The First Ten Focus Group Feedback for Orb
Because Orb 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.
Cjgarland89
I have sampled this book, and plan to eventually purchase and finish this book, but because I haven't finished the second book in this series I won't be able to finish this one right now. This sample was just as good as the first and second in the series. The author really did a great job with these books and the editing is flawless, no errors at all. This is a well written series with a gripping storyline, I look forward to what this one holds in the future. I look forward also to seeing an OBC review to help reinforce the decision.
First Ten review added on December 27, 2016, at 3:47 am by Cjgarland89.
jungkookblog
i think I would've read this book based on the cover and title because it seems like a great book! Since the first book seemed great too, I think this one would be too! I am going to buy the whole book because the plot sounds interesting, and since I liked the 1st book, this would be great. It seems professionally edited. I liked the details and there could be more. I did not see a review, and it hasn't affected my decision.
First Ten review added on December 27, 2016, at 3:09 am by jungkookblog.
CataclysmicKnight
I missed trying the second book of the series out, but I was really amazed at how uniquely and interestingly this one explores the concept of being trapped in one's own mind. It's dark and scary and philosophical and definitely has me hooked. I have a lot of reading to do before I finish this one (the first two books in the series at least), but I can definitely see finishing it!
First Ten review added on December 27, 2016, at 2:49 am by CataclysmicKnight.
AA1495
Had I not sampled the book, I wouldn't have read it. I generally don't read books with Vampires as characters. Having read the sample, I liked how the character's thoughts were described. However, I thought that there were many desciptions. The book seems to be professionally edited. I did not come across an Onlinebookclub review for the book, but I don't think that the absence of one affected my decision. Since I did not read the first two books in the series, I will not be reading this book further.
First Ten review added on December 26, 2016, at 10:49 pm by AA1495.
Kourtney Bradley
I've already became really interested in the first two books in this series, and from seeing how much praise thus author has received from the first book, I'm really interested. As with the first two books, I found no errors in the first ten pages.
First Ten review added on December 26, 2016, at 10:01 pm by Kourtney Bradley.
Gravy
Again, my reading of this is contingent on my reading of the first, and I have to get a physical copy, so it's likely to take awhile.
Sadly, though I like the samples of the second and third one, I don't like them as much as the first. Still good though.
There were, again, errors, but not many. They seem to be oddly obvious though, ones I would think would be easily found.
Beautiful cover, just like the others. I can't say I'll definitely read this.
First Ten review added on December 26, 2016, at 9:50 pm by Gravy.
Catherine Hsu
If I had not read the sample, I would have read the book. The cover is amazing, and the blurb seemed very interesting. However, I would have read the prequels first. After reading the sample, I have not changed my mind. The first chapter had a lot of what kind of felt like aimless rambling, but after that the novel seemed to speed up a little bit and I was drawn in. I really enjoyed the conversational writing style. It seemed professionally edited and I did not read an official review.
First Ten review added on December 26, 2016, at 6:22 pm by Catherine Hsu.
Heidi M Simone
The title, cover, and genre (fantasy) are all appealing to me. However, the blurb and the fact that I did not enjoy the first book leads me to believe that I would not enjoy this one. Based on what I read, the book does seem to professionally edited. I like how Eric seems like a likable character. However, as I said before, since I did not like the first in the series, I do not plan on reading the entire book.
First Ten review added on December 26, 2016, at 5:14 pm by Heidi M Simone.
Momlovesbooks
Knowing this was another book in the Nightlord series, I thought I would want to read it. I read the first few pages and found it to be as entertaining as the first two. The plot is interesting and the characters are unique and captivating. The book seems to be well-edited. I'll have to read this next book in the series.
First Ten review added on December 26, 2016, at 3:26 pm by Momlovesbooks.
Kdonegan91
Firstly, the cover caught my attention right away and the title is unique. After reading the first book in this series and sampling the second book, I am not a fan of this series. I do not like this particular genre. Even though this book seemed professionally written and edited, it did not hold my attention.
First Ten review added on December 25, 2016, at 11:36 pm by Kdonegan91.
L_Therese
Yesterday, I decided against purchasing the 2nd book in this series, so when I saw this one today, I knew I would not be buying it. So even though the first ten pages appear professionally edited and perhaps an inviting beginning, I won't be finishing this book today. The first one needs to definitively prove itself to me before I will consider buying further volumes in the series.
First Ten review added on December 25, 2016, at 11:34 pm by L_Therese.
Vermont Reviews
Nightlord Orb by Garon Whited today's Christmas book of the day. I thought it was a good read. I was disappointed by the reader reviews. I thought that they were quite harsh. Some of my favorite lines from the preview. "There is no sleep in a nightmare." I think that the readers should learn to do the Panicked Pogo Stick Stomp. Garon Whited could teach them a thing or two. Another line that I did enjoy. "Magic is the art of moving one's will to alter the world." Again Firebrand and Bronze come to the rescue. One more line. "When a professional magician decides to block your way, it's a serious obstacle. Tort is an extremely serious magician. Based on the preview I would have purchased the book. Right now my reading schedule is overbooked. I will not be downloading the book.
Vermont Reviews
First Ten review added on December 25, 2016, at 7:01 pm by Vermont Reviews.
bookowlie
The cover artwork captured my interest, although I think the review excerpts and stars should not be so "in-your-face." The summary appears to be professionally edited and has a natural flow. I enjoyed reading the sample pages even though I don't generally care for vampire/fantasy books. The author has a nice, conversational writing style with an intelligent, sly wit. That being said, I like to read series books in order and I don't want to read the first two books. They are too long for my taste and the genre is not my cup of tea. This book would be a good fit for those who like reading fantasies and don't mind very long stories. However, I am going to take a pass on this one.
First Ten review added on December 25, 2016, at 4:37 pm by bookowlie.
Rachel1019
I enjoy the cover of this book. It is creepy and mysterious and definitely makes me want to know what this book is about. I loved the first book in this series. I have already downloaded and would love to start reading the second book of this series. Then I would like to move on to this book and read it. I have enjoyed the novels so far, and I don't see that changing any time in the near future of the series. I am so glad that there are three of these novels out right now. I can't wait to read them all.
First Ten review added on December 25, 2016, at 4:23 pm by Rachel1019.
Annelore Trujillo
I would not have sampled this book based on the genre, title, cover and blurb. I didn't read the first two books, so I was not really interested in reading this one. After reading the first ten pages, I will not be finishing this book. I couldn't get interested in it as I was reading. This book just isn't my style. It does seem to be professionally edited.
First Ten review added on December 25, 2016, at 2:26 pm by Annelore Trujillo.
CrescentMoon
I like the cover of this book. The eye is very chilling and captures the vibe and tone of this book from what I've read of the blurb. I do find the blurb interesting but I don't think I would've pick it up if not for this program. I've read similar books. After reading the first ten pages, I don't think I will read the rest mostly because this is the 3rd book in the series and I have to be in the right mood to read long books like this.
First Ten review added on December 25, 2016, at 12:31 pm by CrescentMoon.
Sarah_Khan
At first glance, the cover art immediately caught my attention. The blurb is also written very well, it made me excited to start reading.
After reading the first ten pages, I can say that this book is very well-written and professionally edited. The story is interesting and different. The only reason I will not be buying this book today is because I have not read the first two yet, but I will add this series to my to-read list.
First Ten review added on December 25, 2016, at 11:59 am by Sarah_Khan.
jamesabr
As I stated with my short review of Nightlord: Shadows, I am going to eventually read this book after reading Sunset for the Book of the Month club. Reading the first ten pages didn't change my mind; it increased my interest in the series. Just as the first ten pages of Shadows included a character awakening in dirt and grime, Orb has the same scenario. This isn't a bad characteristic. In fact, it piqued my interest. I ended up asking: How many times will this happen? Is this character the same one from the start of Shadows, Halar (or whatever he goes by later in the story)? There were no typos that I can identify. I like the start of this book for the speculation over "the Truth" in the Prologue, and I look forward to reading past Basement.
First Ten review added on December 25, 2016, at 11:10 am by jamesabr.
MarisaRose
I have previously read the first book in the series "Sunset" and I am currently reading "Shadows" (which I purchased yesterday as part of the BOTD). Until yesterday, I never realized there was a second or third in the series, I was very excited to learn about both of these book! I am about halfway through the second book and am enjoying it just as much as the first; that being said, barring any odd circumstances, I will definitely be reading "Orb" as well. I have already purchased it as part of today's BOTD. I have chosen not to preview the first ten pages as I do not want to spoil anything that from the ending of "Shadows."
First Ten review added on December 25, 2016, at 10:52 am by MarisaRose.
gali
As I didn't finish the first book, I won't read this one as well. Reading the sample didn't change my mind. I just didn't connect to the tale. This book started with too many self-reflections and it failed to grab me. Also, to understand what is going on, one has to read the other two books in the series. As I have not read them, I won't read this one as well. I didn't see any official review, but it didn't affect my decision either way.
First Ten review added on December 25, 2016, at 10:23 am by gali.
Total ~ 40%
Orb earned a score of 40%.
In other words, out of the top-level reviewers who read at least the first 10 pages of this book, 40% 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 Orb
