Lacrima Mundi - Indie Book Reviews [requests closed][hiatus]📚✍

Looks like something went very wrong during printing.

I occasionally got books like this, usually it's not a problem to get them switched for a properly printed copy or to get a refund.

Alas, this won't solve your gift problem for your MIL.

Can confirm as both a migraine sufferer and a huge fan of these books!

Imagine a queer D&D adventure where you take a dose of LSD and wait for it to kick in as you venture into the unknown

I am so very glad I have all that AI crap turned off wherever it is possible - and don't use anything where it isn't possible -, and in addition to that have a script blocker on my web browser, which also helps with avoiding all that genAI garbage.

I am able to read for myself and use my brain,tyvm

Seems like a lot of people are just happy to do so. In fact, they can't wait. 🙄

Frankly, I'm not even surprised... ☠️

My theory that is, on occasion, exactly my problem: it requires zero conscious effort. My brain is not good a things that require zero effort.

I also know that my circadian rhythm isn't on a 24h clock. Which doesn't help as long as one needs to live by one. Thankfully I don't have to anymore. Helps

Did Oliver Cromwell ban Christmas? YouTube video by Michelle Franklin | Legends and Lectures

Did Cromwell ban Christmas?
youtube.com/shorts/g5ZDW...

Sounds cosy. I'm in! 🥰

Holiday Sale. 25% off. ITS YOUR LAST CHANCE TO GET ANY OF OUR HOLIDAY CANDLES. AFTER THE 31ST THEY ARE GONE, GONE, GONE!

For the rest of the month holiday candles are on sale!!

After the 31st they will not be sold until next December!!

spilledinkcoffeebook.etsy.com

I mean, this can basically being answered by pure logic (I throw my hat in for: it's A), but why would someone ask students about books they are not allowed - or encouraged - to read? What's the point of this?

Also, why is this worded in ... such a weird way? I don't like that at all. 🤨

a bald man in a red shirt is standing in front of a punching bag and smiling . ALT: a bald man in a red shirt is standing in front of a punching bag and smiling .

I'm looking VERY MUCH forward to it!

I am SO looking forward to reading this!

I am a very excited [not so] little bean. 😄

👀📚💙

Price drop! This is US and UK wide. 8 books of #scifi action, mayhem, banter and grief as Finn, Zuri and Smith (deceased) search for a way home. After being kidnapped from a training session on Earth by a rogue AI ship, they must evolve into full-on space marines to survive #scifibooks #books

I'm light-years behind with my reviews. I rather sit here slowly digging my way through all the ARCs I got for another two or three years than even as much as just THINK about using AI for my reviews. Those are MY reviews. They are either 100% human made or non-existent. Simple as.

#FuckAI

Unless they are reviewers themselves I doubt they even know NG exists.

And even as a reviewer I only very occasionally skim NG reviews for an ARC I want to pick up. I rarely read reviews at all, no matter where, until AFTER I read and reviewed a book myself. I like to be unbiased for my reviews.

sulley from monsters inc is smiling and covering his face with his hands . ALT: sulley from monsters inc is smiling and covering his face with his hands .

as much and as easily as I block "authors" who use AI.

In either case I don't care how much "own ideas" went into The Slop Machine prior to the crappy end-result getting published. Or if AI was "just" used for "assistance" or "editing". It is slop either way. And it reads like slop either way.

Exactly!

I rather write a short review or just leave a rating instead of letting The Slop Machine spit out yet another one of those super long, overly pretentious sounding reviews that a) steal ideas, b) kill the planet, and c) [almost] nobody will ever read.

I block "reviewers" who us AI just...⬇️

What people get out of handing their brain over to AI instead of using it is beyond me.

But, I never got liars or cheats. Not in school. Not during uni. Not in life. This won't change now.

All I know is that a lot of people are liars and cheats - and happily so. As for the why: I have no clue. 🤷😒🤨

Some fake their whole review, others "just feed their thoughts into AI" and let it spit out the umpteenth generic sounding text. The case that prompted this sounds like she does the latter.

But, as with books, I don't care if it's a 100% or 50% fake. It's AI slop either way. They can bugger off.

a cartoon character standing next to a barrel with the ocean in the background ALT: a cartoon character standing next to a barrel with the ocean in the background

I swear, I want an "AI slop eraser" for the internet.

All this AI crap is starting to drive me nuts.

Not that I didn't know already that most people are liars and cheats, AI only reveals that, but it's maddening nonetheless.

Bonus points if GR takes the legitimate review down and keeps the AI one

Why thank you. 💜

I have my moments... 😂

Not to mention those who now think they can do their covers with AI instead of either doing them themself or hire an artist or designer (who doesn't use AI). And those sadly aren't few.

I'm tired. 😩

already knows aren't always a safe bet. I've found a few I already knew, who did a decent job once, who now turned to The Slop Machine as well (for "editing" - as if AI could do that - or "assisting" I suspect, but either way, I'm not reading that drivel either, it all sounds the same). ⬇️

It definitely slows the process of discovering and supporting new authors (aka these we did not already know) down significantly. For me at least. My time and spoons are quite limited and I often find myself rather wanting to read than having to vet a [new] author for 1-2h.

Alas, even those one ⬇️

It is proper weird.

I'm suspect GR is on its dying breath if they carry on like this. Which is a bit of a shame, it's the only properly functioning review website I've found so far (despite all its flaws). All the others lack severely in several departments I deem curial or important.

*sigh*

But GR doesn't do anything about either. It slaps legit reviewers on the wrists while all that sock-puppet and AI drivel can spread like cancer.

They don't care about people spamming 1-star ratings/reviews for queer book but do care for AI slop rating and reviews, even if people read the sample. 🤨

I suspect both sides are to blame, if one wants to blame anyone but Amazon.

The amount of slop peddlers who fight blood and claw to get reviews taken down, because people call their books out as the slop it is, is disgusting.

The amount of sock-puppet and genAI "reviews" is equally disgusting.

Just came across the umpteenth reviewer who once wrote decent reviews but has now hopped onto the slop train (for at least a year).

Authors, please vet your reviewers or you might end up with someone who feeds your books into the slop machine for their "reviews".

#WritingCommunity #IndieAuthors

Nothing today!!

#HelpSky 💕💸