a good first impression with its attractive cover design, straightforward title, detailed description, and multiple customer and OBC reviews. Since the book is about a dystopian world with AI, I was excited to read the sample. The OBC review spoke about the inspirational lead character, which piqued my interest. That said, I loved the simple writing style of the author. There were some minor grammatical errors, but nothing that would affect my reading experience (This novel is set in The AI Dystopia, a future society where freedom is dead {add comma} and artificial intelligence is the ultimate engine of oppression.). Unfortunately, since I do not have the required funds or a free trial in Kindle Unlimited, I will not be able to buy this book. I have no suggestions because had I been able to afford the book, I would have loved reading it.
First Ten review added on April 5, 2023, at 2:12 am by Vidhi Adhikari.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Rodel Barnachea
After reading the title’s Amazon page and official OBC review, I opted not to acquire the novel. I am not fascinated by what a dystopian world that is run by AI looks like. I am not intrigued by how Kim plans to survive after she was exiled to the vicious outer districts because of “unsanctioned intimacy”. I am not interested in finding out if the rebellion that is brewing would be successful in its goal to drastically change the world they currently live in. Perusing its sample did not change my mind. I would not purchase it because nothing in the text compelled me to pore over the rest of the title. The first ten pages cover the first ten pages of Chapter 1: District 33. My favorite part is when it was revealed that Kim was being punished because of her “unnatural sexual deviancy.” I could not note 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 April 5, 2023, at 2:02 am by Rodel Barnachea.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Pauline Parnell
I wouldn't have read the sample pages of this book even if I hadn't been a part of this program. The book's cover is unattractive. After reading the first ten pages, I wouldn't purchase and finish the book. "Terms of Service," another work, seemed to have a similar storyline. There were no obvious errors. I respect the author's desire to present a dystopian society, but it's too farfetched for me. I will pass on this one. The OBC evaluation was unduly favorable, but it had no bearing on my decision.
First Ten review added on April 5, 2023, at 1:43 am by Pauline Parnell.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Shrabastee Chakraborty
Had I not been a part of this program, I would not have read the book because of its genre. The premise, cover, OBC review, or other public reviews did not change my mind. I found a single error in the first ten pages (location 7%: 'had it to do over' should have been 'had to do it over'). The pages describe Kim's exile to a rough district following her lovemaking with Shan. Worse, she was imprisoned by her own AI. I loved how the author portrayed the oppressive nature of society and the helplessness of the characters. I had no suggestions for improvement. However, based on my genre preference and reading experience, I decided not to read the whole book.
First Ten review added on April 5, 2023, at 1:02 am by Shrabastee Chakraborty.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Hazel Arnaiz
The cover and title did not immediately suggest a dystopian AI story to me. The blurb did not sound intriguing enough. Also,I prefer standalone books, but customer feedback says that the book can be read independently. I read the first book in the series and am interested to see what happens to Kim's story. As a result, I'm going to try it outside of the program. After sampling, I enjoyed the vivid description and worldbuilding. The sample came to a conclusion that piqued my interest. But I'm not going to read about it this time. I'm not looking for dystopian stories right now. For the time being, I'll pass, but I'll add it to my reading list. I have no suggestions for improvement. Similarly, I encountered no editing issues with the sampled pages. The official OnlineBookClub review was helpful because it provided balanced feedback.
First Ten review added on April 5, 2023, at 12:12 am by Hazel Arnaiz.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Anna_Hernandez
Had I not been part of this program, I still would have sampled this book based on the author. I had previously read 'Terms of Service' and thought that it was amazing. Even if I had not known of the first book, the cover image would have caught my attention, especially on closer inspection of the details. After reading the first ten pages, I am certain that I will finish this book. I enjoyed how the descriptions of the obscure food and clothes were included in the first chapter. This book seems like it will give us a deeper look into the world-building within this reality, showing us how it truly runs and the necessary labour involved, perhaps. I did not find any errors in the first ten pages, and I see no room for improvement. Just like the first book, the author went above and beyond by using a mature vocabulary and excellent scene-building to give us a feel for what Kim is going through and what she is up against in her new 'reality' at the bottom. The official featured review of 'The Prophecy of the Heron' by Craig W. Stanfill on OBC did not influence my decision to read the book, as previously mentioned, I loved the first book, and the review conveyed the same points I would hope to see continued in the second book.
First Ten review added on April 4, 2023, at 9:46 pm by Anna_Hernandez.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Ari Martinez
If it wasn't for the First Ten program, I wouldn't sample this book based on its title, cover, genre, blurb, OnlineBookClub review, or other reviews because even though I do like science-fiction books, they are not usually my first choice, especially those that are about space wars or dystopian worlds. My favorite part of what I read was Kim's first-person narration. I liked getting to know her and seeing everything from her perspective instead of getting an all-knowing narrator. I also liked how easy this world was to understand – I was able to jump in and enjoy the story without having to crack my brain. After reading the first ten pages, I will not continue reading the book because it reminded me of another dystopian novel I've read before. I didn't find any errors in the text, and I don't think the book needs to be improved.
First Ten review added on April 4, 2023, at 9:06 pm by Ari Martinez.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Kajori Sheryl Paul
"The Prophecy of the Heron" is written by Craig W. Stanfill. After engaging in unsanctioned intimacy with Shan, Kim is sent to District 33. The rough and drab conditions of the place shocks Kim. Still, she decides to persevere. I like how Kim decided to outsmart the AI who was trying to schedule her medical appointment. Dani and Pug seemed great as well. There is nothing that I would change about this book. No errors are found. The OBC review and the reviews on Amazon are helpful. I would read this book based on the cover, title, genre, customer reviews, editorial reviews, and blurb as I had already read the previous book in the series. I will continue reading the book as I want to know whether Kim reunites with her friends and overthrow the AI regime.
First Ten review added on April 4, 2023, at 7:28 pm by Kajori Sheryl Paul.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Amy Luman
The editorial reviews that I found were good, and the customer reviews were pretty good, too; there were none with fewer than 3 stars. The cover is strange, and the title doesn’t seem to connect in any way with the previous book in the series. I will be finishing this because I read "Terms of Service" and really liked it. Science fiction is also one of my favorite genres. The OBC reviewer recommended it as well. I liked the part where Kim was being harassed by Mags and Luz in the bus terminal and Ned helped her, even if it was for Ned’s own benefit. I didn’t find anything that I didn’t like, and I found no errors. There’s also nothing that I would change.
First Ten review added on April 4, 2023, at 5:58 pm by Amy Luman.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Mayang Bature
I was impressed by the amount of detail used in this novel. A reader would understand the situation the author was attempting to portray after only a few pages. Kim's standard of living was reduced, which she explained by how she felt and the strange experiences she was now having. I would have loved to read this book if I hadn't been in this program. The description piqued my interest, and the official OBC review lauded it. I found no errors in what I read, and there was nothing I disliked about the sample I read. I plan to finish this book eventually.
First Ten review added on April 4, 2023, at 4:38 pm by Mayang Bature.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Nemanja Jankovic
Both the title and the cover of the book are intriguing; they evoke feelings of danger, and I would choose to read the book based on them. I read the blurb, the Official OnlineBookClub review, and the editor reviews, but they did not influence my decision. A customer review by user Soprano somewhat influenced my decision by pointing out that the character of Kim was better developed in the second book. I'm not going to read the book because I'm not in the mood for dystopian science fiction at the moment. I found no errors or typos, so the book appears to have been professionally edited. Kim's new building and apartment are described convincingly and in great detail. Nothing in the book, in my opinion, needs to be improved.
First Ten review added on April 4, 2023, at 3:45 pm by Nemanja Jankovic.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Chinazo Anozie
I knew I wouldn’t be interested in this book from the title, cover, description, genre, customer reviews, and the official OnlineBookClub review. I've read the first part of this book, and while I was impressed by the author's creativity, I already knew I wouldn’t buy and read the sequel because I wasn’t intrigued enough by the ending to find out what would happen to Kim and Shan. However, I appreciated that the author finally explained his use of “she/her” pronouns in the book as well as the “I/we” pronouns. This book seems professionally edited because I didn’t notice any typos. I don’t think anything needs to be improved.
First Ten review added on April 4, 2023, at 3:11 pm by Chinazo Anozie.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Abdul-Malik Hassan
I still would have read or sampled this book based on its cover, title, blurb, editorial reviews, and customer reviews regardless of my participation in this program. The first ten pages were great to navigate. However, I don't feel the need to purchase this book currently though it is something I might consider in the near future. There wasn't a single error to report in the first ten pages. This is a sequel of the book Terms of Service. I like the fact that I was able to relate to the concept. As far as the first ten pages are concerned, there wasn't anything negative to mention. This book has an official OBC review which contributed a lot to the overall experience.
First Ten review added on April 4, 2023, at 3:07 pm by Abdul-Malik Hassan.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Stephanie Runyon
I have read this book before as it is the sequel to Terms of Service. The amount of suspense surrounding how Kim will survive in District 33 is what appealed to me the most. She enters an apartment that is nasty and lacks appliances.I noted some errors. I am not fond of all the characters being female, and I believe it takes away from the character development. I know that Kim was actually a man and Shan was a woman. The OBC did not convince me to read the book. I did not read anything online to alter my decision. Since I already own the book, I am in favor of reading it. Error: She'd have been at the mercy of those-two thugs. Correction: She'd have been at the mercy of those two things.
First Ten review added on April 4, 2023, at 2:06 pm by Stephanie Runyon.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Bertha Jackson
I enjoy reading science-fiction books but do not like those about artificial intelligence, which the cover and title depict. The customer reviews, blurb, editorial reviews, and the OnlineBookClub review did not impact my decision. I appreciate the author’s character development skills that enabled me to sense Kim’s fear of being exiled to the worst place possible, District 33, because of her rebellion, of not having guidance from her headset, and her reaction to her horrible apartment that did not contain a refrigerator or housebot. I found it fascinating that fast food companies were still in business despite their unhealthy food. I found it humorous that Kim scheduled her gender realignment treatment for two years in the future. I disliked nothing about the first ten pages because I found no errors, and they appear professionally edited, other than the fact the story is about artificial intelligence. For this reason alone, I will not purchase and read this book. I have no recommendations for the author.
First Ten review added on April 4, 2023, at 2:04 pm by Bertha Jackson.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Nisha DSouza
I was displeased with the cover, and I think it could have been more attractive, like the prequel. The blurb was engaging and suspenseful. The official OBC review was quite descriptive and enjoyable. After Terms of Service, this was another book I was planning to read because of the reviews I had read on OBC. There were many positive Amazon customer comments. I sampled the book and liked the thrill and mystery of why Kim was exiled to District 33. The author has a unique style of creating these imaginative scenes, which are very much believable. That, I found, was the attractive feature of this book. Apart from the cover, I don’t think anything else needs to change. I will try to get and read the rest of the story soon. I found a couple of errors in the first ten pages; I have provided the details below.
Location 46 of 669
Error 1: She had known the consequences of unsanctioned intimacy and been warned that failure to correct her unnatural sexual deviancy could only end in ruin.
Explanation: It should be ‘and had been warned’ instead of ‘and been warned’.
Location 127 of 669
Error 2: She’d might as well give it a try.
Explanation: It should be ‘She might as well give it a try.’
First Ten review added on April 4, 2023, at 1:23 pm by Nisha DSouza.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Patty Allread
I was already familiar with The Prophecy of the Heron because I read about it in one of the OBC forums about Stanfill's earlier book, Terms of Service. Having read Terms of Service, I looked on the sequel's Amazon page to see what the second book was like. I like the cover art drawing of the heron featuring soft colors and a theme of nature contrasted by the cold, unnatural eye of the heron. Knowing this book was a sequel, the title hinted at a new storyline. The blurb didn't give much away. The editorial and customer reviews were positive; readers weren't disappointed with this sequel. I decided to purchase and read the book.
In the first ten pages, I loved that Stanfill jumped right into Kim's arrival in District 33 and the stark contrast between her former living situation and her new one. I liked the author's skill of telling the story through the eyes of Kim again in this book. Having already read the first book, this new chapter in Kim's life was meaningful. I'm not sure this book would be as fully enjoyable to someone who didn't read the first book. I didn't see any errors in the first ten pages that I read.
Having already purchased and read this book, I was interested to see what the OBC reviewer had to say. The OBC review was one that I'm sure will interest readers in this book. I'm noting below that I won't buy and read this book because I've already done so. I am a fan of this series and hope Stanfill writes more.
First Ten review added on April 4, 2023, at 1:10 pm by Patty Allread.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Olga Markova
But for the First Ten, I would have sampled and read this book regardless of the title, and the editorial and customer reviews because I like sci-fi and dystopia as a genre and the blurb suggests that this book is the sequel to Terms of Service. I absolutely loved Terms of Service and I wanted to find out what happened to Kim after she left the AI company and was deported to the outer district. Sampling the first ten pages, I enjoyed thoroughly my reunion with Kim and her adventures. I did not find errors and I have no suggestions for improvement. The OBC review was very informative, but it did not impact my decision whether to read this book because after reading Terms of Service I was determined to read the sequel. After reading the first ten pages, I bought and read the whole book because I loved the prequel and I wanted to read about Kim’s new adventures.
First Ten review added on April 4, 2023, at 12:18 pm by Olga Markova.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda
From the cover, I thought this was a book about Ancient Egypt. The premise seems socially relevant, and the book has high ratings, but since AI scares me, I would not have bought it based on my first impressions.
The first ten pages are flawless. They are funny (e.g., "Go ahead, nerd out. You know you want to!" ) and scarily relatable (e.g., "the social cohesion penalties assessed against anyone who ate at such establishments.") Doesn't Japan have penalties for obese people? I didn't find editing issues either. But they didn't change my mind because the topic scares me. The official OBC review didn't change my mind either. I suggest making the cover more suitable for the topic.
First Ten review added on April 4, 2023, at 12:02 pm by María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Sushan Ekanayake
The Prophecy of the Heron by Craig W. Stanfill belongs to the Sci-Fi/Fantasy genre, which I love to read. The title and the cover page intrigued me. The blurb revealed that this was the story of a girl named Kim who had to go through a lot after falling in love with someone she liked, which was a crime in her AI-controlled dystopian world. The editorial reviews and the customer reviews spoke highly of the book. Based on the above facts, I would have sampled this book even if I had not been a part of this program.
Then I read the first few pages, which included some guidance for the readers and the first chapter that described how Kim ended up in District 33, a crime-ridden slum. I appreciated the author's inclusion of an introduction and a glossary to understand this dystopian novel at the very beginning. However, the slow start of the book caused me to lose the initial interest that I had towards this book. So, I decided not to continue reading after completing the first ten pages.
I did not detect any errors or areas in need of improvement within the opening pages. Additionally, I found the official OBC review, which commended the book. Nonetheless, it was insufficient to change my mind.
First Ten review added on April 4, 2023, at 11:30 am by Sushan Ekanayake.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Diana Lowery
At first I was excited because I thought this was going to be a novel written by an AI, but then I realized it was just another sci-fi novel by Stanfill. The blurb did help to convince me to read the book. I was disappointed that I could not find an OBC review. The introduction made the book sound like 1984, and the character Kim sounded like the girl from that novel. I like that the author included "Terms of Service" in his narrative. I did not see any errors. I will continue reading the book because I like the AI references. I do not have any suggestions.
First Ten review added on April 4, 2023, at 9:11 am by Diana Lowery.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Total ~ 46%
The Prophecy of the Heron earned a score of 46%.
In other words, out of the top-level reviewers who read at least the first 10 pages of this book, 46% plan to read the whole book.
IMPORTANT: Any score over 10% is considered very good. And any score above 0% is acceptable.
Over a million books are published each year. Any given person could not even read .0001% of the books out there. This means readers have to be very selective. Even taking the time to look over reviews and blurbs, let alone read samples, is more time than most readers can afford for most books. The First Ten is a powerful focus group that addresses those issues. It creates a helpful tool for authors, publishers, and other readers.
Go to main Bookshelves page for The Prophecy of the Heron
