Hello Horror/Paranormal contestants :D

Welcome to the ROUND 2 results page!

First of all, congratulations again. Your stories have all deserved a place on the semi-finalists list. Your books are amazing and I bet it's been really difficult for the judge of this round to eliminate some of you. But be proud that you made it this far. So give it up for yourselves!

Now, are you ready to see who made it to ROUND 3 and became a FINALIST?

Brace yourselves, for I give you the results for ROUND 2 delivered by judge #2 of the Horror/Paranormal genre, AbiBee (thank you so much, Abigail! ❤).

Cocytus by empiresofwater

[Qualified for ROUND 3]

Chapters: 1, 2, and 3

Plot: 19/20

Characters: 20/20

Writing Style: 20/20

Grammar: 10/10

Originality: 15/15

Enjoyment: 15/15

Total: 99/100

Review:

An excellent feel for atmosphere is produced through deft use of period vocabulary and technical jargon. The author's style is fluent, dropping teasing hints of the main character's potential involvement in the sinister side of things, and of the physical manifestations of the horror – the close atmosphere of a sailing ship is well used as a cradle for the unfolding nastiness.

In The Dark Of The Night by Sophie_songs

[Qualified for ROUND 3]

Chapters: Prologue, 1, and 2

Plot: 17/20

Characters: 20/20

Writing Style: 20/20

Grammar: 10/10

Originality: 15/15

Enjoyment: 15/15

Total: 97/100

Review:

There is great atmosphere, from the setting and the nicely-drawn relationship between the main characters. The use of Nigerian English in natural and clearly-structured dialogue is particularly enjoyable to read, as is the deft economy of the descriptions of place and character. The mystery – which must come in later chapters – is well set-up.

Heart Of Sparrow by annkreeves

[Qualified for ROUND 3]

Chapters: 1, 1.2, and 2.1

Plot: 17/20

Characters: 20/20

Writing Style: 20/20

Grammar: 10/10

Originality: 14/15

Enjoyment: 15/15

Total: 96/100

Review:

This is a slow-burner in terms of the horror. However, the strong main character and the effortless use of slang and natural speech rhythms are a real hook in the early chapters. Faultless grammar. There are interesting premises set up, even though they are seemingly subsidiary to what might become the main plot strand.

Angel Falls by aura_irene_

[Qualified for ROUND 3]

Chapters: 1, 2, and 3

Plot: 18/20

Characters: 20/20

Writing Style: 20/20

Grammar: 8/10

Originality: 12/15

Enjoyment: 15/15

Total: 93/100

Review:

This story has a strong, sassy, appealing heroine with a compelling narrative voice. The economical description gives a good feel for place and atmosphere without getting in the way of the promising plot. It starts strongly, is swift-moving, and jumps straight into the action.

Last Dance by CelticWarriorQueen17

[Qualified for ROUND 3]

Chapters: 1, 2, and 3

Plot: 15/20

Characters: 18/20

Writing Style: 19/20

Grammar: 10/10

Originality: 15/15

Enjoyment: 15/15

Total: 92/100

Review:

Each chapter balances a nice handling of present and past. The dropping of hints of mystery to come is very readable – the tension is slow-burning as a result, but that's no bad thing. The story has an interesting premise, which promises a good story – sadly it's not possible to comment properly on the plot in the first three chapters.

Golden Touch by irenixivy

Chapters: 1, 2, and 3

Plot: 15/20

Characters: 18/20

Writing Style: 18/20

Grammar: 10/10

Originality: 15/15

Enjoyment: 15/15

Total: 91/100

Review:

Great use of vocabulary, and lots of nice descriptions. The story thus far strikes the right balance of mystery and weirdness, and normalcy. There is an interesting premise, and a bold identification of the main male character so early on, and the main female character is intriguing and sympathetic. It is difficult to judge the plot, as it seems to be one which develops slowly, but the first chapters suggest a complex and interesting read.

The Edifice by mysteas

Chapters: 1, 2, and 3

Plot: 18/20

Characters: 19/20

Writing Style: 18/20

Grammar: 7/10

Originality: 14/15

Enjoyment: 15/15

Total: 91/100

Review:

This story has a delightfully slow set-up, conveyed in a fluid style. The normality of the first few chapters gives a chance to build the narrator's character well, as well as that of her antagonist. The small hints of another reality are just the right level of tease for what promises to be an intriguing but slow-burning mystery.

Xenial [Book One / X - XOX Trilogy] by aimee_ph_koert7

Chapters: 1, 2, and 3

Plot: 17/20

Characters: 17/20

Writing Style: 16/20

Grammar: 7/10

Originality: 14/15

Enjoyment: 14/15

Total: 85/100

Review:

Much of the appeal of this story is its vibrant portrayal of the earnest complexities of teenage/young adult life and fragile mental health. There is enough of the paranormal from the off to make it interesting, but leaving plenty of room for questions to be resolved later. Lots of good description of light, sound, touch. The plot really picks up in Ch3.

Free My Petals by BlueStars_FairScars

Chapters: 1, 2, and 3

Plot: 15/20

Characters: 16/20

Writing Style: 16/20

Grammar: 6/10

Originality: 15/15

Enjoyment: 14/15

Total: 82/100

Review:

There is a sinister aura to this story from the start. The style is deliberately serious and dense. The use of the mysterious foreign language is very pleasing. The relationship (mutual dependence?) between Elody and The Woman is set up nicely in these early chapters, although it is difficult to judge the main plot at this stage – but it promises to be interesting.

Congratulations to these 5 Horror/Paranormal participants for making it to ROUND 3:

empiresofwater, Sophie_songs, annkreeves, aura_irene_, and CelticWarriorQueen17.

Now you can use the Finalist sticker here>>