This is Part 3 of a 3-part series on managing your book on Sona.
Part 1: How to Upload Your Book|Part 2: How to Edit Your Book
Every book submitted to Sona goes through a review process before it goes live. This guide explains what the team looks for, what causes a book to be rejected, and how to set yourself up for a clean first-time approval.
Why There Is a Review Process
Sọna is a curated platform. The review process exists to make sure that every book published here meets a baseline standard: in quality, formatting, and content, so that readers can trust what they find on the platform.
This benefits you too. A catalog readers trust is a catalog they buy from.
What the Team Reviews
When you submit a book, the Sọna team checks:
Cover
- Meets the minimum size requirement (1200 x 1800 pixels)
- Looks like a book cover. Clear title and author name visible, professional appearance
- Is not blurry, stretched, pixelated, or low-resolution
- Does not contain nude, sexually graphic, or shock imagery. Adult books must still use covers suitable for public browsing on Sọna.
- Is not a placeholder, template watermark, unfinished mockup, or image you do not have the right to use
Manuscript
- The file opens and renders correctly in the Sọna reader
- Chapter breaks are structured properly (using Heading 1 in DOCX, or proper EPUB structure)
- The content is readable, no major formatting issues, garbled text, or broken encoding
- The book is complete, not a fragment, sample, or unfinished draft
Metadata
- Title and author name are accurate and match the book content
- The blurb/description accurately represents the book, no misleading descriptions
- Genre selection accurately reflects the content
- Age rating is set correctly, Adult 18+ content must be flagged
Content
- The book is the author's own original work or properly licensed content
- The content does not violate Sọna's platform policies
- The content does not include plagiarism, piracy, CSAM, hate speech, unlawful material, or other harmful content prohibited by the platform
- The book is not spam, scraped/copied work, unreadable filler, or an unfinished draft presented as a complete book
Common Reasons for Rejection
Most rejections fall into one of these categories:
Cover Issues
- Too small, blurry, stretched, pixelated, or low-resolution
- No clear title or author name
- Placeholder, watermark, template preview, or unfinished mockup visible
- Cover image appears misleading, rights-unclear, or unsuitable for public browsing
- Nude, sexually graphic, or shock imagery on the cover
File Issues
- EPUB does not open or renders broken
- DOCX was not converted correctly (chapters not structured with Heading 1)
- File is empty or incomplete
Metadata Mismatch
- Description does not match the actual book content
- Wrong genre selected
- Adult content submitted without the 18+ rating
Content Policy Violations
- Copied or plagiarised content
- Spam or filler content
- Content that violates platform policies
What Happens If Your Book Is Rejected
You will receive an email with the specific reason for the rejection. Once you have addressed the issue, you can resubmit through the upload flow.
A rejection does not automatically harm your account standing. The review process is designed to help you correct the issue and submit a stronger version. Repeated violations, plagiarism, harmful content, or attempts to bypass review may lead to account action under Sọna's policies.
Tips for First-Time Approval
Check your cover dimensions before uploading. Use a tool like Canva, Adobe Express, or your design software to confirm the image is at least 1200 x 1800 pixels and looks professional.
Preview your EPUB before uploading. Open it in a free EPUB reader (like Adobe Digital Editions or Calibre) to make sure it looks right before you send it to Sọna.
If using DOCX, use Heading 1 for chapter titles. This is how the converter knows where to split chapters. Without it, your book may appear as a single chapter or break incorrectly.
Write an honest blurb. Readers and the review team both read it. A blurb that oversells or misrepresents the content is a flag.
Set the right age rating. If your book contains adult themes, sexual content, or graphic violence, mark it Adult 18+. The team will catch it if you do not, and it will be sent back.
How Long Does Review Take?
The Sọna team aims to review submissions within 1 to 5 business days. You will receive an email as soon as a decision is made.
Ready to submit? Start your upload at Publish Dashboard and click Upload a New Book.
Also in this Series
- Part 1: How to Upload Your Book
- Part 2: How to Edit Your Book
- Part 3: What Happens at Review
Need more help? Select Report a Problem from your Publish Dashboard.