Thanks for stopping by Rune Keeper’s Library. I’m Jessica, an independent book reviewer who reads across two shelves. Here’s what I review, how I review, and how to reach me.
What I review
- The Grown-Up Shelf: Adult fantasy, romantasy / fantasy romance, and YA fantasy.
- The Young Readers’ Shelf: Middle-grade fantasy and adventure (roughly ages 8-12), including chapter-book series.
- The occasional historical fiction.
- Formats: Ebook (preferred), audiobook, and print.
- Sources: ARCs via NetGalley, direct author/publisher requests, and books from my own shelves.
What I’m not the right fit for (right now)
- Textbooks and heavy nonfiction.
- Literary or contemporary fiction with no speculative element.
- Pure erotica with no story – though spicy romantasy on the Grown-Up Shelf is very welcome (see the spice scale below).
Where reviews are posted
Every review goes on the blog and is cross-posted to Goodreads, StoryGraph, Amazon, and – for ARCs – NetGalley. I’m glad to share direct links once a review is live.
My rating scale (both shelves)
- 5 stars – Loved it. Recommending it to everyone.
- 4 stars – Really enjoyed it; only minor quibbles.
- 3 stars – Solid read; worked for me with a few reservations.
- 2 stars – Didn’t quite land for me, and I’ll explain why.
- 1 star – Not for me (or a did-not-finish), with an honest explanation.
Spice scale (Grown-Up Shelf only)
Adult and romantasy titles get a 0-5 spice rating so steamy-romance fans and lower-heat readers alike know what they’re getting:
- 0 – Closed door / no on-page romance
- 1 – Sweet; a kiss or two
- 2 – Mild heat
- 3 – Steamy; a few open-door scenes
- 4 – Very spicy
- 5 – Scorching / explicit throughout
For younger readers (Young Readers’ Shelf)
Middle-grade titles are always reviewed clean – never any spice content. Instead, each one gets a recommended age range and a note on anything parents may want to know about (scary moments, themes, etc.), and the review itself stays kid-appropriate.
Honest reviews, always
Receiving a book for free never guarantees a positive review. Every opinion here is my own, and I include spice or age notes (plus major content warnings) so readers know exactly what to expect.
Turnaround
I aim to post a review within 4-6 weeks of receiving a copy, or by your requested date when I can. If I won’t be able to get to it, I’ll tell you rather than leave you waiting.
Disclosure
I receive some books free from authors and publishers (including through NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review. This never affects my opinion, and I note it on each applicable post in line with FTC guidelines.
Contact
Review requests and bookish questions: [contact@runekeeperslibrary.com]
Please include the title, author, which shelf it’s for, genre, format, length, publication date, and (for adult titles) spice level.