Well, Rebels, here we are, the day you've all been waiting for! Since our birthday in June, you've all been battling it out in a series of judging rounds, and the best of the best have come out on top.

Let's talk goodies, shall we? All winners will receive the prizes as described in the Prizes chapter. However, we had three special surprise prizes to further shower our winners with love!

The first surprise is for one randomly chosen first-place genre winner! This lucky winner will receive three-month subscription to the Online Writing Log courtesy of TechieInAK . Everyone gets free premium for NanoWriMo, so your free sub will start in December-February, and you get to enjoy all of the extra features this interactive writing tracker has to offer. Keep on those word counts!

The other two special surprise prizes are listed for first place of Graphics and Creative Writing!

For all stickers and prizes, we'll need you to PM @Rebel_Town with your email address so we can send you your winnings. We'll be doling everything out throughout the next week, so please be patient with us!

First place reviewers are listed for the entry they will be providing the prize review to. Please don't hesitate to reach out to your reviewer with questions, but be aware they are not obligated to read more than the first five chapters of your book (unless you have something else worked out with them). The review will be posted in this book upon completion!

And, without further ado, here are the crowned victors of the Rebel Wars 2018.

As a bonus, under each title, you can find a quote from the notes we received from the judges. :)

GENRES

Romance

Honorable Mention:

Seattle Love Story by lovingtimetravel

The author has created relatable and humorous characters, in a well described landscape.

Third Place:

Wandering With Her by Jazzy1983

The characters feel organic to me, and the author doesn't shy away from making the characters three dimensional with strengths and weaknesses.

Second Place:

Unexpected Desire by njdevin529 

I loved this entry. It was an addictive read from the get go. Grabbed my attention.  

First place:

Wickedly Yours by queen_of_sass

This book has definitely made it to my personal reading list. The author has done a really good job at creating an atmosphere that is clearly from another era.

Rebel Review: Rather_Be_A_Unicorn

Teen Fiction/Fan Fiction

Honorable Mention:

Quicksand by igiveacrap

The quality is top-notch due to the unique writing style.

Third Place:

AC/DC by DannyAsokan

I hardly put the book down.

Second Place:

Clone by all_ill_never_write

The concept of this story is darkly thought provoking. The story starts out with a bang, throwing the reader right into the plot.

First Place:

Cosmic by Fever09

Despite being a fan fiction, the author has chosen to use strong character descriptions, which is exactly what we want to be seeing with such works. It's amazingly well done, and I'm captivated.

Rebel Review: ESHurricane

Fantasy

Honorable Mention:

Bastian's Song by AnnaQuin07

Amazing and enviable worldbuilding happening here.

Third Place:

The Balance (Revised) by sscott8

Here we have a well-written story with an engrossing plot, original characters, and a creative language element.

Second Place:

Sarah Benadine is Dead by thekitchensinktoo

The story is told from the perspective of Sarah's young neighbour, and I feel that this was a fantastic choice on the author's part -- the protagonist's young mind proves to be a wonderful narrator, and it adds to the story in many ways.

First Place:

The Cursewright's Vow by HouseofMourthia

This is one very well-written story! The author has a very distinct voice, and the vocabulary used here is fantastic. It suits the story absolutely, and brings the author's world to life.

Rebel Review: @AmyMarieZ

*Fun fact: The Fantasy Category took five judges scoring before we could break the ties for the top four!

Science Fiction

Honorable Mention TIE:

New World by EGBWicky

I absolutely love the plot of this story. It's so creative and intriguing, and there is also an awesome sense of mystery that makes me want to know what's really going on.

The Stars Call by Birdpaw

The characters are so strong in this entry. Their unique clear voices and natural interactions really bring them to life.

Third Place:

Against The Tide by taivaan_sininen

The characters in this story were one of my favorite parts. They are well developed, and I enjoyed seeing their highly philosophical thoughts.

Second Place:

The Watchmaker's Doctor by GMTSchuilling

A really excellent idea, with strong thematic consistency -- the feeling of regret and the desperation in trying to repair the past comes through in just about every page.

First Place:

That Distant Dream by djhowty

I'm impressed with the amount of detail and thought that has been put into every aspect of this story and the world where it takes place.

Rebel Review: ESHurricane

Action/Adventure

Honorable Mention:

Agateophobia by dracollavenore

The author makes interesting word choices, crafts delicious metaphors, and generally sculpts the words into art while simultaneously describing ninjas fighting giant spiders and other cosmic horrors.

Third Place:

Haven by kacykrypton

Sophie's fear of the Outlanders and her lack of true knowledge about them make her a believable character. Her flaws make her interesting and give her room for growth.

Second Place:

The Rose Killer by Sarah_MacLean

This story is a turbo-charged V-10 firing on all cylinders.

First Place:

Winter's Edge by Cephyr13

The narration is engaging, smooth, and well polished, making the story fun to read and easy to follow.

Rebel Review: djhowty

Horror/Paranormal/Mystery/Thriller

Honorable Mention:

Psychosis by JMills_

Amazing horror! I had to actually stop reading at one moment because I was freaked out :D

Third Place:

Radio Waves of the Macabre by ChristopherOpyr

This story had this underlying creepiness that had my shoulders tense from the very first sentence. Extremely well crafted story!

Second Place:

The Safe by Daniel_Barnett

Wow, just wow! Story wise this was one beautifully terrifying story. At times, I was glad I was reading with my lights on.

First Place:

The Angel of Vengeance by ReneeShantel

The atmosphere was so thick it drew me in like a moth to the flame.

Rebel Review: AmyMarieZ

*Fun fact: The Angel of Vengeance was the only book to get a perfect score unanimously across all three judges!

Poetry

Honorable Mention:

BLOOMING THOUGHTS by Sserendipity98

The content was brilliant! I lost myself in it. It had metre and I could imagine someone reciting it as I was reading.

Third Place:

Woven Wings - Expression Overloaded by AnvilGottlieb

Breathtaking and immersive.

Second Place:

Strange by OrlenaSB

The title is very fitting for these poems. They invoke all kinds of strange feelings within and I found myself lost in them for quite a while.

First Place:

Melted Candle by Chl0eandrisk

This kind of deep lilting magic struck chords deep in my gut with every word. This author is a skilled wordsmith, through and through.

Rebel Review: thatonegirlfromoz

Short Story/Humor/Chicklit

Honorable Mention:

Origin by bonnie_a_clyde

Feels very much like an ancient mythological story passed down for generations.

Third Place:

Yours, Snowflake by The_Dweeb

This was a really clever story. In addition to what we learn from Snowflake's (unsent) emails, the author also did lots of cool things to tell us about the character without really telling us about the character, so to speak.

Second Place:

Divided by sscott8

Very clever. Interesting stylistic choices for POV, thought-provoking ending. Top notch.

First Place:

Recipe for a Love Spell by djhowty

Fabulous! Excellent set-up with a very satisfying and relatable meet-cute between the two protagonists. Creative spellwork (Celine Dion made me LOL) and a rich world that feels real even in the two chapters of this short story.

Rebel Review: Belle_Dowson

Historical Fiction/General Fiction

Honorable Mention:

Loaded Guns and Broken Fences by HicksScribbles

I love the cast of characters and the fact that everybody is a villain to somebody else.

Third Place:

Temper: Deference by Lila-Mina

The Japanese facts are there and well researched, the setting is believable, the action is well done, and it's truly daring in content.

Second Place:

Color by thomaseng

This is a fantastic story. I was engaged and loved the main characters. Some things are hard to read because it's infuriating. But that was real life then.

First Place:

These Bounds We Break by adanotlovelace

Wow! Here we have a story that could be considered completely cliché, but the author has thrown in so many original aspects that the entire story feels brand new. Everything feels very polished and edited, the plot is moving along at a great pace, and the characterisation here is fantastic.

Rebel Review: HouseofMourthia

Werewolf/Vampire

Honorable Mention:

Keeping Secrets by DeliaMaguire6

A fun and sexy romp with characters I know and love dealing with wolfish needs. Sign me up!

Third Place:

Aphrodite by Anastasiathomas089

A unique gem amongst vampire fiction! Love the playlist too.

Second Place:

Terra by laaazybones

Sexy and intense, with a likable protagonist. Interested to see how this relationship progresses!

First Place:

Immortally Beloved by JadedElegance

Simply magnificent. I couldn't fault it. The descriptions were perfect. It pulled me in.

Rebel Review: Rather_Be_A_Unicorn

Erotica

First Place TIE:

Rock a Billie Blues by Bioshock2013

Billie is fire. The author does an amazing job of showing the quick burn of seduction but the slow burn of emotion as the story goes on.

Rebel Review: Jagermeanshunter

AND

The Evolution of Bach by MeganLin90

Who hasn't fantasized about Bach? The author takes slackie and makes him the most suave and smooth sex machine known to man.

Rebel Review: ESHurricane

Tagfest

Honorable Mention:

Never Go Home by katkeenan

Excellent world building; the setting really came alive on the page.

Third Place:

In The Blood by Jagermeanshunter

Good, memorable stuff. Very strong supporting characters as well.

Second Place:

Sleek Skin of the Leviathan by Di_Rossi

I am nothing less than crazy about it -- it is absolutely unique, the author has a thorough command of language that allows him/her to play with it and break it in free verse as if it were a toy, the setting is eye-openingly unique, and the imagery haunted me long after I finished reading it. Completely different, completely enthralling. It deserves much more attention.

First Place:

May in the Wastelands by MeganLin90

The tension is excellent (the kidnapping scene where May hides is especially well done) and the world is thoroughly immersive. May is a compelling main character, and someone whose struggles and challenges intrigued me greatly.

Rebel Review: ReneeShantel

*The randomizer for the Online Writing Log Prize declared @MeganLin90 the winner! Be sure to message @TechieInAK to claim your free premium subscription!*

CREATIVE WRITING

Honorable Mention:

Carnival by XerinaFang

Haunting. Creative. An interesting take on the photo prompt.

Third Place:

Tequila Western by HicksScribbles

Tequila Western is a shot of storytelling that has a smooth flavor with hints of spice, a touch of grit, and a hit of humor. There is just a slight smoky note to the aftertaste that leaves you satisfied, yet thirsty for more.

Second Place:

What Happens in Vegas by Jagermeanshunter

What Happens In Vegas leaves me curious to know more about what happened in Vegas — in the best possible way.

First Place:

Boy Killers by Dark_Writes

If you're single and savage ... or not-so-single and savage ... Boy Killers will hit you in the right spot. Guaranteed. This fast-paced mashup has the right amount humor and action. From start to finish, BK is like the sting of a leather whip — fast, pleasurable, with a little bite. Like, totes.

Rebel Review: sscott8

Surprise Prize: $20 Amazon Gift Card

GRAPHIC DESIGN

Honorable Mention:

bonnie_a_clyde

Simple and satisfying. :) Love the tagline!

First Place:

Sarah_MacLean

It's stunning. I love the simple placement of the title and the color combination.

Surprise Prize: $20 Amazon Gift Card

PEOPLE'S CHOICE

Queen of Fiction

Honorable Mention:

MeganLin90

First Place:

laaazybones

King of Fiction

Honorable Mention:

catastrophage

First Place:

Dark_Writes

Best Cover

Honorable Mention:

HicksScribbles - Wolf and Witch

First Place:

Bonnie_a_clyde - Millie Lane

Best Profile

Honorable Mention:

totally_pengwing

First Place:

bonnie_a_clyde

Most Engaging/Helpful User

Honorable Mention:

cocosghost

First Place:

HicksScribbles

Best Plot Twist

First Place:

AuthorJMColes

Best Cliffhanger

First Place:

AnnaQuin07

Best Sexy Scene

Honorable Mention:

laaazybones - Terra

First Place:

Bioshock2013 - Rock a Billie Blues

Best Nail-Biting Suspense

Honorable Mention:

Dark_Writes - Netflix and Kill

First Place:

CrystalJJohnson - Affliction

Best For Giggles

First Place:

Darkpoetess - The Joke Book

Congratulations to everyone that participated in these awards! It was a cutthroat competition and you should all be proud of yourselves. <3 See you next year!