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Star Ratings

In the interest of transparency, the Karabou Review's star-rating system has been—at least somewhat—illuminated on this page. 

Below are each of the five categories that make up the rating system here on the blog. Each category counts for a total of one star out of the five stars it is possible to earn. It is possible for a book to receive partial points in any category. 

Beneath each category heading are the sorts of questions asked when reviewing a piece. Not all of these questions apply to every piece read, of course, so it isn't possible to offer a full breakdown of how stars are awarded. This should, however, give you at least some idea of what is being evaluated, so you may better understand why a book received the rating it received.


Plot

  • Is the plot sturdy and explainable for the world that it's taking place in?

  • Does the plot progress only because it hinges on absurdities?

    • Deus ex Machina
    • Characters making decisions that are out of character and unexplained
    • Character developing sudden strengths or weaknesses that are unexplained
    • Characters being nothing more than plot devices

  • Are there plot holes? 

  • Is the plot appropriately threaded through the story?


Characters

  • Did the author craft solid psychologies for their characters?

  • Do the characters' personalities / behaviors make sense for their situations and ages?

  • Do the characters feel real (or at least slightly nuanced) or are they just tropes / cardboard / the sort that could be replaced by a lamp without anything changing?

  • How do the characters play off of each other?

  • Do they sound like different people?


Writing

  • Did the writing flow well or was it awkward / stilted / choppy?

  • Did the book need more or less content?

  • How was the pacing?

  • Was the piece compelling / entertaining?

  • Did the dialogue feel organic or contrived?

  • Were there fewer than three typographical errors in the text? 

  • How was the consistency (plot, tone, characters, story details, etc.)?

  • How was the suspension of disbelief? 


World

  • How is the worldbuilding (applies to real-world fiction, too)?

  • Does the author use the setting well?

  • Are the details at least mostly accurate to the time period / physics / science / etc.?


Themes & Audience

  • What audience was the piece aimed at and was it appropriately structured for that audience?

  • Did the piece handle the conversations it started / questions it asked in a meaningful way? 

  • Did it leave the conversation in an appropriate place (An open-ended discussion is fine, but forgetting to finish a conversation is not.)?

  • Were there issues that went unaddressed?


Obviously, we would all prefer to enjoy the books that we're reading, but just because I don't like the book doesn't mean it should be rated poorly. Similarly, just because I love a piece doesn't mean that it is without flaws. 

Hopefully this system is easier to understand and, hopefully, it promotes better organization here on the blog. 

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