The First Ten Focus Group Feedback for Key to Eternity
Because Key to Eternity 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.
Rodel Barnachea
After I pored over the book's official OBC review and Amazon page, I opted not to purchase the mystery thriller. I did not find myself interested in the novel's premise, which is about Maro Gaido tracking the seven Mesopotamian clay tables that were stolen. I am also not interested in learning about how those clay tables hold the secret to immortality or if Gaido would be able to retrieve those artifacts. Perusing its Amazon sample failed to change my mind. I would not purchase it because nothing in its Amazon sample compelled me to read the rest of the story. Other reasons stated above also play a significant role in my decision. The first ten pages contain a prologue, the first chapter, and some pages of the second chapter. My favorite part is when Michael said that the large snake spotted by Endora is harmless unless they are a rat. I identified one minor error in the first chapter in which a letter is capitalized when it seems that it should not be capitalized: "As CEO of the recently re-organized RAce [Race] Energy Corporation, Derrick..." The error is minor, so I still believe the book is professionally edited. I suggest the other correct the said mistake.
First Ten review added on July 6, 2021, at 4:59 am by Rodel Barnachea.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Ann Ogochukwu
I wouldn't have sampled this book outside this program because it didn't catch my interest. The title had me thinking it was a spiritual book, and I didn't fancy the cover. The OBC review, however, clarified me on what the book was about, missing artworks.
Although I enjoyed the sample of this book, it didn't intrigue me enough for me to want to complete the book. I liked the book's descriptivity, for instance how vividly Rarian's "environmental destruction" collection of artworks was described. I also liked Epiphany's family's excited banter about the skin-shedding snake.
I didn't notice any error in the bit I read, so I believe this book was professionally edited. I don't think this book needs any improvement.
First Ten review added on July 6, 2021, at 4:59 am by Ann Ogochukwu.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Jeremie Mondejar
I'm quite puzzled at the cover photo. The prologue is very monotonous for me, but the scenario on the snake makes me laugh. I read the OBC review for me to have an overview of the book, and it really helps. I don't like to read books in this genre because I don't like bloody scenes. When in terms of editing, I noticed sentences in fragment style. I don't like to read books with so many fragments. I recommend to avoid fragments sentences. I don't like anything in the book.
First Ten review added on July 6, 2021, at 4:58 am by Jeremie Mondejar.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
va2016
The cover that shows an archaeal lock, and the title "Key to Eternity" indicate that the book is about some mystical topic. There are only 2 Amazon customer ratings. The Amazon summary indicates that the story is about psychic aspects. As I am intrigued by the Amazon summary, I would have sampled the book even if not for the First Ten program. As I sampled through the book, I found the narration describing Rarian, an art collector, enjoying his drink in the balcony of his penthouse. As I got very interested with the narration and the overall theme of the story, I am going to read this book in full. I found the sample professionally edited. There were no grammatical or mechanical errors. What I liked most about the book is its awesome narration. I don't have any recommendations for the improvement of the book. Although I found 2 OBC reviews of the book, my decision to read the book in full is based on my own sampling.
First Ten review added on July 6, 2021, at 4:57 am by va2016.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Rayah Raouf
I would not have chosen to sample the book because of the cover. It doesn’t look well-made so I know I would have avoided it. Although, the genre is something I might be interested in. I will not buy and read the whole book. The premise of the book sounds interesting; however, I did not find myself wanting to continue reading. The way the book opened up was pretty cool, especially about the snakes. I noticed no grammatical errors in the sample. Therefore, the book seems to be professionally edited. I like the small exert found before Part 1 starts. I love reading those and finding connections in the book. I cannot think of any improvements to be made. There was an official OnlineBookCLub review. However, I still do not want to read the book.
First Ten review added on July 6, 2021, at 4:38 am by Rayah Raouf.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Shrabastee Chakraborty
The title and the cover were intriguing. However, based on the official OBC review that mentioned lack of adequate suspense, I wouldn't have read this book. While sampling the first ten pages, I did not find any errors. The pages describe a fugitive who's trying to escape the jurisdiction of the USA. His collection of rare and famous artefacts is also described. I liked the foreshadowing where the author alludes to his shady past. As suggestions for improvement, I would say the detailed descriptions of the art pieces and their pricing, while imperative to the storyline, slowed down my pace. Based on the review and my reading experience, I would not read this book.
First Ten review added on July 6, 2021, at 4:01 am by Shrabastee Chakraborty.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Mutai Marshal
The cover page and title hinted at this book containing supernatural themes. Since I don’t find the theme appealing, I wouldn’t have read this book outside the First Ten program. My favorite aspect of the sample was the immense use of dialogues. They give the book a fluid flow and provide a glimpse of the panic that ensued in the household when Maddie discovered a snake shedding. I didn’t flag any grammatical errors, and I believe the book was exceptionally edited. From the sample, I didn’t find anything worth improving. Lastly, I will not complete reading this book because I am not a mystery enthusiast.
First Ten review added on July 6, 2021, at 3:15 am by Mutai Marshal.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Ekta Kumari
The book revolves around the secrets of an artefact that is rumoured to be connected to immortality. The storyline follows Epiphany and an art theft detective as they race against time to uncover the artefact and reveal age-old secrets. I wouldn't have read the book as I didn't find the blurb intriguing enough. However, while sampling, I did like how the story unfolds at a slower pace, creating enough suspense and intrigue for me to stick to the sample. The things I liked the most while sampling are definitely the slow-building suspense and the elaborate details offered by the author in most of the scenes. I didn't find any editing errors in the portion sampled. So, I would rate the book as professionally edited. I did see an official OBC review. However, I won't be reading the whole book as I don't think I'll enjoy it, and I'm not much into archaeology and the themes related to it. I do not have any recommendations for improvements based on the read so far.
First Ten review added on July 6, 2021, at 1:29 am by Ekta Kumari.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Manang Muyang
There's an Indiana Jones vibe to the title and cover, and the blurb confirms it. As an Indy fan, I would have sampled this book outside of First Ten. The sample was a slow burn, though, and didn't reveal any real action yet. I also found at least ten errors; I hope the author can address those. Some of the more serious errors follow: At 29% of the sample, "I also want to thank al those who personally helped me" misspelled "all." At 60%, "definitely a in a museum" needed to lose the first "a." "He gave her a striken look" at 84% should have used "stricken." I did learn a lot of interesting trivia; one is that elderly cats could get diabetes! I won't read the rest of the book, as it's the second in the series. I'd rather start with Book 1. The accompanying OBC review gave the perfect rating, but it didn't move me to reconsider.
First Ten review added on July 6, 2021, at 1:01 am by Manang Muyang.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
smolbird
I would have sampled this book outside of the program because the title and cover sounded mysterious. It also looked like the book would be about constellations or magic, which interests me. Based on its sample, I can say that the book seems to be well-edited, as I didn't notice any errors. While I liked that Epiphany seems to have psychic powers, the sample failed to grab my interest. I don't have any suggestions for improvement, as I didn't particularly dislike anything about the book. I simply did not feel invested in the book even after reading the sample. I read its official OBC review, but it doesn't affect my decision.
First Ten review added on July 6, 2021, at 12:45 am by smolbird.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Sou Hi
If it's not for this program, I wouldn't read this. The official review from OnlineBookClub is alright, but the blurb isn't interesting. There are not many ratings on Amazon, and the plot sounds typical. The sample begins as Epiphany, a psychic detective, keeps dreaming about the scene of Gilgamesh and the shedding snake. With the help of her friend, she also finds out that Maro Gaido will be involved in this case.
I like the details about the Epic of Gilgamesh. Still, I would suggest another round of editing. Besides, the story isn't suspenseful enough to pique my interest. Thus, I won't buy this book.
Error example: It is, In fact, the story of who we are as individuals and as cultural communities. -> "In fact" shouldn't be capitalized.
First Ten review added on July 5, 2021, at 11:55 pm by Sou Hi.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Justine Ocsebio
I would have sampled this book based on the blurb, as I was interested in the premise. I like how intriguing the prologue is. The man in the prologue, Rarian, is an art collector and curator. He makes money out of distributing artifacts to different auction houses all over the world. But there is one artifact that holds the secret to immortality, and Rarian wants to find it. I’m going to read the book, as I’m curious about the premise. I disliked nothing, and I didn’t see anything that needed improvement. The text is well edited. The official OBC review affected my decision.
First Ten review added on July 5, 2021, at 8:23 pm by Justine Ocsebio.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
MsH2k
The cover was intricate and matched the blurb well. I would not have sampled this book if I were not part of this program. The mystery sounded intriguing, but it’s not my cup of tea. The writing in the sample pages allowed me to picture each scene vividly. The penthouse sounded decadent, and Epiphany seems to have a lively multi-generational household. It was also interesting to “witness” the snake shedding its skin. I appreciated the writing, but I’m not interested in getting involved in this international mystery. The featured OnlineBookClub review was thorough, but it had no bearing on my decision. I did not notice any grammatical errors in the sample pages, and I have no suggestions for improvement.
First Ten review added on July 5, 2021, at 5:49 pm by MsH2k.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Sarah_Khan
I'm not really a fan of the cover of this book, it looks like a PowerPoint presentation. For this reason, I probably would not have sampled it without the First Ten program, but I do like the title. The first few pages seem well edited. It was devastating to read about the theft of countless irreplaceable artifacts and important pieces of history, I definitely sympathized with Epiphany. The OBC review was mostly positive, but the reviewer did mention that the ending was disappointing. I also did not realize this was the second book in a series. Even if this book can be read as a stand-alone novel, I will have to read them in order. So, for this reason, I will not be reading the rest of this book. My one suggestion for the author is to update the cover of this book to make it seem more professional.
First Ten review added on July 5, 2021, at 1:30 pm by Sarah_Khan.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Chelsy Scherba
I like how the first few chapters introduce different aspects of art, like the tablets of Gilgamesh and the art pieces rumored to be in Japan that the wealthy penthouse owner hopes to collect. The editing and writing appear flawless without any errors. I like the cover and the premise is interesting. I’m not really a fan of the genre though. I tend to gravitate more towards nonfiction, so I would not have found this book outside of the program. I have no suggestions for improvements. The review was also positive and gave a good overview of the content. However, I think I’ll pass for today because I’m not in the mood for this type of novel.
First Ten review added on July 5, 2021, at 12:51 pm by Chelsy Scherba.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
gen_g
Based on the title and cover, it seems like a piece of thriller fiction. This is not a genre that I'm looking for; hence, I would not sampled it. I did read a positive OBC review of the book, but as I'm not looking for thriller/crime fiction at the moment, my decision not to sample it would not have changed because of the OBC review. After sampling, there are a couple of errors present. At 1% in the sample, the word "penthouse" in "...balcony of the third-storey Penthouse" is wrongly capitalised (it is not a proper noun). I suggest more editing to improve the book quality. However, what I like about the story is that the author takes the time to include descriptions of the things and objects around the narrator, which draws a clearer picture for the reader, who will then be able to better visualise what is going on. To illustrate, Derrick Rarian, the CEO of the RAce Energy Corporation, has decided to relocate to his penthouse in the Bay of Kotor – he was forced to purchase a place there, in a country which has no extradition treaty with the USA, because he was involved in what seems like some rather dirty business in Ohio. He had inherited this penthouse some time ago from a relative, but he had not used it until the incident in Ohio. He also has installed his personal art collection in this place, where all the art has a common theme: environmental destruction. In order to further improve book (in addition to rigorous editing due to the numerous errors present), I would suggest that the author also include a few explanatory footnotes to the various geographical locations and people mentioned, especially in light of the foreword where the author explains her motivation to write this book to inform readers of the importance of preserving humanity's collective culture and history. An example of such a term that would require an explanatory footnote would be "Venetian Black Guelphs" – I don't think this is a common term, hence the need to include a short explanation. Regardless, due to the numerous errors present (which detract from reading flow) and that I'm not in the market for mystery/detective fiction, I will not be buying the book today.
First Ten review added on July 5, 2021, at 11:11 am by gen_g.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Mariana Figueira
Before sampling the book's first pages, I wasn't interested in it because nothing in the cover nor the title got my attention. Unfortunately, nothing in the sample of the book got it either. I enjoyed the descriptions of Derrick Rarian's art collection, and I like the names of the characters, especially Derrick Rarian and Epiphany. This book seems professionally edited and has an official Online BookClub review. There was nothing in particular I disliked of thought that needed improvement.
First Ten review added on July 5, 2021, at 11:11 am by Mariana Figueira.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Melisa Jane
I wouldn't have read this book based on its cover because I find the color of the cover dull. Even after sampling it, I won't finish reading it because I find the author's vocabulary strange. For instance, he uses words such as "luminescent" and "pastel." Although there's nothing grammatically wrong with their usage, I feel like this book will send me to the dictionary more frequently than usual. I liked the storyline. I'm curious to know what happened in Ohio that forced Derrick to move to a place outside the jurisdiction of US law. Lightening up the vocabulary in this book will make it more enjoyable. I didn't find any grammatical errors while reading. This book has an official OBC review that I saw.
First Ten review added on July 5, 2021, at 11:11 am by Melisa Jane.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Gabrielle Sigaki
Key to Eternity by Mallory M. O'Connor is a fiction book that focuses on the theme of art. It brings crime, mystery, adventure, and a lot more. If I didn't sample this book, I would read it based on its Official OnlineBookClub review because I'm interested in books that approach the theme of art. After sampling it, I didn't change my mind and I will read the entire novel since I enjoyed the book's theme and because I loved the arts' descriptions, these descriptions were my favorite aspect in the sample since they were detailed and filled with the characters' impressions and feelings. Besides, the book seems professionally edited and I also think there's nothing to be improved in it.
First Ten review added on July 5, 2021, at 10:59 am by Gabrielle Sigaki.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Jorge Leon Salazar
The sample focused on the character Epiphany Mayall who possesses the abilities of a medium. She has visions. This time she has one that is associated with the Baghdad Museum and a valuable historical artifact. In what I read, it mostly tells about Epiphany and her family. The plot seems to focus on the Mesopotamian artifact of which she has visions. It is associated with The Epic of Gilgamesh and a magical plant of immortality. I find the proposed plot clever as a way to denounce the looting of the Baghdad Museum during the 2003 American invasion. I find this subject interesting, and the addition of clairvoyance makes it attractive but takes it to the genre of fantasy or paranormal. It contrasts a bit with that serious subject. The official review highlights the plot around the FBI Maro Gaido. He has been searching for a long time for the stolen artifacts. Ultimately, he decides to try Epiphany's psychic abilities. The cover and title are fully in line with the content as they refer to the artifact that supposedly holds the key to eternity. I consider potential readers would be drawn to this work. The editing seems adequate although I did notice some details. For example, at 44% of the sample, it says "Definitely a in a museum, but where?" there seems to be a wrong "a" before "in." Plus, at 79% of the sample, it says "striken look." It appears it should be "stricken look." Although the story and the plots are ingenious, they did not completely capture me. The subject of historical art is not my favorite, so I think I will not read the rest of the book.
First Ten review added on July 5, 2021, at 10:02 am by Jorge Leon Salazar.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Howlan
I would have read this book without the program. The first ten pages were good. It starts with Maddie and her grandmother Epiphany who discover a snake shedding. Soon she gets a premonition at night which shows the military looting the Bagdad Museum. I understand and appreciate the concept of this story. The narration is nicely paced and easy to understand. The story seems interesting and I have a great appreciation for mystery thrillers. So, I am going to buy and read this book today. No typos were found in the first ten pages. I found nothing to improve in the first ten pages. The Official OBC review is present, and the reviewer rates it highly.
First Ten review added on July 5, 2021, at 3:10 am by Howlan.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
J_odoyo
Key to Eternity by Mallory M. O’Connor seems to have been well written. Having read the first ten pages, I can confirm that the book’s sample is riveting. The praise section, prologue, and a section of part one I read were all impressive and adorable. The book had an official OnlineBookClub review, which gave an insight into what the book is all about. I think the cover page, just like the title, was attractive. But since I don’t shop based on cover page or title, that could have been no big deal to me. The sample was well-edited, and I didn’t encounter any objective error. I would wager that the book was professionally edited. The book’s description on the Amazon website also served its purpose well. After reading the sample and the OnlineBookClub review, I’m not going to finish reading this book; I’m not a fan of this genre. Sincerely, I wouldn’t recommend anything for the improvement of this book.
First Ten review added on July 5, 2021, at 3:02 am by J_odoyo.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Vishnu Priya B
The cover and title are not so eye-catching. I didn't think this was a mystery-thriller book until I read the official Onlinebookclub review. Seems like some kind of non-fiction book. If I didn't sample the book for OBC, I probably, wouldn't have purchased this book. But this is just the first impression. From what I had read in the sample, this novel seems professionally edited. Besides the premise is interesting. However, I'm personally not into psychic powers and visions. The mention of those things in the very first chapter put me off immediately. Therefore, I won't be purchasing Key to Eternity.
First Ten review added on July 5, 2021, at 2:15 am by Vishnu Priya B.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Ari Martinez
If it wasn't for the First Ten program, I wouldn't sample this book based on its title, cover, or Official OnlineBookClub review because I usually try to avoid reading series, even of the books can be read as standalone. After reading the sample, I will not read the rest of the book because it failed to capture my attention. My favorite part of what I read was the prologue. I thought it was intriguing - I wished the rest of the sample would have continued from Rarian's perspective. The book doesn't seem to need improvement. In the acknowledgements, the word "in" should not be capitalized in the following sentence: "It is, In fact, the story of who we are as individuals and as cultural communities." (Location 151).
First Ten review added on July 5, 2021, at 2:15 am by Ari Martinez.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Verna Coy
I probably would not have chosen this book because the cover doesn’t capture my interest right away. I also avoid literature that includes aspects of war, so I don’t plan to purchase and read the whole book. That said, I know that readers who like mystery will enjoy this novel. What I liked most about what I read was how the early part of the book sets the scene for the whole novel, although the psychic visions that Epiphany had seemed a little odd and out of place to me. Although the Online Book Club mentioned a handful of errors in the book, I didn’t see any in what I read, so it seems professionally edited to me. As far as improvements, I could find nothing that needed a lot of attention. The characters seem relatable and the plotline works.
First Ten review added on July 5, 2021, at 12:43 am by Verna Coy.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Dzejn_Crvena
Based on the cover, title, genre, and blurb, I was unsure whether I'd read this book outside the program. The descriptions were vague to me. I sampled it, and I seemed to like the writing style. I also liked the family bonding of the characters, and I learned a bit about snakes. I haven't read anything like this before, so I'm intrigued about Mesopotamian history and artifacts. I don't have a suggestion for improvement because the book seems professionally edited, and I haven't found errors. The OBC review convinced me to read or buy it because the plot may contain an adventure.
First Ten review added on July 5, 2021, at 12:37 am by Dzejn_Crvena.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Sanju Lali
It was apparent to me from the cover and the title that this book has a fantasy story loaded with mystery. So, I considered reading the OBC official review of this book to know more about the premise of the story. The OBC official review gave me the idea that this book focuses on a private investigator who is tracking the stolen artifacts from the Baghdad Museum. This information motivated me to read the sample of the book before purchasing it. When I read the first ten pages, I realized that this book is not professionally edited because I found some grammatical errors in the sample. For example, the sentence, "But one of the snakes had also grabbed the plant in its mouth and appeared to be trying to take it from the man’s clenched fingers...". The sentence could have been, "But one of the snakes had also grabbed the plant in its mouth, and it appeared to be trying to take it from the man’s clenched fingers...". The thing l liked the most in this book is the scene of a serpent shedding its skin. I was fascinated with the idea of linking immortality with a snake shedding its skin. My suggestion to the author would be to go for a round of professional editing and make the book look a bit more perfectly finished. After looking at all these facts, I decided to purchase and read this book today because I am eager to know more about the clay tablet showing King Gilgamesh with the plant for immortality.
First Ten review added on July 4, 2021, at 11:47 pm by Sanju Lali.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Scerakor
After reviewing the title, genre, cover, blurb, and review of this book, I would not have read this book. I'm not interested in reading a book based on the invasion of Baghdad. 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 really enjoyed the description of how enamoured the kids were with seeing the snake and seeing it shed; the descriptive writing was excellent. That being said, I'm just not interested enough in the topic at hand in this historical thriller to read the rest of it and pay for it. The book looked well written and edited since I didn't see any grammatical errors in the sample I read. From the sample that I read I would have changed how ellipsis were used. At the end of the first chapter an ellipsis is used with a space on both sides, whereas I would have expected just one side of the punctuation to have a space. There was an official OBC review, but it did not affect my decision at all.
First Ten review added on July 4, 2021, at 9:17 pm by Scerakor.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Diana Lowery
Since I already have the key to eternity, the title did not interest me. The cover looked supernatural, which did not interest me. The OBC review said that the book was like a "cool, delightful lesson in art history," which sounded nice. The Amazon blurb mentioned that the psychic detective was named Epiphany, which sounded cheesy, but after reading the first ten pages, I was impressed with the author's talent, which wasn't cheesy at all. I decided to not read the book because while I was searching for a free sample, I discovered that the book was listed as occult fiction on one website. I enjoyed the scene where the snake is shedding its skin. I don't have any suggestions for the author. My only dislike is the supernatural, occult theme of the book. I did not see any errors.
First Ten review added on July 4, 2021, at 6:52 pm by Diana Lowery.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Kelyn
If I had not been a member of this program, it is unlikely that the genre or author would have led me to pick up this book. The mystery genre is not one I generally read, and I am unfamiliar with the author, so neither of those would have affected my decision. However, the title and cover have a definite sci-fi/fantasy feel, and those are genres I enjoy. Had I come upon the book without knowing it was a mystery, I may well have picked it up because of the cover and title. The blurb confirms that the book is a mystery but also introduces the element of Epiphany being a psychic. As I am interested in the paranormal, this instantly caught my attention. There was only one customer review on the Amazon site, which was positive. I did not find a review from this site on the Amazon page, but if I had, I would have been interested in what the reviewer had to say. The review on this program's site was complimentary of the book. This raised my expectations going into the sample. I liked that the author threw in an element of possible romance between Epiphany and Maro. Although I know the age difference between them might give some people pause, it did not bother me. I enjoyed the portions of the sample that highlighted Epiphany's psychic talent, especially when she spoke with her spirit guide. I was delighted to discover that her granddaughter, Maddie, also had gifts, but I was concerned that her father might try to suppress them. I don't think there is anything I would change. It's an interesting story. Unfortunately, despite my interest in the characters and their abilities, the fact remains that the book is in the mystery genre. Given this and my experience with not enjoying the genre, I have decided not to read the book. The book seemed well-edited. I found no 'countable' errors in the sample.
First Ten review added on July 4, 2021, at 6:34 pm by Kelyn.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Mbrooks2518
I like mysteries and stories with psychic characters, so this book piqued my interest right away. I liked the prologue, which gave a look into the antagonist's mind. And the author did a good job of making me dislike him right away with his interest in and liking of destruction and his uncaring nature. It helped draw me into the story because I want to see him be stopped. Even though the official review says this book is not action-packed, the plot interests me, so I am going to buy it.
I did find one possible editing error, a capitalization mistake, on page one which says, "As CEO of the recently re-organized RAce Energy Corporation" although this might be on purpose as part of the name. Besides this possible error, nothing needs to be changed or improved.
First Ten review added on July 4, 2021, at 5:47 pm by Mbrooks2518.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
xsquare
I’m a big fan of mysteries, so I probably would’ve sampled the book even if it hadn’t been part of the First Ten program. However, the official OBC review mentioned that the book lacked tension and that Epiphany’s talent was a little too convenient at times, which put me off a little as someone who really appreciates suspense. I enjoyed reading the prologue and the interactions between Epiphany and her family. I also liked how the book references real-life events – namely, the looting of the Iraq Museum in 2003. I did see a number of typos, such as a comma instead of a full stop after Epiphany’s line of dialogue: “Sometimes snakes do now and then.” Other than the typos, I don’t think that there was anything that the author could’ve done better in just the first ten pages. However, I personally found the typos rather distracting. Coupled with the lack of tension mentioned in the review, it’s enough to put me off reading the rest of the book for now.
First Ten review added on July 4, 2021, at 5:47 pm by xsquare.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Brenda Creech
I would not have checked this book out based on the cover and title because I wasn't interested in either of them. After reading the OBC official review, I was curious to find out about the missing tablets. While reading the sample of the book, I didn't find anything that needs improvement. However, I did happen across one minor error. At 73% of the sample, Maddie, the little girl in the story, was getting ready for final tests at school and then vacation, which was written 'vacationtime' in the book but should be 'vacation time.' I did not see any more errors in what I read. Although the storyline is interesting, and I would like to know more about the stolen tablets, I do not believe in clairvoyance and try to stay away from books of that nature. Therefore, I won't be reading the rest of the book.
First Ten review added on July 4, 2021, at 4:28 pm by Brenda Creech.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
TheMazeRunner
I find this cover interesting, and would sample the book. There are no mistakes in it, and this book has the official OBC review. I am not an artistic person, but this book has very interesting characters. The story is unique, too. I like that the author mixed history and present in the story. Based on that, I will not read the rest of it because I don't like the genre. I wouldn't change anything about the book.
First Ten review added on July 4, 2021, at 4:20 pm by TheMazeRunner.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Yvonne Monique
The book cover is pretty and clearly shows that this book has an ancient art background. I would pick this book up if I would see it in a book store just to have a closer look and see what it really is about. The blurb and OBC review give a good description, but the mention of a slow pace and lack of tension make me wonder if I would enjoy this book. The sample is written interestingly, but I already encountered the first error in the acknowledgements. There is an unnecessary capital I in the following sentence: "It is, In fact, the story of who we are as individuals and as cultural communities."
I found the sample a bit confusing. I liked the prologue and would have wished the story to carry on with Rarian's search. The first chapter about Epiphany, however, did not manage to capture my attention. That is the reason why I will not buy this book. I have no suggestions for improvement.
First Ten review added on July 4, 2021, at 4:16 pm by Yvonne Monique.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Emy Katherine
The story follows the eventful journey of a psychic named Epiphany Mayall, who finds herself helping Detective Maro Gaido to find an ancient artifact that was stolen from the Baghdad Museum in 2003. To be honest, I would not have read the book without this program. I enjoy reading crime thrillers, but I am not fond of stories that contain supernatural elements; therefore, I did not change my mind after reading both the sample and the OBC review. I liked, though, that story was told from multiple perspectives; the writing style was also enjoyable to read. All in all, I would only suggest another round of editing. I found some distracting errors throughout the sample. For example, it should be written "vacation time" in the following sentence: "We have our finals this week. Then, vacationtime. Yay!" (location 443 of 553 • 83%) It should be written "Definitely in a museum, but where?" instead of "Definitely a in a museum, but where?" (location 311 of 553 • 58%) There should also be a period instead of a comma after "then" in the following sentence: "'It’s shedding its skin,' said Epiphany. 'Something snakes do now and then,'" (location 254 of 553 • 48%)
First Ten review added on July 4, 2021, at 2:49 pm by Emy Katherine.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Odette Chace
I'm not a fan of the title, but I like the cover. While I like that the premise of the book incorporates the Epic of Gilgamesh, not much else appeals to me about the book. After reading the synopsis on Amazon, I doubt that I would normally sample this book. Because the protagonist's name is Epiphany, I think the work is most likely meant for a younger audience. The official Online Book Club review gave the work a perfect rating of 4 out of 4 stars. However, the reviewer pointed out a few of the book's flaws, and they seem rather significant. I was surprised that the reviewer gave the work a rating of 4 out of 4. I still would not normally sample this book. "I also want to thank al[l] those who personally helped me with 'Key to Eternity'..." (0% of sample). I noticed multiple errors in the first ten pages and don't believe the work was professionally edited. I had a hard time getting into the book. It didn't pick up until after the snake shed its skin. Epiphany's visions were the highlight of the first ten pages. The prologue was boring. The villain didn't do anything. I don't plan to finish reading the book.
First Ten review added on July 4, 2021, at 1:35 pm by Odette Chace.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Kaitlyn Canedy
Based on the description, I likely would have skipped the sample of Key to Eternity if it was not the OnlineBookClub's book of the day. Books about art are not interesting to me, which is why I would not have given this book a chance. Learning about Epiphany's psychic powers is what I liked the most; the way that the author describes them is very detailed. However, because I am not into older art pieces, I will be skipping the book. I did not notice any grammatical errors in the first ten pages, and I cannot think of any improvements. An official OnlineBookClub review exists for this title, but I did not need to read it to decide on skipping the rest of the book. Readers who are into art may like this book.
First Ten review added on July 4, 2021, at 1:32 pm by Kaitlyn Canedy.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
AntonelaMaria
The blurb and Official Onlinebookclub review make this book very appealing. I read the genre, and the premise sounded interesting. However, after I learned that this is a series, I'm reluctant to pick this book up. I like to read books in a series in order. Epiphany is an interesting character. I like the juxtaposition of her and her son. It showcases people who believe in psychic abilities and those who don't. The dialogue is written very well. I rarely see Montenegro mentioned in books, and it was a pleasant surprise. The only thing that threw me off was the title. I thought this was some spirituality or religion book. The only thing that needs improving is the editing. The first error I noticed is on location 140. There are extra punctuation marks that make little sense with the story or previous sentence. It says "Interesting, the cycles of powers. ... "
First Ten review added on July 4, 2021, at 1:18 pm by AntonelaMaria.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Kajori Sheryl Paul
'Key to Eternity' is a novel written by Mallory M. O' Corner. Derrick Rarian is an unscrupulous CEO who pollutes the environment and illegally deals in artifacts. Epiphany is a psychic. I like the author's way of words. For example, she describes the bay as a "silken dish of luminescent pearl." The editing was good. There is nothing in need of an improvement. I would have read this book without the sample based on the cover, title, genre, blurb, editorial reviews, and customer reviews as I find the genre to be engaging. The OBC review was great. I will read this book as I like to read thrillers about artifacts.
First Ten review added on July 4, 2021, at 12:50 pm by Kajori Sheryl Paul.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Michelle Menezes
When I saw the title, I thought it was from the non-fiction genre and related to spirituality so, I wasn't interested. Then I read the official review and realized it was a psychic detective mystery. I was further intrigued by reading the blurb and wanted to give it a try. On reading the first ten pages, I thought the book was slow, and whatever occurred in those few pages didn't interest me. But I'm going to keep an open mind and give it a try as someone mentioned the book gave them Indiana Jones vibes. I enjoy adventurous books with mystery and history. I did not notice any errors, so the book seems professionally edited.
First Ten review added on July 4, 2021, at 12:22 pm by Michelle Menezes.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda
What an intriguing cover! And, honestly, the blurb captured me just with "psychic detective." The book also has amazing ratings, so I would've bought it without hesitation based on my first impressions.
What I liked the most was how meaningful this entertaining story is. I agree with the author that art is not just a " bunch of pretty objects." I also enjoyed the vivid imagery of the house in Montenegro and how fast the author pulled me into the story, just with the following line: "All of the art dealt with one subject: environmental destruction." I have so many questions!
I found a couple of editing mistakes. The first one is in position 158, where "in" should not be capitalized: "It is, In fact, the story of who we are as individuals and as cultural communities." I would only suggest fixing these minor mistakes. The official review didn't influence my decision.
First Ten review added on July 4, 2021, at 12:20 pm by María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Bertha Jackson
The book cover goes well with the title, and I enjoy reading crime thrillers. The blurb got my attention with the mystery surrounding the search for immortality. One of the customer reviews concerns me because it compares the book to James Bond, and I am not a big fan of his. The OnlineBookClub worries me because it states the characters were never in any danger. The danger is what is thrilling about these types of books. In reading the first ten pages, I like that the author has incorporated art history into the plot. The book appears to have been edited by a professional editor as I did not see any errors in the first ten pages. The only thing I would recommend for the author to change is to add a little danger to the characters. Due to my concerns listed above, I will not be purchasing or reading this book.
First Ten review added on July 4, 2021, at 12:01 pm by Bertha Jackson.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Laura Ungureanu
This cover makes me wonder about what it is supposed to mean. I can't help but think of the mystery genre, which can partly describe this book. After reading the OBC review, I could make up my mind about this book. As I'm not someone interested in the world of lost artifacts, I wasn't looking forward to checking the book out. The program was my main motivation. The book opens up with Derrick Rarian presenting his art gallery in the Penthouse. He is upset that the tablets of immortality somehow still escape him. That premise is quite interesting. The book details the art world and business. I love the fact that the initial setting is in Montenegro, as it is a rare location in books. However, since I'm not that interested in the art world, I don't wish to read a whole book about it, even if there are also some other elements. That being said, I think the book doesn't need improvement and it's quite well-edited.
First Ten review added on July 4, 2021, at 11:12 am by Laura Ungureanu.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Total ~ 23%
Key to Eternity earned a score of 23%.
In other words, out of the top-level reviewers who read at least the first 10 pages of this book, 23% 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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