The Grand Masquerade of Writing Awards shivers with anticipation for the Paranormal/Supernatural category! This night wouldn't be possible without the incredible dedication of our esteemed judges.

🥀TheAlixDavenport

🥀IAmGayShipper

A round of applause for this hauntingly brilliant panel! Your passion for the genre, your discerning eye for chilling narratives, and your belief in the power of the supernatural were instrumental in selecting the most spine-tingling, imaginative, and otherworldly novels.

You delved into a chilling landscape of stories – from ghostly whispers to epic battles between good and evil, and heart-pounding urban fantasies. Thanks to your expertise, readers are about to embark on journeys filled with unforgettable characters, suspenseful encounters, and worlds that blur the line between reality and the extraordinary.

To our esteemed Paranormal/Supernatural judges, a heartfelt thank you! Your commitment to excellence and your love for the genre have played a vital role in making The Grand Masquerade a true celebration of stories that send shivers down our spines.

The air crackles with anticipation as The Grand Masquerade of Writing Awards prepares to reveal the champions of the Paranormal/Supernatural genre! Brace yourselves for a night of chilling tales, otherworldly characters, and stories that will leave you sleeping with the lights on!

A round of applause for our incredible runners-up who sent shivers down our spines!

Second Runner Up: We celebrate JankyFluffy, whose haunting novel, CONFORM OR SUFFER, takes home the award! This story masterfully blends suspense and the supernatural, leaving readers questioning the very fabric of reality and yearning for a glimpse beyond the veil.

JUDGE USERNAME: IAmGayShipper

Total: 65.5/100

➟ Book cover [4.5/5] : Book cover looks appealing and attractive much, the font style Is also chosen greatly but it looks kind of childish, not mature, not like that's a bad thing it looks cute nonetheless.

➟ Title [5/5] : The title greatly portrays the story's plotline, and it also depicts the choices given to the characters, either conform or suffer, it is a great idea to make the title like that.

➟ Blurb relevance [9/10] : Blurb is relevant to the story a lot, the story is summarized with cliffhangers perfectly with no grammatical errors, but the format could get some improvement, it doesn't look much great, it suffices but somewhat of improvement will make it better.

➟ Plot and narrative structure [09/20] : Plot seems unique but confusing at most, things doesn't make sense, the story progressed too quickly, the engagement is not too good either.

➟ Characterization [11/15] : characters are all believable and are how people act in real life, people can relate to the characters very much, how they act when betrayed, how they have relationships with their families and all. The dialogues spoken by the characters also flow naturally.

➟ Writing mechanics [11/20] : The story is very confusing things come around out of nowhere, though it doesn't beat around the bush and is straight to the point, there isn't much grammatical errors, the author's voice doesn't pull readers, no matter what it is like I am just reading it for the same of reading, the story is very complicated to understand, things are muddled up a lot.

➟ Content and originality [11/15] : The content fits the genre but not by an lot, till the chapters I have read I didn't find any paranormal or supernatural thing, it's just that they have titles such as elf and fairies apart from it, it seems pretty normal.

The originality is perfect, the story is really unique, it stands out with its creativity and ingenuity.

➟ Overall impression [5/10] : I liked the story but didn't enjoyed it as much as I had expected it to be, the blurb was very exciting but the story told in the chapters was very confusing, things were revealed as though the readers were already aware of it. The story is very unique, it can get better with a bit of editing, ask the question when you reread it again : is it confusing here? And it will get better, best of luck.

First Runner Up: Get ready to be transported to a world of breathtaking magic by Coiner789's spellbinding novel, FEAR THE UNKNOWN. This story delves into the depths of the paranormal, showcasing the power of good versus evil in a way that will leave you utterly captivated.

JUDGE: TheAlixDavenport

TOTAL: 71.6/100

➟ Book Cover Design [05 marks]: Overall score: 4/5

1st glance: 4/5 At first glance, I like the colors and especially the font. It sort of gives that 90s thriller kind of vibe, which I like. The characters don't really say much, and I don't know if they fit the characters in the book, but the red eyes give me a clue to the category placement.
After blurb: 4/5 After the blurb, the cover made a lot more sense, the red eyes, and that sort of looming city in the background blended well together with the feelings the blurb evoked when reading it.
After reading: 4/5 After reading, I still think the cover represents the content well. Damian, as a main character, fits well with the image I got in the book, Ruby, however, I felt didn't get enough of a description to match the cover image. I know it's hard in the first person without sorting to the dreaded 'look in the mirror' scene, but a few more indicators of her appearance would connect the dots. Perhaps in the chapters from Damian's pov.

➟ Title [05 marks]: Overall score: 3,6/5
1st glance: 4/5 The title is unique, but not so unique that I feel it's trying too hard for the sake of being different
After blurb: 4/5 With the blurb in mind, I think the title still holds up. In understanding Damian being estranged from his kin and Ruby seemingly being human (?), and the promise of a labyrinth of danger and dark secrets, it's all good and correlates with the title just fine.
After reading: 3/5 The title still intrigues me, but since there were not enough chapter for me to really grasp the 'unknown' to fear, it was a little hard keeping the correlation. I'll explain more in the Blurb relevance.

➟Blurb Relevance [10 marks]: Overall score: 7/10
After blurb: 8/10 In terms of formatting and grammar, I found nothing to fault. It looked clean and read well. I know the book is ongoing and while chapters are being uploaded, there might be a need for some meat on the bone to lure readers in, but personally, I'm not a fan of the 'excerpt in the blurb' approach. What you had put in after the excerpt was enough to draw me in. Perhaps a little short when it comes to explaining the book, but in its simplicity, that part was fine. The "Fear the Unknown is a riveting..."-paragraph, looks more like a review from a reader than something an author should say about their own book, even if they're proud of their work. My advice is to move it down below the last paragraph, or later on substitute it with an actual review from an excited reader.
After reading: 6/8 The blurb really set the book up for me, and I had high hopes. Some of those hopes were delivered in spades, and some fell a bit to the ground, but... They fell to no fault of yours or your writing, I simply did not have enough chapters of content available to get me all that I was promised in the blurb. With more chapters and more information, I believe this partial score will go up.

➟Plot & Narrative Structure [20 marks]: 15/20
The exposition part of the story does a great job of setting the scene. The prologue: I didn't fully understand the supermarket scene, or who Gabriel was, there was no real introduction, so I was left in the dark about him, but it showed Ruby's life and personality in a short glimpse, and later, her home and routines were presented, and Frida was brought in to show that connection and give a little background on their relationship and what it meant to Ruby. Moving into the actual story, I got a lot of information to establish the human-side world-building, about Ruby's profession and small tidbits about her past that were woven in sneakily to build her character. Bringing in Damian came a little out of the blue, and my suggestion is to maybe do a chapter with his POV before he shows up at Ruby's office, to get a feel for why he would go there in the first place. To show his loneliness and how he sees the world, and also to bring in the supernatural element to the story and balance the world-building. It would emphasize his secretive side when talking to Ruby. No need to mention the one he has inside, but just enough for a reader to establish a relationship with him as a character and connect the dots to the supernatural elements of the story. There were not enough published chapters to fully grasp what was going on and what might come, but personal conflicts were presented and fleshed out, and the inciting incident set the path for Damian's quest to protect Ruby.

➟ Characterization [15 marks]: 11/15

•Depth & Believability: Ruby is a great character. She's got a strong personality, morals, and motivation. Her relationship with her family is a big part of who she's become; through the sacrifices she made, and the determination to do something with her life. Her family has also had an impact on how she views others and her belief in having to do everything herself.
Damian is a little harder to get a grasp on. He's a charmer, and his protective and caring side is shown after Ruby's accident, but up until his chapter, I know very little about him. His chapter, however, is like an explosion of information, and very well crafted to show the two sides of him. His supernatural connections, which explain his heightened rage and need for instant retaliation, are dished out between his inner conflicts and hopes of what he can be when he fully accepts his place in the world.
Additional side characters, like Frida and Ruby's siblings, are there in a supporting capacity that strengthens Ruby's character. They have individuality and enough information to show their importance and impact on the story, but they don't take over the show.

•Development: Damian, I can't say much about. He's not been presented to me enough to see how and if he develops, which I know is due to a lack of more chapters, and not a fault in the writing of the character. Ruby's development is evident after the incident. She's established as a somewhat solitary person with trust issues, and while the story unfolds, her self-insight and perception of what she has believed to be true changes slowly.

➟ Writing Mechanics [20 marks]: 12/20

•Clarity & Conciseness: You undeniably have a way with words. Your descriptions are to die for and create vivid images in the reader's mind. The way you draw in the different senses, especially color and smell, takes the reader into the scene and gives all the feels. You do, however, have a tendency to be repetitive in your use of certain words and phrases; e.g. 'enveloped', 'ebb and flow', 'grappling', 'palpable', 'sentinel', 'voice laced with', and starting many sentences with 'As...'.

•Grammar & Mechanics: There were minor punctuation issues, nothing a quick edit can't fix. The excessive sentence fragments made some paragraphs hard to read, because they were sentence fragment upon sentence fragment and not a period in sight. The lack of active verbs or a subject became jarring some places, but I recognize that sentence fragments can be used as a stylistic choice - Hell, I do that myself for impact at times - but keep them for places where they'll enhance the narrative. In my read-through comments, I mentioned your formatting, which you should do something about ASAP. Long paragraphs with multiple speakers and clumped together dialogues can make it a hard read. I suggested you separated the paragraphs with more than just a new line but an actual division of paragraphs, which can be beneficial on Wattpad, because it'll give your readers more paragraphs to comment on, which in turn can enhance your luck in the algorithm.

•Writing Style & Voice: I touched base with your use of sentence fragments as a stylistic choice, and with a few active verbs or subjects in the longer sentences, I'd say you have a strong, unique style of building emotions, creating images, and weaving words in that flowery and sensory way you do.
•Dialogue: Despite the above mentioned, your dialogues flowed well, and the ping-pong of conversation flowed naturally between the characters. They simply need to be separated between speakers to come into their right.

➟ Content & Originality [15 marks]: 10/15

•Genre Adherence: I'll say that Damian's one chapter saved you here, because outside of the mentioning of his red eyes, I had nothing that connected me to anything supernatural or paranormal. But did that chapter deliver!

•Originality: Your take on the lore was interesting and refreshing, and I expect much from the coming chapters when you dive into his background, his kin, and all the nitty gritty that Ruby will have to understand and accept.

➟ Overall Impression [10 marks]: 9/10

Andthis is where I can go ham with the praise. Ruby, as complex as she is, withher background and how she's risen from having disregarded her own needs totake care of her family, is a refreshing version of the Damsel in Distress. Shewants to come off as a tough and together woman, but she's not a one-personarmy, and she needs to realize that. Asking for and accepting help whendrowning doesn't come easy for her. She's pretty much what most single womenwant to be; strong and accomplished, but without that 'Imma snap your ballsoff'-attitude. She's reasonably cautious, but not opposed to meeting someone,if that someone exists. Damian is every expectation of a Watt romanticinterest. So handsome his mirror fogs up, charming, aloof, protective, andintelligent. And then we add the whole big, bad shifter to the mix, and voila,steamy windows and blushing cheeks. I like their dynamic; the balance betweenthem, both in their differences, but also in their similarities. The overallstory has potential, and I'm looking forward to seeing some edge-of-my-seatmoments and heart-pumping action while they go on whatever journey your twistedmind has come up with. With some formatting adjustments, an editing session,and more chapters, I think you can have the supernatural readers in the palm ofyour hand. Well done!

And now, the moment you've all been anticipating...

The Winner: Bathed in an ethereal glow, we are honored to announce the undisputed champion of the Paranormal/Supernatural genre: alpaljames! Their heart-stopping novel, SLATE GRAY, is a testament to the power of imagination and the enduring allure of the unknown. It's a story brimming with unforgettable characters, otherworldly encounters, and a PLOT that will leave you breathless. It is a genre-bending masterpiece that will transport you to a world where anything is possible. It's a testament to the captivating world of paranormal/supernatural fiction, where the lines between reality and the extraordinary blur, and the power of storytelling chills you to the core.

JUDGE: TheAlixDavenport

TOTAL: 93.9/100

➟ Book Cover Design [05 marks]: 4.3/5

1st glance: 4/5 I'm not usually a fan of drawings on covers, but I liked the style and color blend. The character division, and especially the facial expressions, stood out. The font was easy to read, but I will say the author's name looked small, and the 'by' is unnecessary. But overall, the cover was unique and well done.
After blurb: 4/5 Ok, so the people on the cover are Perrin and Ace, I assume. They look a bit younger than I had expected with the ages disclosed in the blurb, but other than that, I'm still a fan of the cover.
After reading: 5/5 After reading, the characters on the cover stand out even more. I see their facial expression and physical descriptions match what I was presented with in the book, and the seeping darkness in the images is the same sensation I have when reading.

➟ Title [05 marks]: 4.6/5
1st glance: 5/5 Definitely a unique title. I have no idea what it means; if it's a character name, a code name, a color, or something else. I have no idea how to connect the cover images to the title, but I like it nonetheless.
After blurb: 5/5 Ok, so 'Slate' is a name, the family name. Where the 'Gray' comes in, I still don't know, but my intrigue has not lessened with the information.
After reading: 4/5 I'm still a little in the dark about the 'Gray' part. Is it a reference to the shared eye color, or is it a Slate family member I've not encountered yet? Or some other connection I've missed? I don't know. But, honestly, I don't care. The title still rocks, and I like it.

➟Blurb Relevance [10 marks]: 9/10
After blurb: 8/10 The blurb did a good job of giving the needed information to set the premise of the story, while also doing the sneaky teasing to make a reader want to know more. The characters were introduced, their relationship and how they're tied into the story premise got told in enough detail to be informed, but not overwhelmed or bored. I still want to know what the 'Gray' means.
After reading: 10/10 Except for the two questions asked at the end of the blurb, which I still need answers for, but I logically know can't be answered without having read the full story, and it's still ongoing, the blurb delivered in spades. Ace and Perrin, their father, and even the cute store clerk waltzed across my screen as promised, and I got what I had expected - and then some.

➟Plot & Narrative Structure [20 marks]: 18/20

Exposition-wise, the information came in a catch-a-fish motion. Give a little and reel it in again - over and over. Explaining something, then answering some questions, only to present more questions. The unique in the story structure is how it's not a long line of presentation and information blah blah to then move into the rising action phase. No, this story hit the pavement running. Action galore, mixed with character building, background information, sprinkled with ominous foreboding while the reader gets to know the characters. This could easily have been too much from the get-go, and for some, it might be, but only because it's expected to move into the rising action toward a climax, and those phases are usually easily distinguishable from each other, but here, there was just more and more. It's unexpected to see a story that starts at 50/100 and only rises without losing steam. Even the slower chapters kept the audience captivated, and I can't imagine how intense it'll be when it goes over 80/100 when it moves into the climax phase.
The world building was amazing. Through the characters' actions and thoughts, a vivid picture is painted of a world that's supposedly right under our human, unknowing noses. Following the Slate family though something as generic as a shopping trip to the supermarket, the reader gets thrown into what it's like to be a demon slayer. A seemingly standard job to locate a low-level demon turns into a whirlwind of secret shadows of the past, self-discovery, and truths uncovered. A mysterious list and a thousand-year-old bet that's possibly linked to their brother's murder creates the perfect frame for an intriguing ride through danger on the path to the truth about why they're at the center of attention of a high-level demon.

➟ Characterization [15 marks]: 15/15

•Depth & Believability: How can I explain this without just saying 'perfectly executed' and moving along? Ace and Perrin are in many ways typical teenage sisters. With similarities and differences that make them love and protect each other and their secrets, but also make them clash on a massive scale because personalities will win in tight situations. They talk and act like teenagers, but they're also very believable in their capacity as demon slayers-in-training, with the needed adult mindset to go along with the profession. The tragic losses in their lives have helped form them into functioning dysfunctional messes, something that only creates more believability when they act on instinct or lash out. Reed is a typical single dad, always doubting if he's doing the right thing, and still burdened by his profession and knowledge of things no man should have to deal with. He lives with knowing that any decision he makes can be the wrong one, and maybe the last one for himself or his daughters, which is an enormous pressure.

•Development: When looking at the Slate family, I can only think of the 'onions have layers' scene from Shrek. Each chapter is like peeling a layer from the characters to reveal what's underneath. How they're wired and what triggers them. They form more and more with each layer revealed, and where they started in chapter one is a far cry from where they are in the chapter where I left the story.

➟ Writing Mechanics [20 marks]: 18/20

•Clarity & Conciseness: The book is definitely written by a wordsmith with engaging and immersive use of language. The paragraphs are clear and effectively draw in the reader. Pictures are painted in technicolor for the reader, and they tickle the laughter muscles, kick the emotions straight in the nuts, and chill to the bone. Everything is delivered with precision, and there's no denying how masterfully it's done.

•Grammar & Mechanics: There were very few things I could put my finger on. A few odd sentence structures here, and a few word choices that felt a little off compared to the rest of the text. There were quite a lot of missing commas, especially in the longer sentences with several independent clauses, with nonrestrictive clauses, and when reciting items in a series. But overall, that's just a thorough proofing, and the text is good to go.

•Writing Style & Voice: First-person narratives often give the chance to dive deep within the characters and be extremely engaging, and this book is a perfect example of how to get up close and personal with the reader. The overall tone is dark and suspenseful, lightened by splashes of humor amidst a descriptive use of language. Every chapter is fast-paced without feeling rushed, keeping the illusion of high stakes and something new just around the bend. It's commendably done.

•Dialogue: While dialogue in books can appear awkward and stilted, I saw none of that here. The characters spoke as if real people; snappy, sassy, and genuine in harmony with the characterization of them.

➟ Content & Originality [15 marks]: 15/15

•Genre Adherence: Here there's not much to say other than this book passes the genre check. Paranormal or Supernatural, doesn't matter. Both apply, depending on how one defines each genre. This book could have done well in Horror as well.

•Originality: Admittedly, I got a Supernatural tv-series feel in the beginning. There are obvious parallels, and at the same time, this is unique. The demon/monster slaying isn't new, but the way this story is spun makes it feel like something new and fresh.

➟ Overall Impression [10 marks]: 10/10

Let's face it. I'm a fan. And that's quite a feat, because I rarely respond well to teenage-driven stories. I was totally engrossed in the story; I lived and felt with the characters, and I was not the one working my way through a box of Kleenex during that scene with Michael and Naberius, no. That wasn't me.

As I mentioned in my comments, the first chapter had an odd and slow beginning, and I wasn't sure what to think, or if I could like the story. I did easily relate to the mask issue. Still, there wasn't much context for me to latch onto. That changed fast. The description of Linda's first appearance behind the glass had me almost jumping, and from there every little thing was exciting.

It's very hard to praise and not give away spoilers, because I wish for other readers to go into the book with a blank slate - see what I did there? - and have the same experience I had. But I also want to let you, author, know how well-executed the story is. From the characters to the plot, and through descriptions that are amazing, and at times toe-curling. All I can say is: Congratulations.

A huge congratulations to all our finalists! Your creativity and talent have pushed the boundaries of the genre and sent shivers down our spines. To the winner, a heartfelt congratulations! You've crafted a masterpiece that will leave a lasting impression on the world of paranormal/supernatural fiction.

Certificates & Badges: These will be delivered digitally in a separate chapter plus via pinterest or email. Other prizes such as special ticket to interview shop, plot shop etc. will be awarded eventually.Until then, STAY TUNED!