An unsolicited review from the blogosphere:
http://kenamored.blogspot.co.nz/2012/05/e-chess-books-chess-e-book-reader.html
Here are some reviews that have been published on iTunes sites around the world.
Good App ★★★★★
by e+ chess fan - Version 1.2 - Jan 30, 2013
This apps is really good. The concept comes from custom chess tables where the size of the table allows you to place comfortably a large chess set plus a large book. Here you have the same Idea but on your iPad with a very user friendly interface. So far, the only book I bought runs smoothly and I am happy with the product. I would like to suggest the developer to offer bundles ( you get a discount when buy two or more books) as his/her competitors do. Also It will be good if the developers provide an email on the user guide so customers can give provide feedback without using the review section for it.
Need Opening Books ★★★
by DigiZombis - Version 1.2 - Jan 29, 2013
This app is really an excellent idea. Just this evening I was getting frustrated attempting to setup positions from one of my chess books and thought it would be so great if there were interactive ebooks where the positions are already setup. That's when I searched and found this. My issue with this app however is that it needs books dedicated to specific openings like the Sicilian, Nimzo Indian, Ruy Lopez, etc. Strategy books are good but too general.
Serious Chess Book Hater........Till Now! - *****
by quasar1334 - Version 1.2 - Feb 9, 2012
I was a BIG CHESS BOOK HATER..........until this app! I just couldn't stand
the freakin diagrams after every few paragraphs in traditional chess books.
I never could get through one of those things. I truly hated it. I also
resented the fact that it seems I was really missing something that could
make me a better chess player..........oh, if I could only have the patience
to get through one of those awfully boring looking books, was my constant
refrain. But now I just downloaded this book app and I like it a lot so far.
I've been reading the one free book that it came with, and I can't wait to
dive into the additional not-for-free books in the app. It allows you to
follow the diagram by playing it for you...........KOOL! And now I can't
believe I'm really reading and liking a chess book. Keep 'em comin'!
France:
Very Smart ! - *****
by funky derrick - Version 1.2 - Jan 19, 2012
This is my favourite ebook application for studying chess with "ChessDB" .
Left page you have the text, right the animated chess diagrams illustrating
the purpose (you can go backward forward into variations). So for those you
never read any chess book because of having to know 64 squares by heart this
is going to make it easy to improve. This application comes with "Chess
Fundamentals" from Rahul Capablanca for free , which is already a good
reason to get it , as you can buy the real book for 20€ in any chess books
shop... I bought Silmam's "Comprehensive Chess Endings" on my iPad , and
really enjoy it, I had the real book actually, but it was too much work to
visualise the examples before this application came out... I really think
that this way of reading is the future of chess literature . I just hope
more books are going to get released on this, as for now the choice is a
little poor... PS. I have a suggestion, why not putting the chess variations
into a different colour than the main line (in red for example, for lines
and pièces). Also, for those who have an iPad and an iPhone, it's possible
to get a book you have bought on your two machines without any extra paying
with the option share your downloads
Netherlands:
First good app for reading chess books - *****
by Konstri- Version 1.2 - Dec 26, 2011
The title says it all. Good stuff.
USA:
Unique concept - *****
by wulidancing- Version 1.2 - Jan 5, 2012
I have always hated chess books until now. I am a better chess player in a few short hours and look forward to the next lesson, that is a first. It is cliche but this app makes learning chess fun. Hopefully chess authors see the leveraging opportunity to create more powerful teaching materials.
Amazing - *****
by Thor8901- Version 1.2 - Dec 25, 2011
In one word, Awesome. This app really taught me how to play chess. This app gets rid if the difficulty of having to switch between the chess book, and the chess game by combining them into one.
Must-have App for Chess Players - *****
by Rawrr8838737- Version 1.2 - Dec 22, 2011
This App let's you read through a chess book in 1/4 of the time by eliminating the time consuming step of setting up (and resetting for variations) the chessboard by hand. The board is there, the buttons for scrolling through are there, the variations are there for you. It makes a 500+ page book like Silman's Complete Endgame something you can read on the plane or in bed etc. on your iPad without a physical chessboard or a computer nearby. I love chessbooks. I dread the manual labor involved in typing the moves into Fritz or setting up my board. It breaks up the flow of the text. It takes too long. Problem solved! I preferr this interface to the other iPad chess viewer with the Everyman Press books. That publisher should cross-market their books through this reader. It's just better, in my opinion. Eagerly awaiting more books, like Reassess Your Chess: 4th Edition! Jhbchess
Romanian review:
Original idea - *****
by ghalex - Version 1.0.0 - Nov 25, 2011
This application has a very cool and original idea.
UK store reviews...
Superb - *****
by Rivercider - Version 1.0.0 - Nov 13, 2011
Fantastic app, best implementation yet of the chessbook-on-iPad concept. This is the way to do it, I just hope now it fulfills it's potential and is supported well enough to bring it to the attention of more chessplayers, then hopefully we will see a good selection of titles. Well done on getting the superb Valeri Beim book in your catalogue, great start.
Great app - *****
by d4d5den - Version 1.0.0 - Nov 12, 2011
This app is going to be so helpful and I'm sure it will make study and training so much easier
Australian store reviews:
perfect app - *****
by edwardmcrae - Version 1.0.0 - Nov 15, 2011
This app is breathtaking
US Store reviews:
Much better than a plain eBook, the board sets automatically! - *****
by DJ2016 - Version 1.0.0 - Nov 21, 2011
Brilliant app! Book on the left, board on the right. Tap any move in the text, and the board sets automatically to that position. Move pieces to analyze on the right, tap the left to reset and keep reading. Fits the iPad perfectly. No more pieces rolling on the floor, or needing two boards to follow the text. Very nicely done.
What a brilliant idea! - *****
by EvilTimmy - Version 1.0.0 - Nov 16, 2011
THIS is what the iPad is for: An interactive chess book. Comes with one free book and the option to buy others. Must have taken a lot of work to turn these books into interactive books. Hope they can get the rights to do some of the more popular books. My only gripe (and it's the same gripe with a lot of apps) is that I wish it had a thorough user manual built into the app. It's fairly intuitive, but still...
Finally... A fantastic chess book app! - *****
by ZoxSo - Version 1.0.0 - Nov 14, 2011
Well, I had heard that this was coming but that was a few months ago... I must say, it was well worth the wait! Simply elegant and seamless!
This is truly great!!!!! - *****
by Don Madu - Version 1.0.0 - Nov 13, 2011
Just watch the video on Showyou, rush to app store downloaded it cant believe what I have with me for free? Is awesome!! The chess fundamentals is beautiful! Hope to see more books!!
SO SO GOOD!!!!! - *****
by Krames123 - Version 1.0.0 - Nov 12, 2011
An incredible app! Great job, thank you so much for this product!!!! I'm now looking forward to my commute in and out of NYC on the bus everyday as I feel like the time will be VERY well spent studying and learning more about the game I love!!!! I'd love to know what books are coming? I've already purchased 4 of the available books and wonder what might be available next. . . . Thanks again for what I'm sure will be become one of my very favorite apps!!!! -Ted
worth the wait! - *****
by Lightningstorm - Version 1.0.0 - Nov 11, 2011
I first heard about this app afew weeks ago and watched for it everyday! Its here and its everything I hoped it would be. This really streamlines the learning process and is the next best thing to live lessons.In the near future many books will be available and I believe its possible to advance very quickly in your chess with this one app alone! Its very easy to use and once you try it you wont want to study any other way! I give it 5 stars as no other instruction app comes close.
Capablanca's Chess Fundamentals - *****
by ALEKHINE - Version 1.0.0 - Nov 11, 2011
This extremely elegant, high tech (but very easy to use) App is free, and it comes with a stunning version of Capablanca's Chess Fundamentals, which is also free.