Category: FAQ

In evaluating character agency and diversity, I use the following tests in my reviews:

• Bechdel – Do two named woman characters have at least one conversation that’s not about a man?
• Mako Mori – Does a female character get her own narrative arc that is not about supporting a man’s story?
• Deggins – In a story that is not about race, are there at least two non-white characters in the cast?
• Vito Russo – Does a story contain a lesbian, gay, bi, nonbinary, or trans character, who is not predominately defined by their orientation or identity, who is important enough to affect the plot?
• Babs and Kara – Would the women characters be recognizable even if they were wearing identical bathrobes that disguised their figures and had their hair completely covered?
• Fridge – Is a woman’s suffering or death used to initiate or progress a male character’s storyline?
• Sexy Lamp – Can significant woman characters be replaced by a sexy lamp with a note on the shade without significantly changing the plot?
• Ara Marginal – Is there at least one named non-white character whose primary trait is not their race and who does something important besides help a white person?
• If based on real-life people: Finkbeiner – Is a real-life woman depicted on her own merit rather than her relationship with a male spouse or her children?
• If a woman lead: Roxane Gay – Is there a central woman character, with at least one supporting woman character, who doesn’t compromise herself for love, or who doesn’t live extravagantly for no explained reason?
• If a trans lead: Topside – Does the story contain more than one trans character? Do some of the trans characters know each other? Do these characters talk to each other about something other than a transition-related topic or procedure?

When setting a violence score for a book, I use this scale:

• 0 – No notable physical violence. May have mild verbal conflict.
• 1 – Very light violence. May have a slap, or physical shoving, or similar. No violent deaths on page. May have some lightly intense verbal conflict. Characters may have guns or other weapons, but they do not cause death on page. May have nonviolent death without notable detail.
• 2 – Some milder violence. May have a fistfight, or a simple fight with guns or other weapons. No graphic death on page. May have more intense verbal conflict. May have death with some non-graphic detail.
• 3 – Has notable violence. May have on page violent death without significant graphic detail. May have some mild graphic detail in fistfights or in violence with weapons. May have multiple instances of intense verbal conflict.
• 4 – Has graphic violence. On page deaths with some graphic detail. Fights are described with some graphic detail. Has multiple instances of described violence. May be notably unsettling.
• 5 – Violence is an integral part of the plot and is described in graphic detail. Characters may be subjected to intense violence, possibly including torture and/or sadistic elements. Possibly unsettling to most readers. May not be suitable for many readers.

In choosing a scare (fright, horror) score for a book, I use the following scale:

• 0 – A walk in the park. Focus is on solving puzzles, mysteries, or related plot elements. May have some suspenseful moments, but nothing overtly scary.
• 1– Contains some suspenseful moments and mild tension, but not overtly scary elements. May have a couple of minor scares, but this would not be considered scary or horror if it were a movie.
• 2 – May have some unsettling scenes. Psychological elements, darker themes, and/or eerie scenes may be introduced. It may start to feel safer reading with the lights on for some people.
• 3 – High suspense, mid to high tension. May have several frightening scenes, but it’s not horrific. This may be starting to move into horror or edgy territory. Has psychological, dark, or eerie elements. The lights are on while reading for many (or most) people, some people may not feel entirely safe to get out of the bed to pee in the middle of the night in the dark.
• 4 – May have graphic disturbing content that might be a little hard to read at times. If I were to explain this story to someone who doesn’t read thrillers, I’d need to leave a lot out. The lights are most definitely on. Even with the lights on, getting out of bed to pee is iffy.
• 5 – Horror. Maybe explicit gore. Deeply unsettling. I wonder if the author is okay. I may be sure the author is NOT okay to have written this. I may wonder if I’m okay after reading this.

In choosing a heat (spice) rating for a book, I use the following scale:

• 0 – No explicit content. The plot probably has no significant romantic or sexual tension. If there is any tension, it is only briefly noted. May have a tender moment and/or hand-holding and/or simple kisses. Romance and sex are not part of the main plotline.
• 1 – May have descriptions of romance and physical affection and/or some lightly described romantic or sexual tension. May rely on innuendo or minimal detail in descriptions of physical affection or sex. No kinks, and only 2 participants. If sexual scenes become intense there is a “fade to black” before anything explicit happens.
• 2 – Few explicit details that don’t contribute to the plot. May have notable romantic or sexual tension. May have a couple of detailed scenes with some non-explicit described physical sensation or action, but the focus is on the romance/relationship and plot the majority of the time.
• 3 – May have several explicit scenes that fit within the main plotline. Physical and/or romantic relationships are a part of the main plot. Emotional elements are present in many encounters. May have some rougher dirty talk or very mild elements some might consider kink. Physical sensations and actions may be described with some explicitness. Plot is greater than sex or romance, though they may be linked.
• 4 – Explicit details may be frequent and may or may not contribute to the plotline. Plot is important but may occasionally take the back seat to physical and/or romantic encounters. Multiple detailed or explicit sexual scenes. May include some kink. May include more than 2 participants. May include a nonhuman participant (alien, demon, angel, monster, etc.) in described sexual scenes.
• 5 – May have a plot arc or plot may exist mainly to provide a frame for physical encounters. Romance may or may not be present. May include notable kink, changing partners, or other extra-spicy elements. May need content notes. May be pure smut.

Each book is given a grade, based on this scale:

• A – Incredible. Highly recommended. Jumping up and down and shoving the book at people.
• B – Very good. Maybe a few flaws, but still well recommended.
• C – Average. Not bad. Enjoyable, but not amazing. May be perfect for the right reader.
• D – Really not great. Do not recommend. Why did I read this?
• F – Don’t waste your time. Possible DNF (did not finish).

These are the elements that go into figuring a book’s score. Each element is scored on a 0-1 scale, then all elements are added together to create the final score. The elements I use are:

• Plot – Is the story engaging and well-structured? Does the plot hold my interest throughout the book?
• Characters – Are the characters well-developed and believable? Do the characters undergo meaningful growth or change?
• Setting – Is the setting self-described and immersive? Does the setting enhance the story?
• Pacing – Is the pacing appropriate for the story? Does the story flow smoothly without dragging or feeling rushed?
• Ending – Is the ending satisfying and well-executed? Does the ending provide a meaningful conclusion to the story?
• Emotional Impact – Does the book evoke strong emotions (joy, sadness, fear, comfort,…)? Do I feel connected to the story and characters?
• Writing Style – Is the writing style appealing and easy to follow? Does the author have a unique voice or style?
• Themes – Are the themes effectively explored and integrated into the story? Do the themes provoke thought? Do they resonate for me?
• Other Scales – Is the level of heat, scare, or violence appropriate to the story as presented? Does the story flow with the included elements?
• Overall Enjoyment – Did I enjoy reading the book? Would I recommend this book to others? Will I read this book again for pleasure?