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Love stories come alive in the flickering candlelight of The Grand Masquerade of Writing Awards! Before we unveil the captivating tales that stole the hearts of our judges, we want to express our deepest gratitude to the incredible panel in the Romance genre.
π₯Sugaga777
Your discerning eyes and understanding of love's complexities were instrumental in selecting the most swoon-worthy, heartwarming, and emotionally charged stories this year. You navigated the vast landscape of romance, from the electrifying rush of first love to the enduring strength of lifelong commitments.
Thanks to your expertise, readers will be swept away by narratives that celebrate the power of connection, the beauty of vulnerability, and the enduring magic of love in all its forms. You've ensured these stories go beyond happily-ever-afters, showcasing the journeys, challenges, and triumphs that make love stories resonate with readers.
So, to our esteemed Romance judges, from the bottom of our masquerade masks, THANK YOU. Your dedication to the genre has played a vital role in making The Grand Masquerade a celebration of love in all its literary glory.
And now, the ballroom shimmers with anticipation! The whispers have reached a fever pitch. Tonight, the Grand Masquerade of Writing Awards reveals the masters ofΒ Love in the Romance category!
A round of applause for our captivating finalists! Your heartwarming tales left our judges breathless, and the competition was fierce than ever.
Our Top Contenders for this genre were:-
π₯TheAlixDavenport
π₯cassandrejanvier
π₯Angelic_Maddness
π₯Pinksands1996
π₯4eversherlocked
π₯gremlinsbookstash
π₯sulkytae
π₯clara_bell11
π₯lovelyvblossom
The Grand Masquerade of Writing Awards is thrilled to unveil the captivating novels that have captivated our romance genre judges! Prepare to swoon, sigh, and celebrate the power of love in all its literary glory!
First, let's raise a toast to the runners-up who set our hearts aflutter!
And now, the moment you've all been waiting for...
Second Runner Up: Applause for TheAlixDavenport, whose novel Russian Roulette: FlashbacksΒ takes home the award! This enchanting story unfolds a passionate journey, brimming with unexpected twists and undeniable chemistry.Β
JUDGE:Β Inked_Krishnaa
TOTAL SCORE: 94.5 /100
β Cover: 5/5 - It is gorgeous.
β Title: 5/5 - Resonates perfectly with the prequel and the sequel.
β Blurb Relevance: 9/10 - Could use a bit of refining but is otherwise good.
β Plot & Narrative Structure: 19/20 - Hooks the reader but I find a few parts slightly underwhelming. Well-written with no loopholes.
β Characterisation: 14/15 - Characters have many layers that require a lot of attention to deduce. Very well done with no loopholes to the pertaining qualities. Each dialogue suits their character delightfully.
β Writing Mechanics: 18/20 - Clear and crisp only the necessary scenes have been elongated. Appealing grammar and charming words. An unconventional but alluring style.
β Content & Originality: 15/15 - Goes well with genre fitting perfectly. The usage of wordplay with the plot makes it one of the most thrilling original stories I've ever read.
β Overall Impression: 9.5/10
First Runner Up: Get ready to be swept off your feet by cassandrejanvierΒ captivating tale, Take One More StepΒ This emotionally charged novel explores the complexities of love and loss, leaving a lasting impression on our judges.
JUDGE:Β LiloClasie
TOTAL SCORE: 95/100
β Book title 5/5
It doesn't even take 5 chapters to understand why this is the perfect title for the book. It relates to the book perfectly.
β Book cover 4.5/5
The book cover is pretty and simple. It portrays what you're going to find in the story.
β Blurb relevance 10/10
It's a well written blurb with an intriguing story plot line. Just by reading the Blurb, you feel the sparks that are going to be ignited into the story. It was amazing!
β Plot narrative structure 19/20
The switching of one point of view to another provides a clear description of the story. It enhances the variation of emotions from both characters. It compels me to go through and through the pages, getting dragged along by the characters in the story.
β Characterization 14/15
The emotions expressed by Akhyla would make you feel as if you are in her shoes! I felt her fear of being touched and how traumatized she had always been after such kind of incident had happened to her. I also fear getting 'hugged', like it triggers me so it feels good to have someone whom I can relate with. Plus, don't get me started about the dialogue between Lucian and Akhyla! It felt so amazing as they knew how to handle each other and leave themselves speechless. It felt amazing to laugh and relate to whatever they were passing through.
β Writing mechanism 18/20
The writing is beautiful and it feels so natural! I'm impressed, it was so nice just pass through such a storyline written in good humor. The author tried their very best to execute the story very well. Of course I came through one typo but it wasn't hard to handle.
β Content and originality 14.5/15
Slow burn romance... The pace was smooth, no rushed scenes I came across. It was nice to feel how naturally people meet, even though it's rare but it always happens! So I personally loved the content. I also loved how the mysteries are spread across the chapters rather than introduced in one chapter.
β Overall impressions 10/10
It's something I really enjoyed and I was so excited for every move portrayed in this story! It brought butterflies to my stomachs and made me crack my head laughing. It's rare to laugh from a story itself but this one made me. The author did a great job!
And now, the final moment you've all been waiting for...
The Winner: Bathed in the golden glow of the Grand Masquerade, we are honored to announce the undisputed champion of the romance genre:Β gremlinsbookstash! Their breathtaking novel, Hearts Divided, takes readers on an unforgettable journey filled with captivating characters, a sizzling romance, and a message that will stay with you long after the last page.
This story truly exemplifies the essence of romance β a perfect blend of heart-wrenching moments, soul-stirring connections, and a love story that transcends all boundaries.
JUDGE:Β chuwithluv
TOTAL SCORE: 96.25/100
β Book Cover Design: 5/5
The cover suits the title and the plot of your story perfectly. It's visually practical and cute, and I loved it!
β Title: 5/5
The title effectively conveys the love-triangle thing perfectly. It might seem a bit basic, but it's well chosen and I can't imagine another title that could rival this one's compatibility. Good work!
β Blurb: 10/10
The blurb was perfect! It provided just the right amount of insight into your story, leaving me wanting more. It was compelling and intriguing, like a siren's call. You've got a real knack for hooking readers from the get-go. Bravo!
β Plot and Narrative Structure: 20/20
You successfully hooked me with an intimate, relatable look into your protagonist. Her struggle with self-esteem, emotional scars, and longing for a romantic connection creates immediate empathy and interest. Seriously, you had me rooting for her from the get-go!
The tension β both emotionally and romantically β was on point. I felt like I was on a rollercoaster, but in a good way. Each segment of the story transitioned naturally, maintaining narrative coherence throughout. And you nailed the first-person POV! You provided deep insights into the protagonist's thoughts and emotions, making readers feel like they're right there with her. And now that is how you write a compelling first-person POV.
This was a job well done!
β Characterization: 15/15
This is my favourite part about your story. Your characters are so delightful!
The protagonist was deeply characterized with a well-rounded personality. Her insecurities about her appearance, influenced by her mother's critiques, were believable and relatable. Her internal conflicts, struggles with self-esteem, and longing for a meaningful connection made her a sympathetic and multi-dimensional character.
And not to mention the two other guys β from their physical descriptions to their personalities and their development throughout the story was simply chef's kiss.
The dialogues were natural and effectively revealed character personalities. The protagonist's internal dialogue was particularly strong, providing insight into her thoughts and emotions. I know I keep saying that but I reaaaally liked her. Character interactions were also very well done.
β Writing Mechanics: 18/20
- Clarity: The writing was generally clear and easy to understand. Descriptions of the protagonist's actions, thoughts, and emotions were vivid and well-articulated. So it was easy to follow the narrative.
- Conciseness: Now, while the writing included rich and scrumptious detail, there were moments where the exposition could be trimmed to enhance the pacing. See, some sections delved deeply into the protagonist's thoughts and backstory, which, although added depth, sometimes slowed the narrative progression.
- Grammar: The chapters were mostly free from grammatical errors. Sentence structure was varied, and the writing flow was smooth.
There were few, if any, noticeable typos or punctuation mistakes.
The vocabulary was rich and varied, enhancing the descriptive quality of the writing. You used a mix of straightforward and more elaborate language to convey different aspects of the story, from mundane daily routines to emotionally charged moments, and I absolutely loved every bit of that.
β Content & Originality: 14.25/15
Now okay, the love triangle and mafia things aren't very original, but the content, the story, the characters, all of it felt so new and amazing. The story accurately follows the chosen genre very well. I LOVED the romance and the tension!
β Overall Impression: 9/10
I simply had an amazing time reading the story. It's definitely staying on my offline list. Okay, I might've gotten a bit lazy while reading the first few chapters, but hey, it's all good. And can we talk about those character boards? Holy smokes, they're top tier! Seriously, I'm in awe.
Ahem, anyways, good luck with your writing! You're super talented, and I can't wait to read more from you. Hats off to you! Keep up the fantastic work!
A round of applause for all our finalists! Your talent has captivated us with tales of love in all its diverse forms. To the winner, congratulations! You've redefined what it means to tell a love story.
HONOURABLE MENTION:
JUDGE USERNAME: @Sugaga777
AUTHOR USERNAME: sulkytae
BOOK TITLE: Pretty Reckless
Total: 93.5/100
β Book Cover Design [ 05 marks]: 4
The cover quality is professional and appealing, although the vibe of the book matches the theme and the context of the story, it would be great to add character or have a face claim of the main characters. The subtitle seems small, it's hard to read from the cover.
β Title [05 marks]: 4
The title of the story is pretty catchy, memorable as it's easy to be remembered, but the title can be more according to the story.
β Blurb Relevance[10 marks]: 9
The blurb has information about the story's key element and theme. I like the quote which was simple yet fits the atmosphere.
β Plot & Narrative Structure (20 marks): 20
The plot of the story is interesting and engaging and there was ruse in thrill and tension in between. In the plot, at first when Imogen got sold to some mafia, I thought it's a dark romance but it all summed up. Well, I really like the intense moment between Imogen and Lucien... It made me scream in excitement! I really like how you wrote the story with Iomgen's perspective which attached me with her.
β Characterization (15 marks): 15
The characters in the story have a great personality, especially Lucien's personality. There was development in the character throughout the evolution of the story. In the story some of the dialogue felt forced but it went well as the plot moved ahead.
β Writing Mechanics (20 marks): 19
The language used was clear and easy to understand. There were no grammatical mistakes, but still some room for punctuation. The vocabulary was good up to the suitable atmosphere of the story.
β Content & Originality (15 marks): 14
The story was up to the genre. As for the start, I could say it was something I had read in a mafia story, but the rest was an interesting and original twist. The story did have originality and it wasn't easy to guess the action of the characters as we moved further. The story does catch the attention.
β Overall Impression (10 marks): 8.5
I am not a fan of romance but I really enjoyed the story, it was interesting and engaging. I would say, Imogen is a strong girl!
To the aspiring storytellers whose romances didn't take center stage tonight, remember β The Grand Masquerade's ballroom is still filled with the whispers of love!
This year's Romance category was a heart-stopping race. Every entry showcased the power of your words to weave tales of desire, devotion, and happily-ever-afters. The competition was fierce, and each story held its own unique charm, making the judges' decisions incredibly challenging.
Remember, the world of romance fiction thrives on diverse voices and captivating narratives. Keep writing the stories that ignite your passion, and don't be discouraged.
Who knows, next year, your story might be the one taking center stage at the Grand Masquerade! Until then, keep the darkness burning bright and have a look at what out judges have to say about your works!
Β JUDGE:Β chuwithluv
AUTHOR USERNAME: @Angelic__Maddness
BOOK TITLE: Inseparable
Total: 93/100
β Book Cover Design: 4.5/5
I feel guilty taking away the 0.5 because trust me, the cover actually is super pretty, but I think considering the plot and setting of your book, it could've been a bit... more? But it could just be a 'me' thing, though.
β Title: 5/5
It's perfect for your story! It might seem like a bit of a common title, but it suits your story ridiculously well, leaving no room for any sort of critique. Good job.
β Blurb: 10/10
Now that is what you call a blurb! It was perfect β it acted as an appealing preface of your book, while also not giving away too much information. It was interesting and compelling, and there were no grammatical errors. I loved it!
β Plot and Narrative Structure: 18/20
The plot was really engaging and entertaining. You had me hooked from the very beginning. And let me yap about the beginning more β it was so, I don't know, enigmatic? It was just so perfectly written, I was super engrossed!
Now, the pacing was a tad too fast at times. And the transitions between scenes were a bit too off, making it hard to process a couple of scenes.
Also, there were a few chapters (one that I can remember is the Christmas special episode or something like that, I think? I'm sorry, I've the memory of a goldfish) where the POVs were playing hopscotch. One minute we were in one character's head, then the next we're in another's, and then suddenly, bam, third person POV out of nowhere. It left me feeling a bit dizzy and lost.
But despite these minor issues, you've got a really interesting story cooked up here. It's well-planned and executed well for the most part. Good job!
β Characterization: 14/15
The main characters were well-written and, most importantly, realistic. They had clear goals and struggles. I especially loved Gabriel's character and his internal monologue. The dialogues were realistic and suited the situation. However, sometimes the dialogues didn't feel unique to the characters. What I mean is, the dialogue didn't always feel like something that specific character would say. It didn't always make me think, 'Oh, this is totally something he/she would say.' This wasn't very prominent in your book and might not be that serious, but I wanted to point it out while I had the chance.
β Writing Mechanics: 18.75/20
Absolutely adored your writing style! It was really engaging and smooth. It was like I had to put in no effort to read, felt like I was just floating away with the words.
The descriptions were perfectly crafted. While there was some exposition in some places, it mostly wasn't bothersome at all. Also, the writing was generally free of grammatical errors, though there might've been few issues with punctuation and spelling in some places, but that's just a matter of a quick proofreading session.
But one thing I'd like to point out is to avoid dialogues after dialogues without any other descriptions. At some point, it starts to feel like I'm reading a script for a never-ending play. Especially when it's a conversation between uninteresting or side characters, like that convo with that doctor (I forgot the name again) for instance. Now you didn't do this all the time, but wherever it was there, it might get a bit tiring.
But in the end, your writing style was alluring and super good. So, I could care less about the dialogue thing. Keep it up!
β Content and Originality: 13.75/15
The book sticks to its chosen genre, which is the good ol' romance. I got exactly what I expected when I read the blurb.
Now, initially, the blurb made me feel like the story would lean heavily on the clichè side. But I've gotta say, the book has a really fresh perspective, and one that I truly enjoyed! So, while the themes may not be exactly original (hence why I took off a point, of which I feel guilty), the content IS there. It was well-planned, and it definitely stands out from the crowd with its ingenuity. So, hats off to you!
β Overall Impression: 9/10
I had a jolly time reading the book, no kidding. I want to yap more about Gabriel, but sadly I must refrain myself. The transition between scenes and the POV changes (only in some chapters, though) did throw me off a bit (hence why I took off a point), I still had a blast reading your book. Your writing skills are truly majestic, lol. Seriously, you're super talented, and I hope to read more about my boo Gabriel. Keep up the great work!
JUDGE: Inked_Krishnaa
You and Me Only - solialex_0909
Total Score: 93/100
β Cover: 4.5/5 - The picture is beautiful and all but the font doesn't suit the message it conveys
β Title: 4.5/5 - Doesn't give the feel of the book completely
β Blurb Relevance: 10/10 - It is taken directly from the chapter
β Plot & Narrative Structure: 18/20 - Very engaging but at times a bit confusing. Well-structured sentences but the paragraphs are either too lengthy or too short
β Characterisation: 12/15 - The characters are too cliche. The characters do not seem to change at all. Well-written dialogues but the way they are presented can be altered a bit
β Writing Mechanics: 20/20 - It is short and crisp but the readers may need clarification sometimes. Well-written and well-structured. Beautiful. It knows what to say and what not to.
β Content & Originality: 14/15 - Fits very well in Romance though unconventional (I don't mean to be rude.) Amazing. One of the best ideas I have seen.
β Overall Impression: 10/10
JUDGE USERNAME: @Sugaga777
AUTHOR USERNAME: @clara_bell11
BOOK TITLE: August
Total: 91/100
β Book Cover Design [ 05 marks]: 3.5
The cover quality is professional and appealing but to be honest, I think the cover can be more creative. It does reflect the genre but still it feels something is left out.
β Title [05 marks]: 3
The title of the story is pretty catchy, memorable as it's easy to be remembered, but the title can be more according to the story.
β Blurb Relevance [10 marks]: 10
The blurb has information about the story's key element and theme. It's mysterious and draws attention. There is nothing more to convey because it's a pretty catchy blurb.
β Plot & Narrative Structure (20 marks): 18
The plot of the story is interesting and engaging. In the plot, the scenes were simple but interesting as the chemistry between the characters increased. I like how you explained every emotion and also the perspective of every character by chapters.
β Characterization (15 marks): 15
The characters in the story have a great personality, especially Augustine's personality. There was development in the character throughout the evolution of the story.
β Writing Mechanics (20 marks): 19
The language used was clear and easy to understand. There were no grammatical mistakes, but still some room for punctuation. The vocabulary was good up to the suitable atmosphere of the story.
β Content & Originality (15 marks): 14
The story was up to the genre. Vacation love is something people don't write about because it is usually sad or even if they continue, it leads to something sad. But your story was really cute and romantic, and the ending was a really happy one. The story did have originality.
β Overall Impression (10 marks): 8.5
I am not a fan of romance but I really enjoyed the story, it was interesting and engaging. Does it have a season 2 for the love that bloomed between them?
JUDGE USERNAME: @Sugaga777
AUTHOR USERNAME: @Pinksands1996
BOOK TITLE: Cinnamon Bay
Total: 91/100
β Book Cover Design [ 05 marks]: 4.5
The cover quality is professional and appealing. It is just perfect for the story. It gives the vibe of the story theme.
β Title [05 marks]: 5
The title of the story is pretty catchy, memorable as it's easy to be remembered, the title can be more according to the story as it all takes place in Cinnamon Bay.
β Blurb Relevance[10 marks]: 10
The blurb has any information about the story's key element and theme. It was interesting and also let readers create a question of their own which led them to read and find out the story.
β Plot & Narrative Structure (20 marks): 18.5
The plot of the story was interesting, engaging and there was a rush of emotions and romance in between. In the plot, I like how Isa stayed strong after she lost her children and her husband. The romance was so cute, the scenes were simple but that's what made it interesting and original.
β Characterization (15 marks): 14.5
The characters in the story have a great personality, especially Jack's personality. He was so romantic and trying to put effort with everything he do. There was development in the character throughout the evolution of the story. In the story some of the dialogue felt forced but it went well as the plot moved ahead.
β Writing Mechanics (20 marks): 17
The language used was clear and easy to understand. There were no grammatical mistakes, but still some room for punctuation. The vocabulary was good up to the suitable atmosphere of the story. There are some places where sentences don't make scenes.
β Content & Originality (15 marks): 13
The story was up to the genre. The journey of Isa was inspiring and romantic. The story did have originality and it wasn't easy to guess the action of the characters as we moved further. The story does catch the attention, but it still needs some proof reading regarding grammar.
β Overall Impression (10 marks): 8.5
I am not a fan of romance but I really enjoyed the story, it was interesting and engaging.
JUDGE USERNAME: @Sugaga777
AUTHOR USERNAME: @4everSherlocked
BOOK TITLE: Body and soul
Total: 90.5/100
β Book Cover Design [ 05 marks]: 5
The cover quality is professional and appealing, it gives the story vibe and is perfect for the book
β Title [05 marks]: 5
The title of the story is pretty catchy, memorable as it's easy to be remembered, it reflects the main theme of the story.
β Blurb Relevance[10 marks]: 9
The blurb has any information about the story's key element and theme. It's mysterious and interesting but can be enhanced with dialogues
β Plot & Narrative Structure (20 marks): 18
The plot was so interesting, every moment it felt exciting. Body swap is a very intriguing concept but the plot was rather fantasy then romance. I mean, there was romance between Jungkook and Laylin but it didn't stand out more than the twist of Taehyung being Jungkook's brother. I like how you explain everything, even the layout of the house and all. There were more explanations than dialogue, and I think it should be in balance.
β Characterization (15 marks): 14.5
The characters in the story have a great personality, especially Jungkook's personality. There was development in the character throughout the evolution of the story. Every character had a fun side and I was fascinated about how you made the characters fun yet mature.
β Writing Mechanics (20 marks): 20
The language used was clear and easy to understand, there were no grammatical mistakes or punctuation. Vocabulary was according to the atmosphere of the story yet rich.
β Content & Originality (15 marks): 10
The story was not so upto the genre, as I said earlier that the story reflects more of the mystery bond that Taehyung and Jungkook have, because more if you look at the chapters they are around both of their emotions and past. I admit there are scenes which are romantic but didn't stand out well, it was like a side story. This body swap story really goes in the category of fantasy. The scenes were original and I really enjoyed every bit of it.
β Overall Impression (10 marks): 9
This story was something I am into nowadays, I really enjoyed every moment, I never thought Jin can be a fortune teller and the Yoongi's character was so fun to read, I mean the way you describe his emotions it was fun. He did played a good role at the end. The ending was so happy, I got emotional. I really liked this story!!
JUDGE: chuwithluv
AUTHOR USERNAME: @Lovelyxblossom
BOOK TITLE: Dress
Total: 90.5/100
β Book Cover Design: 5/5
It was a very pretty cover. I really liked the placement of the characters. It was really eye-catching and professional-looking. I loved it!
β Title: 5/5
At first I was like 'interesting choice for a title', but then I read the description and bam, I knew it was perfect. So, while the title may not have been jaw-dropping or out of this world (though a title doesn't really have to be any of that, I just like to be dramatic), it really suits your story.
βBlurb Relevance: 7/10
The blurb effectively set up the central characters (Loraine and Charlie) and their relationship dynamics. It also raised curiosity by hinting at a potentially intimate moment between Loraine and Charlie. So bravo on that part.
However, you didn't capitalize the first letter of the starting word of a sentence, nor the characters' names. It kind of detracts from the professionalism of the book and might shoo people away. Also, the incorrect punctuation takes away from the overall quality of your blurb. If not for these issues, I think yours is a compelling blurb!
βPlot & Narrative Structure: 19.5/20
It would be a lie if I didn't say the first chapter in itself had me hooked! The introduction of Harry and his awkward invitation set the foundation for conflict. And Neil talking about his father and all of that β SO good.
The narrative flow was smooth and crisp with natural transitions. The use of dialogue was strong, revealing character traits and building tension. Now this is how you use dialogues to your advantage. There was emotional depth, and the scenes felt natural and real and smooth. I loved it!
Okay, then you might be wondering why I took off 0.5 points. This wasn't much of a problem to be fair, but just to put it out there β there were moments where the narrative tells the reader about characters' emotions or past events instead of showing them through actions and interactions. For instance, showing more of Neil's emotional reaction to his father's demands through his actions or expressions could be more impactful than just stating his feelings. But I still did feel emotional reading it. This wasn't much prevalent in your story, so you're good. And to be honest, this might just be personal preference.
Overall, fantastic job. Your plot and narrative structure are nearly spot on. Keep up the great work!
β Characterization: 15/15
Characterization was top-notch. I absolutely loved every bit of it.
Each character had a distinct personality. They had clear motivations, flaws, quirks, and behavioural patterns. They were well-rounded and believable.
The character development? Spot on. Plus, the foreshadowing for potential character growth in the earlier chapters was chef's kiss.
The dialogues generally felt natural and helped to reveal character personalities and dynamics effectively. Like in the first chapter, the banter among Loraine's friends was a hoot, and Neil's hesitant but respectful responses to his father? Pure gold.
It's safe to say you're excellent at creating realistic and compelling characters. Good job!
β Writing Mechanics: 16/20
The writing was generally clear, with each scene and interaction being easy to follow. Descriptions and dialogue effectively conveyed the setting and characters' emotions.
Now grammar was where you lost points.
The writing contained some manorly noticeable grammatical errors, typos, and punctuation mistakes. For example, inconsistent capitalization and missing punctuation disrupted the reading experience.
It is important to start every new sentence, dialogue, and a proper noun with a capital letter.
There were also instances of missing or misplaced punctuation, especially in dialogue tags and sentences.
Your voice was present and engaging, drawing the reader into the story. It captured the characters' perspectives and emotions well. The vocabulary was also appropriate for the setting and characters.
The writing mechanics were strong but could benefit from refinement. If you ask me, the grammar (as in capitalization) and punctuation part needs serious attention.
β Content and Originality: 14/15
The dynamics between students, the pressure from parents, and the challenges of balancing personal desires with expectations were excellently executed. Themes of authority, peer relationships, and individual struggles against societal and familial expectations were clear and relatable.
The pacing? Perfectly balanced. You provided just enough detail to set the scene while keeping the story moving forward at a nice clip.
Now, the concept of a girl being sent to a prestigious all-boys school isn't exactly very original. But, the execution was brilliant, the story line was fresh. Introducing Loraine as the daughter of the dean? That was an interesting twist. Her dynamic with her friends and the gender-specific expectations from her father offered new angles on familiar themes.
Overall, you nailed it. Great job!
β Overall Impression: 9/10
It was a good and well planned book. I might've been thrown off by the lack of proper capitalization, though. Regardless, the content was original and the characters were super engaging. Your story's already doing well which is great, but it truly deserves even more. Good luck!
JUDGE USERNAME: @Sugaga777
AUTHOR USERNAME: @Namjoonaahhh
BOOK TITLE: Sexologist
Total: 87.5/100
β Book Cover Design [ 05 marks]: 3.5
The cover quality is professional and appealing, it gives the story vibe but the cover can have a better vision.
β Title [05 marks]: 5
The title of the story is pretty catchy, memorable as it's easy to be remembered, and is according to the story.
β Blurb Relevance[10 marks]: 5
The blurb didn't have any information about the story's key element and theme, there was just a dialogue in the blurb, which I think would look good on cover as a subtitle and in the blurb you should add a small summary of story, rhetorical questions etc.
β Plot & Narrative Structure (20 marks): 18.5
The plot of the story was interesting, engaging and there was a rush of emotions, intensity and romance in between. In the plot, I like how the character stayed strong. The romance was so cute, and the mature scenes were so sexy. It was a bit rushed as I think there are some parts where you can take more time to explain the scenes.
β Characterization (15 marks): 13
The characters in the story have a great personality, especially the main female's personality. There was development in the character throughout the evolution of the story. In the story some of the dialogue felt forced but it went well as the plot moved ahead.
β Writing Mechanics (20 marks): 20
The language used was clear and easy to understand. There were no grammatical mistakes, or punctuation. The vocabulary was good up to the suitable atmosphere of the story.
β Content & Originality (15 marks): 14
The story was up to the genre. The whole plot was original with all the events disclosed throughout the story. I really like how Namjoon tried to help the main character and how bravely she started strong.
β Overall Impression (10 marks): 8.5
Overall, this story has a great concept, with mature context, which I really liked. I really enjoyed the story, it made me smile when she won the battle against her husband.
Stay Mine byΒ lostlovefairy
JUDGE: LiloClasie
Total:85.5
β Book title 5/5
The title is so relevant and catchy with a simple phrase that is easily memorable. It's building up a mindset that whatever happens, they have to stay and not leave!
β Book cover 4/5
The cover could be polished alittle to be more attractive and interesting.
β Blurb relevance 7/10
Even though the idea is very clear about the 'now' one sided love between Alan and Fiza. It still isn't clear or intriguing enough to hook up a reader. I hope the author could take some time to just enhance the blurb to make it more intriguing and mysterious! I understand it's a sequel but I guess it could still use some magic to engage the readers attention.
β Plot narrative structure 17/20
It's a nice story line that it gets me curious to continue flipping the pages! At first I was more intrigued by Alan but the small toxic traits he was portraying were making me so mad. The author did a good job at expressing those emotions, I even hated Aradya with passion! The pacing was sometimes rushed and I felt lost at times with unclear transitions. But just a little editing it would be more interesting.
β Characterization 13/15
Ziya is my favorite protagonist but still I can't pin point her actual character. Is she a powerful person to defend her self or a weak person? At first she was showing a great attitude that she could defend herself. For instance, when she was questioning Alan's grandmother's attitude towards her convertion to Christianity. She seemed to be a strong woman who knew how to defend herself but in a blink, that trait dissappeared without a proper trace and it was kinda dissapointing.
β Writing mechanism: 17/20
The chapters were straightforward with a quickening pace but it was not hard to follow around. The prologue that was set at first portrayed like the first few chapter will accomodate the point of view between the husband(faisal and Ziya) and not Alan. My mindset was set to the slow burn romance between Faisal and Ziya... But still, it wasn't dissapointing. I found the story line to be genuine.... It portrays what people actually pass through in real life. Being manipulated by love and giving in their pieces till they're too broken to get healed.
The Grammar was so coherent, easy to pass through and didn't recognize much errors. I loved how the author used the third point of view to describe how each character felt. It was amazing.
β Content and originality 13. 5/15
The storyline, characters and the emotions demonstrated in this story was splendid! I was in love whilst reading the whole story!!! It made me angry sometimes but yes it only means that the author did a great job at manipulating our emotions. The incidences where by people try to ruin other people's relationships and the poor relationship status because of long distances was so natural. It felt real.
β Overall impressions 9/10
I enjoyed going through the story and just flipping the chapters! It was amazing The author did a spectacular job!!! β€οΈ
Call me Vi byΒ Han_writer21
JUDGE: LiloClasie
Total:85
β Book title 3.5/5
The book title does not necessarily fit the story line. The main story line plot is about two distinct people. One a journalist, the other a celebrity... All opting for true love, maybe you could bring or re-build a strong title to fit the story!
β Book cover 5/5
The book cover explores the attitude of the character even before reading the book. It gives a perfect impression of how different the person is from the other. I could clearly tell, they would be enemies at first encounter!
β Blurb relevance 7/10
The blurb lacks much stronger verbs to compel a reader to dive even more. Consider rennovating the blurb and adding a mystery or more curiousity for the readers.
β Plot narrative structure 18 /20
The story line itself is dragging and what's more dragging is the flow of the story. I liked the pace and the control of clichΓ© scenes that could have ruined the mood of the story.
β Characterization 13.5/15
My favorite character is Reagan. She's bold confident and strong that she's not terrified by someone above her. This gives off a good set up for the story line you created. She also showcased an element of care, fear and worry which honesty blended well with the story.
β Writing mechanism 17/20
Your writing style is amazing! I loved how the dialogues flowed naturally. A little improvement on analogues but otherwise, good job!
β Content and originality 13/15
How Vi and Reagan met is chaotic but the enemy phase didn't last long which wasn't bad at all. The fact that Reagan felt even bad for Vi and didn't jump into conclusions yet about her rude personality, reminded me that people still exist who don't judge at first glance. It was welcoming and amazing but still, she seemed to be un-natural sometimes.
β Overall impressions 8/10
I personally loved the main idea behind the story! Enemies to lovers is my kind of tea and absolutely, I loved the firely dialogues exchanges between them in the first chapters. The author did an amazing Job!
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Sweet Home - ellie_moonchxld
JUDGE: Inked_Krishnaa
Total Score: 77.5/100
β Cover: 3.5/5 - Picture is beautiful but it doesn't have the title, not the name of the author.
β Title: 3/5 - Makes sense but doesn't resonate with the plot.
β Blurb Relevance: 4/10 - Very short and doesn't look at the story in itself.
β Plot & Narrative Structure: 20/20 - Amazing. Brings the reader in just as the story starts. Very well written.
β Characterisation: 12/15 - The characters seem a bit cliche but the development and their dialogues were very well-suited.
β Writing Mechanics: 14/20 - The writing style seemed a bit overused and looked like any average Korean-based story.
β Content & Originality: 13/15 - It is not an original idea but an idea well-presented.
β Overall Impression: 8/10
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AUTHOR USERNAME: @sno_wwie
BOOK TITLE: Red
JUDGE: chuwithluv
Total: 73/100
β Book Cover Design: 5/5
It does its job as a cover well. It's pretty and practical. I liked it.
β Title: 3.75/5
Alright, let's talk about "Red." Now, I'll admit, it's not exactly reinventing the wheel in terms of titles. It isn't unique or ingenious. But hey, don't sweat it! Because while "Red" might not be winning any awards for originality, it resonates perfectly well with the themes of your story. It's got that whole symbolic thing going on, tying into romance and revenge, which are your story's bread and butter. So yeah, it might not be the flashiest title on the block, but I can't think of anything else that would suit your story as good as 'Red'. I had to dock a few points for the lack of creativity in terms of ingenuity, but it's still solid.
βBlurb Relevance: 5.75/10
Now, onto the blurb. It's like the teaser trailer for your book. And while it's a bit on the short side, I gotta give props for getting straight to the point. It's like, "Bam! Here's why I called it 'Red'." I loved that, you know, tying it all back to the title. It also is a good peek into the main elements of your story. But, I wouldn't exactly call it a complete blurb. A blurb should give a preface of your book, but your current one kind of feels like just a catchphrase. It could be sometimes not too eye-catching for some people as the ideas of love and revenge are a bit clichè. But your story is executed differently and that's what matters. And also, I do think the blurb is quite poetic!
So, while it might not be the most detailed blurb in the world, it's a decent sneak peek which could've been better. Hence why I took away a few points.
βPlot & Narrative Structure (20 marks): 12.5/20
Now, I know this looks like a very discouraging score, but I'll be telling you why I took away so many points:
Dialogue Heavy: First things first, the book relies heavily on dialogue to convey information and drive the plot forward,which lead to exposition-heavy sections or overly direct communication between characters. This was the main problem of your story. Balancing dialogue with descriptive prose and action would've created a more dynamic and engaging narrative.
Pacing Issues: The chapter moves quickly from scene to scene, which resulted in some key and sentimental moments feeling rushed or bland or lacking in development. It didn't feel real. It didn't feel like it was happening. It felt kind of. . . theatrical? I highly recommend you slow down the pacing in certain sections and allow for more exploration of the characters' emotions and motivations. Allow them to grow and present themselves infront of the readers. Give the characters more space to breathe.
Anyways, I was super engrossed in the oozing tension between the characters. That was SO well done. I love a book that does tension between characters impeccably. I loved it!
β Characterization: 9/15
Okay, now please don't be discouraged by your score! I think your characters have a great foundation which easily could be worked upon to build strong and compelling characters. Characterization and contrasting personalities on your part was good, but believability needed improvement.
Don't worry, I'll be explaining what went wrong:
1. Depth: While the characters have some depth and complexity, there's room for further development to make them more multi-dimensional. Give them more, you know, quirks, flaws, traits, mannerisms. More life.
2. Realism: Now this is the most important part. Like I said earlier, your characters have a strong foundation. BUT, most of the time, they felt theatrical. Some aspects of the characters, particularly their reactions and dialogue, I'll be honest, felt unrealistic or melodramatic.
The thing is, their dialogues and reactions just don't help the readers to build an emotional connection with the characters. Like I said before, your story is too fast-paced and dialogue-dependent, so everything's just happening like WHAM and then WHAM (I hope that makes sense).
Readers want to feel like they're right there in the thick of it, riding the emotional rollercoaster alongside your characters. So dive deep into their inner turmoil, let their conflicts simmer and stew, and you'll have readers eating out of the palm of your hand.
My main point is: subtlety in their interactions could make the characters more relatable and engaging to readers. Also, the dialogues felt way too over-the-top, especially in the earlier chapters. Slow it down a bit. Most of Y/N's and Taehyung's interactions were sensitive scenes. But I feel like when you threw dialogue after dialogue without telling us what it made the characters feel made it feel like I was eating just a boring slice of white bread. Again, please don't feel bad, your story was very engaging regardless and had me reading the entire thing in just an hour.
And I loved Y/N's thirst for revenge! I especially loved her character. She was strong and unyielding, and these qualities of hers were showcased perfectly. So, good job!
β Writing Mechanics : 17.75/20
Okay, so the writing is generally clear and easy to follow, with coherent sentence structure and smooth transitions between scenes.
I also LOVED the imagery, it was very well done. The vivid imagery helped to set the scene and create atmosphere. The characters' appearances, and gestures were written well. So excellent job on that.
But, in terms of writing style, I'd say finding more subtle ways to convey background information or character history could improve the flow of the narrative. I know I've said the same thing over a hundred times now, but I'd say this is the only major problem with your story.
Like, some moments rely too heavily on telling rather than showing, particularly when characters directly state their emotions or thoughts rather than demonstrating them through actions or body language. I'd say you should let readers infer from the descriptions you give. It could help them be more immersed in your story.
Okay, this isn't much of a big deal but I've noticed occasional instances of repetitive language or phrasing, which could be polished to increase the impact of your words. Avoiding redundancy can help add more richness to your writing style.
β Content & Originality: 11.25/15
Your story has stuck to the chosen trope and genre. I think you did a great job establishing the conflict between the characters. God did I absolutely love their dynamic! I got exactly what I expected when I read the blurb. So good job on that.
But I wouldn't say it's completely fresh in terms of originality. Some elements and themes and all that were a bit clichΓ¨. But that's completely fine! ClichΓ¨'s are clichΓ¨'s for a reason β you know, because it's too good you can't ever get enough of it? However since originality (or atleast a bit of new direction) is a part of the rubric, I'll have to take off points.
β Overall Impression: 8/10
It was a good book. I had a fun time reading it! I'm definitely glad I got to judge your book. Trust me when I say it has a LOT of potential. If you work on a few minor issues, like fixing the pace and character development a bit, I think your story could do great! Keep writing and good luck!
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AUTHOR USERNAME:@BBqweenwrites
BOOK TITLE: In Love With My Sister's Boyfriend
JUDGE: chuwithluv
Total: 57.75/100
β Book Cover Design: 3/5
Alright, I'll be straight with you β the cover isn't my favourite. It feels like someone just crammed the words in there. It was hard to read the title at first glance, and that's a big no-no. Plus, the title on the cover isn't even the full title of the book. A book cover should be inviting and clear, giving readers a taste of what's inside without making them squint. So, a bit of a redesign could go a long way here. Make it clear, make it readable, and make sure it shows the full title. You've got this!
β Title: 3/5
It's clear and direct, which is great for readers who want to dive right into the drama without any mystery. However, it's also a bit basic and doesn't leave much to the imagination. It sort of, you know, basically states the entire plot. It's the equivalent of naming a crime thriller "The Killer Did It." Sure, it tells you what you're getting, but where's the suspense? It's also a bit of a mouthful, but I didn't take any points off for it because that just might be personal preference.
βBlurb Relevance: 5/10
The blurb is clear in setting up the central conflict involving a love triangle between Ivy, her sister Emily, and Zach.
It introduced the main emotional conflict quickly, which is good for engaging readers. However, it could be more compelling by giving a stronger sense of what is at stake and what makes this story unique.
See, the love triangle is a common trope in romance, and the blurb doesn't highlight any unique aspects of your particular story. Adding a unique twist or an intriguing element could've helped set it apart.
And awkward phrasings like, "It's getting harder to hide her feelings and would she break them apart" detract from the professionalism of the blurb. However the themes of unrequited love and jealousy are relatable and can be engaging to many readers of your chosen genre.
βPlot & Narrative Structure: 7/20
The score is on the harsh side, I know. But let's break down why it's so low.
First off, the pacing and narrative structure felt a bit like a rollercoaster. It was simply jumbled and all over the place. Hence, some scenes were a bit hard to visualize. Slowing down the pace to explore Ivy's emotions and thoughts in more depth would really help to solidify the narrative.
And about that internal monologue β or lack thereof. The book is in first person POV, but Ivy's inner thoughts and feelings are almost MIA. Plus, you're jumping between first person and third person within the same paragraph, which was super confusing. Pick one POV and stick with it, or at least give the readers a heads up before switching.
Also, if you go with the first person POV, Ivy wouldn't magically know that Zach needs to "pee" and other details like that.
Then there's the issue of characters spawning out of thin air. Case in point: Eric suddenly appearing in the hallway looking "sus" and spilling the beans about Iris. It felt more like a plot convenience than a believable moment. Building up the suspense and tension instead would make these revelations hit harder.
On a positive note, the idea of a protagonist crushing on her sister's boyfriend is juicy β it's a classic, forbidden love scenario that shakes up the sister code. It might not be the most unique concept, but you're doing a solid job with it. Keep going!
β Characterization: 9/15
Please don't be discouraged by your score. I think you've got great potential for creating compelling characters, but there are a few areas where you could improve.
Dialogue: Let's talk dialogue. Some of it feels a bit stiff. For example, Emily's lines like "Zachy. You're here" and "Awwwn you're so sweet" come off as forced. Try toning it down a bit, make it more natural and subtle. Think of how real people talk β it's rarely so on-the-nose.
Zach's Character: To be straight with you, Zach feels a bit one-dimensional. Give him some quirks, traits, hobbies and stuff. Make him more than just a love interest.
Emotional Depth: Ivy has a lot of potential as a character. Dig deeper into her feelings, perhaps through internal monologues, to give readers a better grasp of her internal struggles. She is quite relatable as of now, but this will make her journey more engaging.
Show, Don't Tell: I'll explain this with the help of an example: when describing Ivy, show rather than tell. Instead of saying "Ivy has a tomboyish style," describe her clothes and let readers draw their own conclusions. Okay, you did do a good job describing her clothes, but let that stand alone without explicitly stating her style. Readers enjoy piecing things together and feeling like they're part of the story.
Overall, you're on the right track. With a few tweaks, your characters can go from good to unforgettable. Keep refining, and you'll get there!
β Writing Mechanics : 13.5/20
The writing was generally clear and easy to understand. The scenes and actions are described in a straightforward manner that effectively conveys the plot and character interactions.
While the writing mostly avoids unnecessary exposition, some sentences could be more concise. For instance, "She had medium hair with unkept bangs" could be streamlined for better flow.
There was a lot of redundancy in general. So trimming those details and refining sentence structure can enhance the overall clarity and conciseness.
Grammar: There were several grammatical errors and awkward phrasings. For example:
"Although they where not identical twins they still did a lot in common" should be "Although they were not identical twins, they still had a lot in common."
"From the bathroom, I had already heard her name and her face became hot" was super confusing and I had to read it atleast three times to finally realise that you just mixed in first person and third person pov in one sentence.
And there were also several spelling mistakes, or rather typos.
Examples include "And that now makes him of limits" (should be "off-limits") and "must of the clothes she had" (should be "most of the clothes she had").
Punctuation: There were punctuation mistakes, such as missing commas and misplaced periods. For example, "I ran into the bathroom as fast as possible to avoid him seeing me and especially in this state. And trust me , my morning breath is no joke" (should be "I ran into the bathroom as fast as possible to avoid him seeing me, especially in this state. Trust me, my morning breath is no joke").
Overall, I HIGHLY recommend you do a thorough proofreading to correct these errors and ensure smoother reading.
Scene Description: Provide clearer and more detailed descriptions of scenes to help readers visualize the actions and settings better.
The use of humour did make the narrative enjoyable. Your voice (as in style) was engaging which made Ivy's character a lot more relatable. So good job with that. The vocabulary is appropriate for the target audience and setting, but it could be richer and more varied. You could use more descriptive language to enhance the vividness of the scenes and characters.
β Content & Originality: 12/15
The premise of having a crush on a sibling's partner is a common trope in romantic fiction, but it was relatable and engaging. It builds a solid foundation for potential unique twists and character development.
Okay, although I'm not that against clichè's, the story relies on familiar tropes, which could be made more original with unique character traits and less clichéd scenarios. About the clichè scenes, I always knew what was going to happen next. So it kind of took away the suspense element, which is very crucial in any story of any genre.
You see, the dynamic between the twin sisters and the introduction of Zach is interesting but somewhat typical. It's like you've read the same book somewhere else before but you can't quite name it. Adding more unique traits or backstories to the characters could enhance originality.
Now, the primary conflict was engaging and it immediately draws the reader in. Ivy's internal struggle and the tension with the other characters creates a solid foundation for the story.
I also like the point at which the story has been last updated. I can't wait to see how the Ivy-Iris conflict will unfold.
β Overall Impression: 5.25/10
I think your story has a lot of potential. The foundation is there, but I think a bit more tweaking and refining could go a long way for you. More description and emotional depth could do wonders. But don't be discouraged ever at all. Keep doing what you're doing, and you'll definitely get there!
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!
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