In recent weeks, the book community has been shaken by a controversy involving Cait Corrain, a debut author, and her alleged manipulation of Goodreads reviews. The controversy began when several authors noticed peculiar activities on Goodreads, where over a half-dozen accounts systematically gave one-star reviews to upcoming science fiction and fantasy debut novels, particularly those set to release in the first half of 2024. Additionally, the advanced reader copies for some of these books had not even been distributed at the time of the negative reviews.

Another concern is that the common thread among the targeted books is their association with authors of color. Simultaneously, these accounts showered praise on Corrain's debut, 'Crown of Starlight,' a Greek mythology-in-space romance fantasy. These accounts also added the book to the Goodreads list, upvoting the book across 37 lists. This review-bombing activity was traced to have started in February.

On December 6, bestselling author Xiran Jay Zhao took the matter public. Zhao shared a comprehensive Twitter document, presenting evidence linking the suspicious accounts to Corrain. The document, spanning 31 pages, included screenshots and videos that suggested a deliberate campaign to damage the reputations of fellow authors. 

Prior to Zhao taking the matters to the public, Zhao hinted at the situation in a tweet and Corrain's name started circulating on the Internet. In response to the mounting allegations, Corrain attributed the actions to a friend named 'Lilly.' Leaked messages from a debut author Slack group revealed Corrain's denial of involvement and efforts to uncover the identity of 'Lilly.' However, skepticism arose when the Discord screenshots seemed to be tampered with, casting doubt on the credibility of the presented evidence.

READ ALSO: Five Children's Books that will Teach Kids Social and Emotional Skills

Zhao pointed to Corrain's silence on various matters as the tipping point. Zhao's timeline aligns by comparing tweets and dates from others involved who have not made their social media private. Corrain was slated for a successful debut before the revelation of review manipulation. 'Crown of Starlight' has received substantial marketing support, generated significant buzz, and received positive reviews from early ARCs. Corrain had a promising two-book deal, was selected for the May Illumicrate, and seemed on track for success. Unfortunately, Corrain may have jeopardized their career before it took off. 

At present, Corrain maintains silence on the controversy, and her social media accounts remain largely private. Corrain's representative, Rebecca Podos, announced the termination of their partnership. Illumicrate removed 'Crown of Starlight' from its May 2024 box. Del Rey, owned by Penguin Random House, said on December 11 that Corrain's book is no longer on its 2024 publishing schedule.

Bethany Baptiste, one of the targets of the review-bombing, expressed her delight in a lengthy X post about Podos' dropping Corrain, stating that Corrain deserves the repercussions of her actions.  

Corrain's author page on Goodreads remains public, and some people have already dropped negative reviews on her book, 'Crown of Starlight.' Presently, the book holds a rating of 3.95. This controversy raises concerns about the integrity of online book reviews and its impact on emerging authors.

RELATED ARTICLE: Five Book Recommendations that Address Disinformation, Manipulation, and Related Matters