Ahoy there me mateys! Me blog turned two years old as of January 2018. It originally took several months for me to learn about NetGalley and then attempt to use it. In fact, my first review was submitted to NetGalley on April 3, 2016. Weirdly, I didn’t post a review of that book on me blog at the time. Now, of course, I am a NetGalley junkie and am continuously perusing the loot and raising a celebratory glass whenever I get approved. It hasn’t gotten old. But even this pirate Captain has been declined at times. While recently trying to plan me eArc readin’, I was curious about how often I had been rejected so of course a tally was needed. When I originally tallied that number was 44 but has since increased to 46. Well me scalawags, here be Part Three of explorin’ the rejections and seeing what me thoughts be all these days later. This post be surveying rejections 11 through 15. Hope ye like it. If not sod off cause I be enjoying meself . . .
Side note: all book titles link to Goodreads.
11. nevernight (Jay Kristoff) – Well mateys, I know why this book first caught me eye. Assassins. I adore assassins. And mehaps a talking cat? But then I read Amial @ bookshelvesandpaperback’s review. The writing style hurts me black soul. So, no. Not sad about this rejection at all. Off of the ports for plunder list!
12. splinter (Sarah Fine) – This rejection makes me laugh. Ye see it was a book two in a series and so I requested (and was approved for) book one first. Then I read book one. And apparently wrote a spoiler rant about it. And then requested book two? What was I thinking? Apparently “. . . I am still slightly interested in book two. Why? I have no idea. It’s like not being able to look away when knowing disaster is coming. I don’t usually find the idea of such things fun. I don’t normally like urban fantasy or bad romance. I really don’t like women being used as sexual objects against their will. I have confused myself. Will I read the next one? I guess I will have to wait and see . . .” The answer to the question was no. No, I did not. I am so glad I was denied. And very glad I just entertained meself with an old review of a book I had forgotten all about!
13. butter: a rich history (Elaine Khosrova) – Yes butter. A history of butter. The first mate and I have been known to watch documentaries on things as varied as general tsao’s chicken, wine fraud, aluminum, and mail order brides. This title be from when I was trying to get cool sounding non-fiction from NetGalley. I am denied every time. And yes I still want to read about butter one day. Arrrr!
14. cannibalism: a perfectly natural history (Bill Schutt) – Aye, another non-fiction book wherein Goodreads denied me. And aye, I still wants to read it!
15. the echo of twilight (Judith Kinghorn) – Okay so this one I had completely ejected from me ‘ead. I know exactly what drew me to it. A historical fiction described by Booklist as “An enchanting, atmospheric work of historical fiction that is a rich blend of Downton Abbey and Jane Eyre.” This no longer has the appeal that it once did. Also it seems none of me crew has reviewed it yet. I be on the fence. Any of ye scalawags read this one yet? (updated 10/30/19 – forgot about this again so off the ports for plunder list it goes)
So out of the five rejections in this set we have:
2 still on the ports for plunder list and 3 ports quarantined and never to be visited again. (updated 10/30/19)
Keep a weathered-eye out for more rejections and always remember:
Q: What exercise do pirates use to strengthen their abs?
A: Planks.
Hardy har har!
x The Captain
Previous Log Entries for this Series
So fun! And I agree, sometimes reading old, forgotten reviews can be so much fun!
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I feel your pain! The rejections are quite sad at times.
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Welcome to the crew matey! I do get grumpy when I get rejected but me hold and cabin be filled with interestin’ books. I always have something to read if I be in the mood for it.
x The Captain
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Yeah, you can be happy that you didn’t get ‘Nevernight’. Definitely not my cup of tea. Those footnotes…..I couldn’t read more than 50 pages or so.
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I usually love rambling footnotes but the flowery prose just pushed all the wrong buttons.
x The Captain
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One publisher seems to hate me and has been rejecting my requests for the past couple of months (even though they approved a couple before), so this makes me feel a tad better. Solidarity! 😀
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Solidarity indeed matey! Arrrrr!
x The Captain
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What a *brilliant* series! Oh wow. I love the idea of reflecting upon your NetGalley rejections and seeing what should stick around. I’ve personally been trying to break my NetGalley addiction. I don’t have the bandwidth to read NetGalley books on top of my book club books– plus. I am such a mood reader… It’s a challenge for me!
I haven’t read The Echo of Twilight but I can understand the appeal! It sounds delightful. I’ll keep an eye out for it.
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Thanks for thinking I be brilliant matey! It be nice to have someone acknowledge how well me noggin’ works. I have been trying to limit the amount of books I request ever since I realized I have 4 books due on July 17th. And one be a book two so I have to read book one first. And with me being a mood reader I sometimes get grumpy at the deadlines.
x The Captain
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Your noggin’ works extremely well. Tell your first mate that, too. 😉
Ugh. I get so frustrated when I accidentally request a book which is later in a series. I’ve done that twice and it’s no fun. That said, I really enjoyed The Falconer, which is a series I found through that misfortune. We’ll see how this next series goes.
And good for you! I NEVER pay attention to deadlines. I really should wal kaway from NetGalley. It’s bad for so many reasons.
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Ha – when I look back at my rejections, I find I’m usually glad they didn’t give me it! Clicking that request button is way too easy… 😉 Have you ticked non-fiction as one of your favourites genres in NG? And mentioned you love it in your profile?
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Well me blog is for sci-fi and fantasy so I can see why they don’t want me to get me grubby mitts on it. I do have a category called off the charts for those types of books but the publishers likely don’t know that.
x The Captain
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For the record, this is my second time posting this response because WordPress decided to be a turd and delete my first comment…
I’m still trying to understand NetGalley, as I only discovered it recently. (Technically, I knew about it, but I figured it was a bad idea to give myself access to even more books when my TBR list is already so out of control.) I sent in requests for 3 books recently. I got e-mails indicating that they received my requests, but that was it. I logged in the other day and it looked like they approved one of my requests, because there’s a book on my shelf. I haven’t heard anything about the other 2 though, so does that mean they were rejected?
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Ye have to check yer “not active” section of the shelf and then look at the “pending” section. It lists the books that the publisher hasn’t commented on. If they have been denied then it goes on the “declined requests” shelf. Just make sure ye download yer accepted ones on time because ye can only access them for a limited time ususally. Congrats on the approval matey! I hope ye love it. Stay wary of the NetGalley addiction. Cause I be hooked!
x The Captain
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Okay, good to know! I didn’t realize all of that. I’ll try not to overdo it…much. 😛
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Strangely enough, I was declined on NetGalley for Nevernight (or was it its sequel, I forget!) but then the publicist sent me the physical ARC. Pubilshers work in weird ways sometimes!
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I have only gotten two physical arcs. One was because of an intern. I don’t know how ye get on their lists. It be a mystery to me.
x The Captain
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Do you ever write to a publisher to request ARCs? Usually you send info about your blog and stats when you request and if you’re approved and you receive the ARC and send in a review afterwards, that’s how most bloggers end up on publicist lists. 😀
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I guess I never really thought about contacting publishers directly. Do ye just pull their contact information off the website?
x The Captain
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Yes, most publishers/imprints have a publicity contact listed on their websites for review copy requests and media inquiries. I started out by emailing these general email addresses and built up point of contacts from there 🙂
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I have so many books that I am not sure getting paper arcs matters. But I will keep that in mind. Perhaps for Tor and Orbit since I love their stuff.
x The Captain
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Oh yes – thank you for the plank joke:)). And now for something completely serious… PENDING – urg!!! Get on and REFUSE me, dammit! Okay *deep breath* thank you for allowing me that rant, Cap – and for sharing your rejections:)). I have a pack of nearly in-date butter. Would you like me to pop it in the post to you?
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Thanks for the butter offer matey but sadly at the moment I be on doctor’s orders not to eat any. Long story. And yes I would rather be rejected then pending. Pending I get me hopes up. Rejection gets me dander up and makes me determined to read it DESPITE those scalawags telling me I can’t!
x The Captain
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And NO ONE stops the Pending! I have books Pending from last year… Sorry about the butter – for what it’s worth, I am dairy intolerant so no butter, cheese, yoghurt, etc for me either…
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I didn’t realize that books can just pend forever. Ugh. The side of me that likes things tidy shudders at that. Do ye miss cheese or did ye get used to it?
x The Captain
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Actually cheese is the one thing that I have missed – but these days there are vegetarian cheese that aren’t too far away from the flavour. And the fact I have so much more energy and feel better is a reasonable trade-off… I used to be CONSTANTLY tired!
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Well perhaps I shall try some vegetarian cheeses. I am glad that ye feel less tired. Though yer schedule be so busy that it makes me feel tired!
x The Captain
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Oh, I couldn’t sustain my current lifestyle before I realised my dairy intolerance – it’s one of the reasons why I do enjoy buzzing around so much. It used to be such a frustration! I’d want to be doing more, but simply couldn’t cope physically or mentally with the level of activity. And feel such a failure! So I’ll gladly give up cheese for the sheer fun of being able to do what I want without suddenly feeling sick with fatigue:))
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Planks.. har har har 🤣 I am so sorry you were denied Butter. Life is just cruel at times. Stay strong Captain xx
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Thanks matey! Arrr!
x The Captain
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Keep the faith Captain! Rejections will only make you stronger and acceptance will be that much sweeter! Liked the plank joke. Aaargh!
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A rejection just means I have to be more clever in how I commandeer me books! And I like plotting and puzzles so sometimes rejection can be a gift. Especially when I decide I never really want to read the book anyway. Time saved! Arrrrr!
x The Captain
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NetGalley rejections hurt! What’s been happening to me is that I request something and the publisher completely ignores me. I don’t get an approval OR a rejection. The book just sits there on my “pending” shelf. It’s ridiculous!
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I have to admit I think I have 10 or so just pending. Some of those books have even been released. Silliness.
x The Captain
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