The High Auction: Unique Characters, Original Blend

The High Auction by Misba

A strong start to something big.

The High Auction Review

Rating: 5

Writing: 5+

Character Development: 5+

Plot: 4

Readability: 5+

Book Cover: 5

Theme: 5+

Impact on Readers: 5+

Satisfaction: 5+

Someday I’ll proudly tell my grandchildren that I was the editor of this book. As its editor, it becomes my duty to leave a behind-scene-during-making sorta review of this stunning piece the author has created. The author decided to go for indie route during June 2020. If you followed the publishing industry enough, you know what happened around May and June 2020. Some revelation of bad and dirty things, including the fact that publishing houses don’t take title unless it can be ‘compared’ with at least some other similar titles within their house, which also has to be written by ‘same’ race and 'same' gender authors. (It's not a bad thing; it's just they need to be the Blurbers for a new book)

However, this also means that readers have no chance to see unique and original books simply because the publishers won’t have blurbers if a book is original or if it's a genre and category that's not written by poc or female authors (vice versa). Several, much-established POC authors revealed that in the #BLM month of 2020. That’s why I respect the author of The High Auction for taking the brave decision to step into Indie route. Everyone knows this route is hard.

Now let’s come to the book review.

CHARACTERS: A++

I wanted to dissect THE HIGH AUCTION's characters, but looks like many others reviewers already did that. So, I’ll skim that part. I just want to say this book has one of the best character portrayals I have ever seen. The reason I agreed to edit this book is just the characters at first. Because to be honest, after editing more than hundred books and critiquing twice that number, I don’t accept editing task unless the first 5 pages grabs me, and I have to reveal the biggest secret of the story-writing world: the ultimate grabbing never happens until the ultimate character happens in the first 5-10 pages. For me, the protagonist and the other two main characters and also Meera were my ultimate grabber characters.

PLOT & STRUCTURE: A+

Since I’m an editor and manuscript critique in my professional life, I also want to add another point here. During editing manuscripts, one common issue I find with indie authors is that they publish short books, but they don’t give the book the arcs a story would need. 99% of the times, the books end at the beginning of ARC-3, leaving the book with a serious unfinished feeling. Or they are simply split at one-third or one-sixth part of a big story and made into separate books. I can understand indie-route doesn't work with big books. I can understand why Amazon is creating 'KindleVella'. I can also understand the struggle that it’s hard to give a full arc within 180-200 pages.

However, I was surprised to find THE HIGH AUCTION having a complete story structure within just 165 pages. It has the best arc-1 I’ve ever seen; its arc-1 gives the protagonist and its other major characters the call to quest just so perfect and artistic manner while making the characters so admirable and complex ... Anyone who reads just upto chapter-6 will agree that it's one of the best entry arc to a book. Because at the end of arc-1, it strengthens the protagonist’s decision so powerfully that it made me cry. (I don't go emotional while proof-editing too often). Then, the fun in the entire arc-2 with rising tensions and intensity of the story just kept me on edge every time.

Then came those heart-wrenching moments at the end of the second third. I loved and understood the protagonist in her resolution in this first episode—THE HIGH AUCTION. And this very point amazed me the most. The author is so crafty to focus and intensify the every turning moments of this story that it feels complete as a book. By the end of the book, readers will be left with a weird triumph and the longing to see more. The protagonist gets a win, but she has more to go. And all of these within 160 or so pages! I definitely was surprised to read it. I’m lucky and proud to proof this book.

OTHER STUFF:

I usually add what I thought about the cover and other story elements, especially when the book is an advanced reader copy or a book that I edited. I think I don't need to add the part that the cover is stunning and the author drew it. All the very best wishes to the talented author.

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