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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think the free books on Kindle Unlimited are a bit shit?

78 replies

Orangeanddemons · 09/08/2015 17:24

Lots of horror, crime (usually against women and children), bonk busters, chic shit or stories of tortured childhoods.

But nothing much I really want to read, despite the fact I love love reading and can get through 3books a day. It seems I'm paying 7:99 a month for dross. Is this right?

OP posts:
ImperialBlether · 09/08/2015 20:13

And here is another Mumsnetter's historical novel - I loved it but I think it comes under the Young Adult section - Five Wounds by Katharine Edgar.

ImperialBlether · 09/08/2015 20:14

I think anyone going through a traditional publisher might offer an older novel free if they have a newer novel coming out, but they won't put it on Kindle Unlimited.

LumpySpacedPrincess · 09/08/2015 20:18

Can you link to your book Imperial, or at least give us a clue? Smile

slightlyeggstained · 09/08/2015 20:19

Useful thread - have been wondering about Kindle Unlimited. How does it work for authors? Presumably you get either no royalties or much less - so what's in it for the author?

Also, Harriet & Imperial - would you mind telling me a bit more about your books? I like some crime novels (the puzzle aspect appeals to me) but can't stomach too much detail, misogyny, or anything bad happening to tiny children. Which rules out 99% of crime for me...

SamJohnsonsBoy · 09/08/2015 20:25

It's a total waste of money IMO. DW had a sub and ended it. Based on her experience, I never got one.

HarrietVane99 · 09/08/2015 20:35

Authors do get paid for having their books in KU. Amazon have just changed the system. Previously authors were paid a flat rate each time someone downloaded a book and read ten per cent of it - whether it was ten per cent of fifty pages or 250 pages. Now they're going to be paying per page read, which should work out better for authors of longer books.

We also get royalties every time someone buys a book, of course.

Will pm you about my books, slightly. Will be checking out some of the books mentioned here, too.

ImperialBlether · 09/08/2015 20:38

I've sent you a PM, LumpySpacedPrincess and slightlyeggstained.

ImperialBlether · 09/08/2015 20:39

Harriet, please can you send me a link? I'd love to read it.

CoogerAndDark · 09/08/2015 20:50

I cancelled my free trial as they promote it like a lending library but it's full of crap.

laffymeal · 09/08/2015 20:57

I downloaded a free book using the free trial last week, it is self published and would normally have cost about £7. It was total shite and I gave it a one star review only for the author to verbally abuse me in a very nasty personal way in the comments box. Think I'll just buy proper books in future Grin

CoogerAndDark · 09/08/2015 20:59

You don't get something for nothing, I suppose. Or indeed for £7.99 a month.

ImperialBlether · 09/08/2015 20:59

Wow, that was very unprofessional of that author! I can see how tempting it must be to respond to a review like that but they should have stepped away from the computer while they were feeling angry.

stripytees · 09/08/2015 21:02

Part of the problem is that Amazon makes it sound like you'll get access to lots of big name books. Obviously everyone then discovers that isn't the case after signing up.

laffymeal · 09/08/2015 21:03

I discovered too late that she has form for it imperial, most of her comments end up getting deleted by amazon as they're along the lines of "I know where you live", she's not playing with a full deck.

ImperialBlether · 09/08/2015 21:07

I agree, stripy; when I first saw the offer I thought you could read any book that was available on Kindle for free.

Oh laffy, I would love a link to one of her books to read those comments!

achieve6 · 09/08/2015 21:11

I tried the Kindle app because I was told - by a friend - that there were lots of great free books by undiscovered authors. I know Hozier said they think Take me to Church was so successful partly due to exposure on free platforms, so I thought, sure, give it a bash.

So far I haven't read anything that was free of charge and really good. It's great for old classics though.

laffymeal · 09/08/2015 21:11

I wouldn't give her the publicity imperial and she's a nasty piece of work, so glad I didn't pay for her crappy book. Grin

bertsdinner · 09/08/2015 21:14

A lot are rubbish, but they are free...I don't have prime/unlimited, just look on the free downloads section.
I've occasionally come across the odd free kindle book that has encouraged me to buy further books by that author.
There was one, about a zombie apocalypse in America, absolutely NOT what I would normally read, but it was free. It wasnt the greatest novel in the world but I quite enjoyed it, and bought more of the series.
A lot of the classics are free to download, so there is some good stuff.

HarrietVane99 · 09/08/2015 21:16

Have pm'ed you, Imperial.

An author should never respond to a bad review, it can never end well. Most potential readers can judge for themselves if a bad review is justified or just spiteful.

redbinneo · 09/08/2015 21:16

Piratebay has lots of free books in mobi format, so I've heard.

ImperialBlether · 09/08/2015 21:17

The thing that really bugs me is when they charge more for an e-book than for a paperback. How do they figure that one out?

Melawen · 09/08/2015 21:39

Apparently VAT is applied to ebooks when it isn't to print books!

ImperialBlether · 09/08/2015 21:53

Yes, it is, but it still doesn't account for the fact a paperback might be a couple of pounds cheaper than an e-book. I don't know how it can be justified.

FireflyGirl · 09/08/2015 23:22

The ones I read were a bit of a mixed bag. Because I was reading for free, I made sure to review them though.

However, having come across this and similar, it's no wonder people are going off it.

disclaimer - I was actually looking for books on potty training and these came up. When I saw they were on Unlimited, I remembered this thread and knew just where to post

Rainbunny · 09/08/2015 23:25

Mostly agree. I did manage to binge read a bunch of Georgette Heyer stories (probably should have name-changed before making this confession!) I have also found a lot of pre-1950's detective fiction which I'm quite partial to. I will probably cancel it next month though.

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