Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between Kirkus and Kirkus Discoveries?

Kirkus holds a respected status as a leader for book reviews for traditionally published works, and it has expanded its reach to include self-published titles with Kirkus Discoveries. Kirkus Discoveries is a paid review service that allows authors of self-published titles to receive an independent, authoritative assessment of their books. The same reviewers are used for both traditional Kirkus reviews and Kirkus Discoveries reviews.  Because these are two different organizations, it is imperative that you credit the review, or any excerpt or quote from it, to “Kirkus Discoveries” and not to “Kirkus Reviews.”

Is it possible to receive a negative review?

Yes, it is possible to receive a negative review. We encourage you to only approve the submission of completely finalized works to the Kirkus Discoveries review program. BookSurge cannot offer refunds in the event that a negative review is received.

Will I be able to provide input on the content of the review? Can I approve the content before the review is finalized?

No. Since the reviews are completely objective, you cannot provide input about the text or style of the review, and you are not given the opportunity to provide approval.

If I decide I don’t want my book reviewed after I pay for the service, can I cancel the service and get a refund?

You cannot cancel the service after you have approved your book to be submitted to Kirkus Discoveries in your author account. After submitting the book for Kirkus Discoveries review, fees are non-refundable. You may, however, cancel the service and receive a refund/credit prior to submitting your book for Kirkus Discoveries review.

How can I use my review in my other marketing efforts?

You may use your Kirkus Discoveries review to enhance any of your promotional materials – as mentioned above, just be sure to credit the excerpt you use to Kirkus Discoveries.

You may wish to add an excerpt or quote to the cover of your book, your website or weblog, your Amazon.com detail page, and other promotional materials. If you choose to have your review service fulfilled prior to other BookSurge promotional services, you may want to include an excerpt from the review on BookSurge-created marketing materials, such as your press release, business cards, postcards and bookmarks.   The addition of a review can also add credibility when attached to communications intended for bookstores, libraries and traditional publishers.

You mentioned adding a quote or excerpt to my book’s cover - will I have to pay extra for that?

No, BookSurge gives you the opportunity to add an excerpt of the review to your back cover free of charge. However, any additional corrections that you choose to make to your cover at that time will be subject to fees. If you would like to add an excerpt of the review to your cover, please contact your account manager, who will assist you through the process.

Back to the overview page for Kirkus Discoveries Review Service.