Hello and welcome to the results of the Darkness category for round one.

Lafz-e-Mohabbatetin, by TanshinaAfrin
Through to the next round ✅

Strong characterization, easily visualized setting. nice use of atmosphere, localized elements incorporated smoothly. Tragic ending at beginning followed by backstory is a common formula, the trick being execution; would need to read entire work to see if it's pulled off properly. The work needs a grammar editing pass to address issues with word usage, verb tenses, sentence structure and occasional punctuation issues.

Kept In the Dark JABrownOfficial
Through to the next round ✅

I liked the characters and how rounded they are. Notes for improvement are proofreading and making sure each chapter is of a consistent length to keep the flow going. And make sure to try and subvert the norms for the genre you're writing in. I can't judge this work fully because it is unfortunately not finished yet.

The Daughter of Hell IfeoluwaDickson
This book has been eliminated ❌

This piece reads more like a personal journal or a collection of images inspired by the writer's Twilight vampire fantasies, rather than a traditional story. I believe it could benefit from some adjustments.

Sylvermoon Part 1: The Prince's Prodigy Inovawolf
Through to the next round ✅
Not a bad story. Subverts some typical expectations of a werewolf-vs-vampire story while wholeheartedly fulfilling others. Chapter length and slower pacing is something this writer can improve on.

ELSEWHERE by spicydevilegg
Through to the next round ✅
Lovely aesthetic. Unique, bold and terrifying in a good way. Deserving of the only 5-star I've given out in my judging. The biggest thing for the writer to improve on is formatting as paragraphs and lines of dialogue are separated by absolutely gigantic line breaks that ruin the flow.

The No Man Series by Jay5_fizzle
Sorry this book has been eliminated ❌

You have the makings of an excellent action adventure/sci-fi story here. Your grammar and punctuation are a detraction which is in dire need of editing. Lumping all your dialogue together like you have makes it almost impossible to follow. Each character's words need to be in a new paragraph.

The Graveyard Song WalkerGraves
Through to the next round ✅

Your sense of pacing and world building is excellent.  The characters we met in these first 3 chapters are well developed.  There were one or two words that seemed wrong or out of place but that was it.  I suggest a quick read out loud as you look for ways to polish.  It will make it easy to find those out of place words.

The Lycan's Flame hazel_gliipps
Through to the next round ✅

There is an immediate original twist to this story.  The pacing is great and characters are memorable. Voices stay true to themselves.  I would continue reading this story.  The only thing I would like to see is a little more of the settings and action tags between the dialogue.

The Lycan Legend QueridoEve
Through to the next round ✅
And interesting side concept from normal legends.  There are a few misplaced or misused words here and there.  A good edit will get rid of them and a few grammar mistakes.  Pacing was generally good.