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My son captured this image of a book I recently finished called,
The Never King by Nikki St. Crowe, which is available at Target now. I bought mine
on Amazon. I was drawn to it because of the smut it claims it has. However, I
rated it as a three star on Amazon, as I found the storyline somewhat clichéd
and reminiscent of typical fanfiction plots. Even the book, Ask Alice: A Tainted Wonderland by Kell Frillman, rated a higher star by me, than this book.
In The Never King, the character of Wendy does not embody a
strong female lead, which raises the question of why this book has become a
bestseller on Amazon. I suspect it is largely due to the numerous ratings and
reviews it has received since its release, some of which are not particularly
favorable by some readers but there it is on Target shelves.
The significance of
ratings cannot be overstated; a book is deemed a bestseller when it accumulates
a substantial number of downloads or receives numerous ratings and reviews.
However, it's crucial to understand that a high volume of ratings—such as over
1,000—does not inherently indicate quality. Those who claim that ratings and
reviews are inconsequential are mistaken; they play a vital role in how
platforms like Amazon classify bestsellers. The presence of ratings can elevate
a book's visibility, regardless of its actual merit. Consequently, books with
fewer ratings may achieve only moderate recognition, while those with extensive
reviews are more likely to be prominently featured on Amazon, making them
easier for readers to discover.
In my quest to discover indie authors with few ratings, I
often navigate through a sea of choices to uncover hidden treasures, a task
that can be quite daunting. To my fellow indie writers, I encourage you to
persevere! Continue crafting your stories, as there is an audience out there
eager to embrace your work.
