Hi There!

An ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) reader/reviewer is pretty much what it says on the box: someone who receives an exclusive early copy of a book to read, in exchange for writing an honest review prior to the book's official release, or soon after. It is a common practice in the publishing field. Early reviews are crucial to a book's success, especially for a self-published author – this is not the place for someone who simply wants to read it before anyone else (though that's certainly part of it).

It's very helpful to be, yes, especially in the epic/dark fantasy sub-genres, but this isn't a hard-and-fast rule.

It will be very helpful for us both, yes! You can apply without having read Stone and Flesh, of course, but you may feel a bit lost if you start in the middle of a series!

If you're contemplating starting Stone and Flesh soon, and you're not sure whether my writing will be for you, you can read a free sample here.

The beta reader sees the book at an earlier drafting stage than an ARC reader; ideally, an ARC reader receives a book when there is no more drafting or polishing to be done. While ARC readers may point out a typo that snuck through or other issues, unlike beta readers they are not expected to do this.

ARC readers are also asked (though not obligated) to review a book when they finish reading – beta readers are never asked. In other words, they’re much more in conversation with the author versus other potential readers. 

Being a beta reader doesn’t mean you have to be an ARC reader, and being an ARC reader doesn’t mean you have to be a beta reader. Both roles are valued and amazing! 

If you don’t have the stamina to read a book more than once, then it’s definitely not recommended to be both a beta reader and an ARC reader. However, if you enjoy reading a book more than once, can keep different versions straight in your head, and can retain some objectivity by the end, then being both might be something to consider!

I’m looking for folks to read the sequels to Stone and Flesh. Right now, this means at least two more books. My ideal ARC reader would:

• Like and read a lot in my genre (epic/dark fantasy)
• Be familiar with giving feedback on writing
• Like a good chunky book, and be able to read one of comparable size to Stone and Flesh (~600 paperback pages) in one to two months
• Have read Stone and Flesh already

However, these aren’t hard-and-fast rules! For example, readers of other genres can have valuable perspectives, or if you’re a regular fantasy reader you may be able to pick things up quickly if you haven’t read Stone and Flesh first.

A general idea of my expectations:

• Book 2 is in the works, and I hope to have a completed draft to send out to beta readers in Summer 2026, all being well. They are being asked for a one- to two-month turnaround time, so depending on the revisions needed, I'll be ready to send something to ARC readers in Fall 2026 – again, all being well.
• I do not have a release date for Book 2 yet; a lot will depend on initial feedback. However, once I have a firmer idea, you will be the first to know! I try to start my ARC campaign one to two months out from public release, since it's a longer book.
• ARC files will be sent digitally via BookFunnel, in all likelihood. They will look and behave like a publication-ready eBook.
• I expect full confidentiality of my work (including its cover), including prohibition of its use in AI training; similarly, I expect all reviews to be your own.
• I will ask that your reviews be submitted prior to publication on review platforms, then again to retailers post-publication; I have a specific email list for my ARC Team, and will be upfront about how many times you can expect to be emailed. You do not have to subscribe to my newsletter to be part of the ARC Team, though it will be offered to you!

It’s also important to emphasize that compensation cannot be offered for reviews. Indeed, it's against several publishing platforms' terms of service. You will, however, have my eternal gratitude, and will automatically be the first contacted for future ARC opportunities. 

Finally, I will have an ARC Team Hub to gather together all the essentials and serve as a notice board for your convenience! I’m keen to support you however I can – I see this as an incredibly important partnership that I’ll likely spend the rest of my life repaying.