Rating System for Stories Without the Visuals

Published 19th Feb 2025 

By Helena Ghuman

Choosing a book can sometimes take as long as reading it, especially if you have aphantasia. With recommendations everywhere, how do you know if a book will actually suit your reading style?

For those of us who experience stories without mental visuals, certain aspects can make or break immersion. Is the worldbuilding easy to follow? Are the characters compelling? Does the writing rely too heavily on description?

That’s where this aphantasia-friendly rating system comes in! Whether you’re sharing reviews or searching for books that fit your preferences, this system breaks down what makes a book work (or not work) for you.

The Stories Without the Visuals Rating System

Books are rated out of 5 in the following categories, with higher ratings generally being more accessible for aphantasic readers:

📖 Clarity of Plot 

How easy is the plot to follow? Some books have a straightforward, linear story that’s easy to immerse yourself in, while others require more effort to piece together.

📖 1/5 – Complex, multi-layered narratives with shifting perspectives and intricate subplots.

Example: Game of Thrones: With its countless characters, complex political plots, and multiple storylines unfolding simultaneously, the story can be overwhelming and confusing to keep track of the plot.

📖📖📖 3/5 – Moderately intricate plots that require some effort to follow but offer clear payoffs.

Example: The Priory of the Orange Tree: The multi-perspective storytelling and rich worldbuilding require patience, but the story gradually becomes more digestible as connections between characters and events unfold.

📖📖📖📖📖 5/5 – Straightforward narratives with clear progression and minimal complexity.

Example: The Hunger Games: A fast-paced, immersive dystopian story, focusing on action and character decisions with a strong narrative drive and clear stakes.

👤 Character Depth

Do the characters feel real and well-developed, or are they one-dimensional?

👤 1/5 – Characters who lack complexity, with minimal growth or emotional depth.

Example: Twilight: Many characters fall into archetypes, with limited growth or complexity in their personalities and motivations.

👤👤👤 3/5 – Characters with some depth but whose development takes a backseat to plot or worldbuilding.

Example: Caraval: Villains, in particular, can feel cartoonlike at times and serve more as plot devices than fully fleshed-out individuals.

👤👤👤👤👤 5/5 – Deeply developed characters with layered personalities, growth arcs, and emotional complexity.

Example: The Cruel Prince: Jude’s evolution is central to the story and even supporting characters are given rich internal conflicts and distinct motivations.

🌍 Worldbuilding Accessibility

How easy is it to follow and grasp the setting and lore? 

🌍 1/5 – Dense, highly detailed worlds with complex terminology and history.

Example: Dune: The layered politics, complex ecosystems, and unique vocabulary make this world challenging for readers unfamiliar with deep sci-fi.

🌍🌍🌍 3/5 – Engaging but layered worldbuilding that requires some effort to grasp.

Example: Shadow and Bone: The Grisha magic system and lore require a bit of a learning curve at first, though it becomes easier to follow as the story progresses.

🌍🌍🌍🌍🌍 5/5 – Intuitive, real-world, or lightly detailed settings that require no extra effort to navigate.

Example: The Flatshare: A contemporary setting with no fantastical elements, making immersion effortless.

💖 Emotional Impact

How deeply does the book resonate on an emotional level?

💖 1/5 – Light, surface-level storytelling with minimal emotional weight.

Example: The Hating Game: While fun and entertaining, the story lacks deep emotional stakes to connect on a profound level.

💖💖💖 3/5 – May explore meaningful themes, offering moderate emotional engagement.

Example: Beach Read: A blend of light-hearted romance and themes like grief and personal growth.

💖💖💖💖💖 5/5 – Deeply moving narratives that leave a lasting emotional impression.

Example: Normal People: A raw, introspective exploration of human relationships, vulnerability, and miscommunication that lingers beyond the last page.

📝 Ease of Prose

Is the writing accessible and fluid, or does it lean heavily on description and sensory detail?

📝 1/5 – Dense, highly descriptive prose that slows pacing and relies on sensory imagery.

Example: The Lord of the Rings: Known for its dense, sprawling descriptions of landscapes and lore, this can feel overly detailed and tedious for readers who prefer less visual or sensory detail.

📝📝📝 3/5 – Lyrical, descriptive writing that enhances atmosphere but may be demanding for non-visual readers.

Example: The Night Circus: The poetic prose is beautiful but is heavily reliant on sensory details, which can be difficult for readers who struggle with visualisation or prefer simpler styles.

📝📝📝📝📝 5/5 – Straightforward, immersive writing that prioritises story and character over description.

Example: Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine: A clear, accessible narrative style that focuses on internal thoughts and emotions rather than detailed visual imagery.

⭐ How to Use the Ratings

This rating system isn't about whether a book is good or bad—it’s about whether it suits your reading style.

• Struggle with dense descriptions? Stick to books rated 4 or 5 in Ease of Prose.

• Prefer character-driven stories? Look for books rated 4 or 5 in Character Depth.

The idea is to break down what makes a book work for you rather than relying on generic recommendations.

📝 Reader’s Reflections

This is a space to add your thoughts about the book, like:

• What stood out to you most?

• Were there parts you found engaging or challenging as an aphant reader?

• Would you recommend this book to someone with similar preferences? 

Final Thoughts 

This rating system is meant to take some of the guesswork out of choosing your next book, especially if you’re navigating the world of literature with aphantasia. At the end of the day, it’s all about finding stories that resonate with you and match your unique reading style.

💬 What do you think? Try out the rating system and tag @readingwithaphantasia_official with #aphantasiareads!