𝐖𝐖𝐖.𝐍𝐄𝐎𝐂𝐔𝐋𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐄.𝐀𝐈 𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖 𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐏

𝟎.𝟖

Book : Life within the halls
Author : reindolfwrites
Reviewer : ClaireMari29

TITLE- 8/10
Upon first glance, the title appears to be unique. However, upon closer check, it becomes clear that the title is well-suited for the genre of mystery thrillers. Additionally, based on the brief synopsis, the title appears to be a fitting choice.

COVER- 6.5/10
The current design may not be as appealing as it could be and perhaps lacks the true essence of mystery. I suggest considering some changes to the font color and text font to make it more engaging. Additionally, I believe that adding a subtle horror ambiance to the cover through the use of a little glow could further enhance its appeal. As an inspiration for the cover, I would recommend looking at the TV shows Stranger Things or Riverdale.

BLURB- 5.5/10
The brevity of the blurb notwithstanding, it provides a succinct yet comprehensive overview of the story's content. Despite its concision, the blurb manages to convey crucial information about the narrative, thereby enabling readers to form a clear idea of what to expect from the story. In my opinion, it would be beneficial to extend and further elaborate the blurb so that it is more informative and captivating to potential readers. This way, they will be enticed to read on and discover more about the subject matter.

1ST IMPRESSION- 3.5/5
The book in question left me with an initial impression that was somewhat mixed. I found myself equally intrigued and disinterested upon my first encounter with it. However, it is worth noting that the writing style of the prologue, particularly its third-person point of view and narrative structure, did manage to capture my attention. It led me to believe that the book held the potential to be compelling. Nevertheless, upon further inspection, I must admit that my expectations waned a bit in light of the book's cover and blurb.

WRITING STYLE & GRAMMAR- 28.5/30
The writing style of the story is quite commendable and well-crafted, with only a few grammar errors. While going through someone's comment on Chapter 1, I came across a statement that emphasizes the varied and interesting ways in which an intro can be written, which I could not agree with more, considering it to be a first-person point of view. However, since I am not very familiar with first-person point of view character arcs, I cannot provide a detailed rating for it. Nevertheless, I feel that the story might require significant editing and shaping for improvement, and I would like to suggest the same.

POVs/NARRATOR- 3.5/5
The prologue of the written work is written from the third-person point of view (POV) as it provides a backstory of Pearl and Emma that occurred two years prior. The choice of POV is appropriate for the purpose. However, as I progressed through Chapters 1-3, I noticed that several new characters were introduced, and their POVs were explored. While I appreciate the approach taken by the author, it caused a degree of confusion for me as a reader. Therefore, my suggestion is that if the author had chosen to use the third-person POV from the beginning, they should have continued using it consistently throughout the text. This would have made it easier for readers who had no prior knowledge of the mentioned characters to understand the narrative.

PLOT- 17/20
The writer's plot in my first mystery/thriller work is unique, but I have a few plot holes in mind. I'm curious about what happened to Pearl in the prologue and why and when she committed suicide. Although I enjoyed reading the Prologue to Chapter 3, I don't think I'll be satisfied to read further.

OVERALL IMPRESSION- 7.5/10
I have carefully read Prologue to Chapter 3 of the book. While not typically a fan of mystery and thriller genres, I approached the work with an open mind and had a mixed reaction. Nonetheless, I believe that with some editing of the cover, blurb, and certain sections of the writing, the work has the potential to be quite enjoyable. I must say that I was impressed to learn that the author is an underappreciated gem, and I believe that a review of this book would be a valuable contribution, particularly given that it has already won several awards.

TOTAL- 80/100

SCOPE OF IMPROVEMENT?
Firstly, I recommend changing the cover to something that has a similar mysterious vibe to shows like "Stranger Things" or "Riverdale". Additionally, it would be helpful to make the blurb longer so that potential readers can get a better sense of the story and its characters. You might consider including quotes from some of the characters to add more detail without giving away too much of the plot.