The Reviews Are In
- Samuel Freedman
- Jun 15
- 2 min read

Every author knows that book reviews can be the lifeblood of the success of their work. Whether success is measured by sales, critical acclaim, or something else, reviews play a very significant role. Particularly in the age of the eBook, reviews can be the primary reason a reader may choose one title over another. The synopsis is essential, the cover design critical, and marketing is necessary. But once someone clicks on a book, what drives their final decision to download it or not? Most often, it is likely the reviews.
As an unfortunate consequence, there are services available to authors that offer reviews for a price. In my view this is dishonest. I am constantly inundated with offers for these services, and it is off-putting. Amazon and other platforms have systems in place to verify reviews as legitimate, but they are not perfect. It is important when reading reviews to discern if it is clear the reviewer has actually read the book (and is not just re-wording the synopsis – often utilizing AI to do so).
Honest reviews are always appreciated, and they are never taken for granted. The first book in my “Venerable” series, “Venerable: The Price of Paradise,” garnered some positive reviews recently, and I humbly share excerpts from a few of them here. These are all from verified purchases on Amazon, and the full reviews can be found there.
“Fast paced… I loved the characters. There’s intrigue, a conspiracy, and a satisfying conclusion. Highly recommended.”
“I found the fascinating conclusion satisfying… Read Venerable for fun, but this world also gives you something to think about.”
“Hooked from the beginning. I love books that keep me engaged and guessing from beginning to end. If you want a book that will keep you reading and wanting more, this is the one to go to!”
“This is a page turner with an excellently crafted world.”
If you are a fan of social science fiction, I would be grateful for your feedback, as well. The “Venerable” series is available on Amazon and is free with Kindle Unlimited. Download here:
My new novel, “Revision: The Dawn of Awareness,” is completed and drops on amazon on July 1st. It can be pre-ordered here:
If you are so moved, please leave a review for “Revision,” when it is available.
As always, thank you to all my loyal readers, and to my future readers, as well.
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