goodreads-search_books

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

Annotations already declare readOnlyHint=true, destructiveHint=false, and openWorldHint=true, so the safety profile is covered structurally. The phrase 'public Goodreads book pages' loosely corroborates the open-world nature, but the description does not explain the notable idempotentHint=false, whether results come from live scraping, or whether rate limits apply.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

Two short sentences, front-loaded with the action. The second sentence is largely redundant with the schema's required array, so it does not fully earn its place, but there is no bloat.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

For a single-parameter search tool with no output schema, the definition is minimally viable but thin. It says nothing about result shape, result count, or whether the search hits the live site versus a cached index, all of which an agent would want before calling.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

Schema coverage is nominally 100%, but the only schema description is the single character 'Q', which conveys nothing. The description's 'Required: q' merely repeats requiredness, leaving the agent with no idea what the query string should contain or how it is matched.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description names a specific verb and resource: search public Goodreads book pages. That is enough to separate it from book_get and author_get, which retrieve a single known entity, but it never explicitly states the distinction or what the search matches on (title, author, ISBN).

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

There is no when-to-use or when-not-to-use guidance, and no mention of when to prefer book_get or enrich instead. 'Required: q' is a parameter constraint, not usage guidance.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.