Dark Romance WINNERS!
Congratulations to those who made it this far into the competition!
Let's take time to also thank your judge, HappyCoati!
We hope that you've enjoyed your time in the competition!
Note: If you would like a medal with the background removed, please message AdrielleReina.
Without further ado, here are the final results!
Give All To Mafia by Ibirockerchick
Writing style: 7/10
Your book is written in a breathtaking and tear-jerking style that beautifully conveys a lot of emotion. Your main character has a strong voice, and the reader lives the story through her while vividly experiencing all of her pain and desperation.
All of your exposition and background information is spread well throughout the story, and we regularly get small glimpses of Mercedes' past that give us all the details we need to understand her story, without overwhelming us with long, out-of-context flashbacks.
Your descriptions are short and sweet, always used in the right place and time. I'm a huge fan of how you managed to incorporate all of the senses, turning your book into an immersive experience. Most authors limit themselves to showing and telling, and tend to forget that writing is the only art form that can make you smell a certain scent, or feel fabrics on your skin. You, on the other hand, know perfectly how to use descriptions, and your writing shows that. Keep at it!
The only downsides are a few grammar, spelling, or punctuation mistakes (but nothing too distracting) and a few tense changes. For example, I noticed that the first part of Chapter 4 was written in the past tense, and around the halfway point, you switched to the present tense. If I remember correctly, most of your book is in the past tense (and your writing feels more elegant that way, too) so I would stick to that one.
Plot: 6/10
Your plot adds a few twists to the usual mafia/kidnapping story, which I enjoyed. However, I felt like there were a few plot holes, or at least some things that didn't yet make sense.
Ermanno breaks all his principles just so that he can keep her around, and also seems to want to provide her with some care or comfort, for example when he has somebody cook her a meal. Yet, when he's alone with her, he is absolutely horrible. He assaults, insults, terrifies her. That kind of bipolar behavior made it a little confusing. There could be reasons behind it, but as far as I read, I still had no hints. Does he have a crush on her, and is just an edgy, batshit crazy mafia boy who can't deal with his own emotions? Does he just want to keep her around so he can constantly savor his revenge against Mercedes' father?
Another instance was the fact that when he auctioned Mercedes off, just to buy her again -- for five million dollars, nothing less. Why would he do that? Does he have a plan? Was it all for show or was he required to try and auction her? Did he have a last-minute change of mind?
When too many things in a plot seem to lack sense or logic, you risk losing the reader's attention. Try to hint at theories (whether true or false, as long as you reveal the truth later on) that can explain these twists.
These hints can be expressed directly through dialogue, where Ermanno explains his actions, but also through Mercedes' internal monologue - as in, her wondering and trying to understand why Ermanno acted that way. If you think you're up for the task, you can even try to give more subtle clues, through body language or other small details.
Even when strange actions can be explained by a character being irrational (I love irrational characters, and real people don't always act with reason), you'll have to show the reader that Ermanno is deeply irrational. Make him have temper tantrums, make other characters speak about how weird he is acting, or straight up call him out as the narrator for not making any sense.
Creativity: 7/10
Your beautiful, deep, and compelling writing style is what makes your book different from other mafia romances, but I don't think I read far enough in the book to see any twists that make it a major stand out.
Stories where the main character falls in love with her kidnapper are quite common (I would know, my book is about the same thing), but it's for a good reason. It's an insanely popular trope on Wattpad and a few other reading platforms, with a neverending flow of old and new readers. It's a double-edged sword because, on the one hand, you have a larger audience, but on the other, you have to work much, much harder to make your book stand out from the hundreds of thousands of other stories with a similar storyline.
This means that in this genre, standing out is what makes the difference between getting a few thousand, and a few million reads.
If you're shooting for a million (which I sure hope you are, it would be a shame to keep your talent hidden), strengthen this part. You can do this by taking a common cliché and turning it upside-down or using a trope you haven't seen in other mafia romances, for example. At this time in the history of writing, every genre, trope, and cliché has been done a million times, and creativity is all about finding a new combination that hasn't been done before, and that can help you broaden your audience, too.
Conflict: 8/10
The conflict is strong and captivating, the stakes are clear and leave a lot of space for character growth, although, I do think the confusion over the small plot holes I mentioned earlier break the tension at times.
Organization: 8.5/10
The story was well organized, with a timeline that's easy to follow and smooth transitions. The pacing was also engaging, and honorable mention to your cliffhangers, especially the one at the end of Chapter 10, which made it pretty hard to put the book down.
Character Development: 8/10
Mercedes is a multi-dimensional character. She appears vulnerable, caring, and sweet, but also has a strong mind and will, which makes her vulnerable and easy to root for. Either she'll break down or grow a tougher skin, and that perspective for growth is what keeps the reader engaged.
Ermanno is a mysterious man with unknown intentions. I like that we don't immediately find out his name, and quickly hear of Jovani's confusion about his actions. However, to be fair, I hate him. He's disgusting, pervy, downright a rapist and if he's the romantic interest of the book, make sure your story conveys a good message. You'll have to make it extremely clear that this relationship is toxic, and if he gets a redemption arc, all I can wish you is strength and courage, because you'll have to do some very heavy lifting.
Gia and Jovani are also interesting characters, both varying shades of morally gray throughout the story. We don't know a whole lot about them, but the mystery behind their intentions and their loyalty to their Don kept my attention throughout the story.
Total: 44.5/60
Notes: Give All To Mafia is a story that mafia romance addicts will love to read. It has piqued my curiosity and I'll probably read
THIRD PLACE:
Falling Into Insanity by sarahkatepotter
Writing style: 8/10
Your spelling and grammar are virtually flawless. I only saw one typo in these last chapters I read, where you wrote "I bet him" instead of "I met him", but overall you've done a great job editing your book.
Your writing is fast-paced, which fits the overall feel of the story. It flows well, is really easy to read, and accessible to any reader level (although, readers, please note that it's a mature story!). It makes for a delightful read, and I also found that your chapters tied in beautifully with the songs you chose, which made me feel like I was watching a music clip.
My only suggestion would be to have more fun with your descriptions. You're writing a story from a first-person point of view, furthermore with a pretty unreliable narrator, and that's an absolute gold mine for rich descriptions. You can try to convey Rose's emotions through the descriptions she shares -- for example, don't just tell us she's admiring a white marble bathroom. Make us admire the white marble bathroom. Describe how everything seems to glitter and twinkle under the blinding lights, add hyperboles, and tell us how huuuge the tub is, or how long it's been since she's been able to take a bath. Same with the gala -- is Rose impressed or cynical? The way she describes the venue and the women's outfits can also help reflect that, without directly having to tell us how Rose feels as she walks into that place.
Plot: 7.5/10
I absolutely love the idea you have for the plot - Rose is taken hostage by a terrifying serial killer, Adaline, and under the threat of harm to her and her little sisters, she agrees to help her torture and kill her victims. But then, it turns out that Adaline isn't that awful and her favorite targets happen to be the world's lowest scum, aka rapists. To be honest... I'm kind of starting to root for that crazy bitch. One of her to-be victims, Pierce, sells drugs to teens, but Rose decides to spare him when grows a soft spot for him, and finds out that (not unlike her) he commits these crimes to provide for his sister and keep her safe.
Your plot delivers twist, upon twist, upon twist, all within the first few chapters. It's a rollercoaster of emotions, that dives in the morally gray and promises a thrilling, intriguing story. The romance, the comedy bites, and the perfect amount of spice tie perfectly into the plot, and I was highly entertained all throughout.
However, you did get a few points off because I felt the plot lost itself at times -- I'll explain that further in the character development.
Creativity: 8.5/10
This is a unique story with a very original plot and a fascinating point of view. You follow Rose around the evil's lair, as she trains to become a killer, chooses her victims, and then hacks them to bits. And also fools around with sexy, sexy Pierce.
Rose has her own mental troubles, her nightmares and haunting past. Reading her thoughts and internal monologue puts you in the mind of the insane, and makes you feel crazy too through nothing more than words on a page. I'll say it a thousand times: it's a very fun read.
Conflict: 7.5/10
When Rose falls for Pierce, she needs to protect him from Adaline, while she plays along with her psychotic game to save her own life and her lover's too. The stakes are high, the action is there, the inciting incident comes at the perfect time, neither too early nor too late.
Still, for such a high-tension environment, things do feel a little too peaceful, which in my opinion made the conflict a little weaker than it could be. This can be easily fixed with a few tweaks in character development, though, so I'll get to it (won't be long, I promise, there are just two more rubrics left -- please bear with me 🐻💕)
Organization: 8.5/10
Your story has a good pace, and a clear structure that's easy to follow. We get romantic, either cute or spicy (sometimes both) breaks in between the murders and tensions. You keep the reader stimulated and never overwhelmed, which would have been a major risk in such a fast-paced story, but you handled that masterfully.
The only issue I had was with the time skip between the first chapters, which affected the character development, and briefly took me out of the story (but don't worry, I was quickly hooked again)
Character Development: 7/10
Each character in this story is insane, and I'm here for it. I actually started to love Adaline way more than I expected I would. She's hilarious and her morals are a somewhat dark shade of gray, which makes her very interesting. I'd actually love to see even more of her throughout the book. She's fascinating, and probably my favorite character in Falling Into Insanity.
Rose and Pierce are also batshit crazy. Rose actually likes to murder people (and I get her, it must be incredibly satisfying to stab a perv right in the scrotum). Then you have Pierce, who got kidnapped by two psychos, and yet here he stands with a proud boner.
Now here's my main issue with the character development: especially with the time skips at the beginning, it makes it seem as Rose - and later, Pierce too - adapt really quickly to living with Adaline and doing her bidding. Maybe too quickly for my taste.
There are some moments where you're reminded that Adaline is the villain, like when Rose has the opportunity to kill her and yet doesn't, not knowing whether it's out of guilt or kindness. But otherwise, Rose and Pierce act like they're all a big group of happy vigilante besties, and not terrified hostages.
If you're striving for more realism, I'd suggest adding moments of clarity that either hint at their fear of what would happen if they disobeyed Adaline's orders, or at how they're faking their enthusiasm. If they do actually begin to enjoy the whole murder thing, then I'd suggest adding one or two chapters that emphasize each character's transition, and how they earn that taste for blood. I hope this helps!
Total: 47/60
Notes: Falling Into Insanity is the perfect title for this book, because as you read this story, you'll start falling too.
It's a fun, addictive, and very enjoyable book, and the perfect summer read for people looking for a laid-back yet thrilling, spicy dark romance.
SECOND PLACE:
BELL RINGER by donnaf1828
Writing style: 9.5/10
Aside from a few typos, your writing style is professional and the kind of stuff I'd expect from a published book.
You have just the right amount of descriptions to paint a vivid scene, without smothering our imaginations. Your characters have lively body language, and their dialogues are realistic, which makes the story really immersive.
My favorite thing about your writing is all the little tricks you include. I had a lot of fun trying to spot them, and they add a lot to the story! I saw a few hidden rhymes and alliterations, that make the writing flow better and make your best lines stick, like "All because of vampire red lips, badly written sex scenes, and a girl whose face he'd never seen." Chef's kiss.
Another instance I'm a massive fan of, and might not have even been deliberate, is when Cody starts talking to his dog, and as soon as the reader (or maybe it's just me) starts thinking "Dude, you gotta stop talking to your dog", Cody says "I really need to stop talking to my dog and make some friends." MASTERFUL. That one line is a big F**K YOU to anyone who dares to say you can't use conversations with fictional dogs to sneak in your exposition and allows you to do that freely because it now makes sense.
For the trivia, this is an example of lampshading, which is when the writer deals with implausible or cliché parts of their own story by calling attention to it, and moving on. It's a little wink that can turn what could be a shortcoming into a little comedy break, without pulling the reader out of the story.
Overall, your work shows how the art of writing has absolutely no limits when you know how to use it.
Plot: 8/10
Your plot doesn't move as fast as other books competing in this category, but I took into account that your chapters were by far the shortest.
It's a complex plot, but it's not complicated. You advance through several storylines - Fin's, her father's, Cody's, and the disappearance of Beau - but all of those are easy to follow and deeply connected to each other.
There are many little details that keep the reader's attention high, even though we're still in the exposition phase. Cody looks like the only normal person around at first, and then you find out that not only does he have a fake identity, but he has also killed somebody.
This makes for a great intrigue that makes you want to flip back a few pages to make sure you caught all the details (and you're right in your suspicion of where Beau might be...👀 I won't spoil anything)
Creativity: 9.5/10
Contemporary thrillers and dark romances rarely delve into extensive worldbuilding - which I consider to be a huge mistake. This book, on the other hand, has better worldbuilding than many sci-fi or fantasy books I've read. You've built your own creepy yet realistic universe like nothing I've seen before, which could belong in a horror movie by Ari Aster.
Your story has a very particular atmosphere, that transported me right into the sweaty armpit of Australia, and fully immersed me in that shady small-town-that's-full-of-secrets vibe. It's not just about how it looks, but also how it feels. Every new character sends chills down my spine, either immediately or when I find out more about them. It really hits the nail on the head and gives your story a dark, almost mystical feel.
You beautifully meddle tension, paranormal elements, and even dark humor, making for a unique and entertaining story.
I also wanted to salute your vocabulary, which uses unusual words at times, but never too much that it's hard to understand. I felt smarter after reading your work, and that's always a good feeling.
Conflict: 7.5/10
To be honest, I'm 50% offended and 50% impressed that you managed to make me read 10 chapters of exposition without ever noticing the absence of an inciting incident. Only when I went back to check your blurb, did I realize that there was one, and it just hadn't happened yet.
So far, there's more mystery than conflict, which still makes you able to push the story along without it feeling like I'm reading ten chapters of exposition. Is Cody actually the good guy? Is he really the one who's going to be able to save my sweet Fin? Or is he a whole other problem she'll have to deal with?
Although I was still fully immersed in your story, you got low(ish) points on this rubric because I didn't see any conflict, or the stakes, action, and tension that would come with it. What the blurb hints at, though, promises to deliver on all those points, and I wasn't bored at all by your first ten chapters, so if I were you, I wouldn't be too worried.
In the end, I'm not mad at you, but Wattpad's preference for maximum immediacy probably is.
Organization: 8/10
You have short, well-formatted chapters that perfectly fit the average Wattpad reader's preference.
The pictures you include are nice and helped me to learn more about some elements mentioned in the book, but I found them to be distracting when placed in the middle of the story. You're hearing about a gruesome murder and all of a sudden, boop! Here's a cute puppy-looking dingo. I've seen you add them up top as a banner or at the end as an author's note, so I'd suggest sticking to either one of those. I'd actually love to see more of the landscapes you describe, too!
The changes in point of view are easy to follow, but your POVs aren't balanced. Cody takes up most of the reader's attention, while Fin, who seems like one of the main characters, gets shorter and fewer chapters. It could make her feel shy and mysterious, but really it kind of left me wanting to know more. My question for you is: is Fin really the main character, or is it Cody?
Character Development: 8.5/10
In the first ten chapters, Cody's character gets the most development. He's relatable and fun to follow around. His fake identity and the intrigue around it build up progressively and make for a very interesting storyline. Again, I love that the guy who at first seemed like the most normal character around turns out to have a very dark side, and to be pretty much literally haunted by his past. I have the feeling that my initial impression of him might be completely wrong, and he's actually going to be one of the craziest and scariest characters in this book.
Fin is also a great character, a strong female lead despite all she's been through, with raw and real emotions that make us immediately root for her. Unlike Cody, though, and probably due to her short and sparse POVs, we don't yet see a lot of development in her, aside from her fighter side that contrasts with her shy and beaten-up demeanor.
Fin's father, Findlay (I'll admit the names were a bit confusing at first) also has a really interesting evolution. Years after the events of the prologue, we meet him as the ruthless and violent drunk tormenting his daughter and causing drama at Snakes'. You hate him more and more as you watch him interact with his daughter, but his POV offers a new perspective on a man who's traumatized and distressed after his wife's violent death, who knows and understands all the wrong he's done and yet can't help but repeat the same mistakes. It's an interesting development that adds layers and tragedy to the story.
Total: 51/60
Notes: I would absolutely and wholeheartedly recommend this book to any amateur of mysteries and thrillers. The writing is of very high quality, and yet still clear and easy to follow, with a thrilling plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat. It's a laid-back read that quickly grabs your attention and makes you want to dive into all the little details, which I really enjoyed discovering. Thank you for entering these awards and giving me a chance to read your book!
FIRST PLACE (TIE):
The Love I Found by LVann26
Writing style: 10/10
I can't give your writing style anything less than full marks.
I'm going to get personal here, but I hate reading. I know it's a very weird thing for a writer to hate reading, but I really do. I used to love it in my childhood and early teen years, but lost the passion for it later on. Now I'm easily bored, insanely bothered by small mistakes, and I pay too much to small technical details to actually enjoy reading. All of this is just to tell you, you made me love reading again.
This was so enjoyable and a pleasure to read, it's like my eyes are effortlessly gliding across your words. Your writing is engaging, it's entertaining, and it's a rollercoaster of emotions. I've never been so animated while following a story, whether it's written or a movie. I actually cheered out loud at the line "It's Cal, bitch."!
Emilia's internal ramblings make the whole narration drip with personality, and make the reader slip into her skin. You get butterflies in your stomach when Cal is nearby, and feel the full extent of her fear when she's face to face with Mr. Scott.
I know you said you felt like you needed more descriptions, but I don't think you do. As I stated in an early review, you choose your words in such a way that makes your writing come alive, without the need to use long, detailed descriptions. For example, when you speak of "the way the smoke curls out of his lips" evokes not just a clear image, but also a feeling, and all that with just one word that could easily be overlooked or switched for another.
Your writing style goes above and beyond what I'd expect from a published book.
Plot: 8.5/10
This story is driven more by its characters than its plot. I actually like it because I feel it makes it more personal and relatable, but makes it a little harder to judge the plot because it happens in the background, so to speak.
(I feel like I need to justify myself so I'll just add this as a parenthesis lol, it feels like the characters are being themselves while the plot happens, rather than their actions being driven by certain events that are more or less beyond their control. It feels more realistic, but the narrative structure, ie. the introduction, inciting incident, climax, resolution, and all those stages, doesn't stand out as much.)
Still, while the plot is not as dramatized and action-filled as it could be, it works great. It's clear, easy to follow, and compelling. Emilia escapes one bad situation to end up in another, and from the first few chapters, we're hooked into following her to find out if she finds the happy ending she deserves.
Creativity: 8.5/10
At first glance, this is your usual good girl, bad boy story, which is good and important to attract an audience, except you've packaged it in a unique storyline and threw in a few new twists on tropes that turn it into a unique and refreshing story.
Your writing style also adds to this creativity. It's real and pure, and doesn't rely on rehashed clichés or quotable prose to be memorable.
I also like that for once, the bad boy is actually a bad boy, and neither an irredeemable asshole nor a sweet guy disguised in a leather jacket. I think that you took a popular, probably overused trope, and brought it to a new level, and I sure hope that this story turns into a household name, the gold standard, and a compulsory reading for anyone who claims to like bad boy romances.
Conflict: 9/10
While the story is still building up by the tenth chapter and we haven't yet reached the main conflict you tease in the blurb, you still manage to grab the reader's attention with some conflict.
Cal is everything Emilia wishes she was. He's free, outspoken and strong, and it's no surprise she's so mesmerized by this handsome guy. Yet, as much as she idolizes him and sees him as a dream, it's clear from the start that he's a bad influence.
The reader's attention is grabbed by this dilemma: while we're rooting for her to get away from her abusive foster father, it soon becomes clear that Cal is dragging Emilia from one bad place to another.
Organization: 9/10
The story develops in a clear and linear way, and your streamlined writing style makes it easy to catch and remember all the important details. I was always completely engaged by what was happening, and only got confused once, very briefly -- when Emilia was terrified about Mrs. Scott leaving without a warning while Cal wasn't home, and it took my slow brain a second and a half to remember that it was because she was alone with Mr. Scott.
The story has the perfect balance of tension and romance, which makes for an absolute page-turner. I was very disappointed when I reached the end of Chapter 10 and it was time for me to put down your book and write this review.
Character Development: 9.5/10
Emilia has the face of an angel and the strength of an upside-down turtle (sorry). I love that meeting Cal and bonding with him gives her a somewhat negative character development. He awakes a very innocent girl's sexual feelings, teaches her how to smoke, and makes a minor run away from home. Still, all this growth feels positive, because he helps our painfully shy Emilia to become more outspoken (and make people get her name right!) and escape a bad situation. She's a deeply multidimensional and realistic character, and her internal train of thought is always cute, and often hilarious. I love her.
Cal is Emilia's savior in a way, but he's far from being her prince charming. He's a real bad boy, the kind your mother doesn't want you to hang out with, and he is never on his best behavior. Yet, under his hard shell, it turns out there are some soft and broken parts. He's mysterious and intriguing, and I can't wait to figure him out better.
Marissa's a side character, so not as important, but I can't quite figure her out. She gets on my nerves (must be the misophonia), doesn't know her best friend's name (although that's a bit Emilia's fault) and I'm not really sure why they're friends -- I want to see if we learn more about her, or if she's more of a tool to show how Emilia is uncomfortable in her current life.
Total: 54.5/60
Notes: Your story was a frontrunner since the first round, and it was clear from the beginning that this was a perfected and professional work that would go far in the competition, so congrats! You've more than deserved this win.
Fans of romance and character-driven stories will absolutely adore this book as much, if not even more than I did, and I would urge pretty much everyone to read this. I, for one, will definitely be reading further.
FIRST PLACE (TIE):
Eat the Poor by clownceo
Writing style: 9.5/10
I was struck by how strong your narrator's voice is, and your talent to always choose words that perfectly reflect his mindset.
The character descriptions are especially well written: every character looks, acts and dresses in a very distinct way, but each of them also carries their own aura depending on how the narrator perceives them, which allows us to truly see the world through Auden's eyes. The servants are gruff and gross, and when he's around them, everything feels dark, grimy and bloody. Then, the Prince shows up and you can feel Auden's crush -- everything goes quiet, seems brighter and delicate, as if time slows down and all is bathed in golden light with pretty little butterflies floating around. It makes the story very atmospheric, and an almost magical experience.
Other descriptions are well-written and only there when needed, with no word ever wasted. You punctuate your chapters with beautiful expressions that stick to the reader's brain, like "just a heartbeat away from tears".
I did notice a lot of staccato sentences, but they were rarely misused. They always contribute to building the tension, and it's an artistic freedom you're allowed to take, especially when writing from a first-person point of view.
Plot: 8.5/10
The plot is engaging, thrilling and complex. Auden, a suffering young beggar seeking to improve his position in life, embarks on a voyage of gruesome insanity through the King's castle's bowels.
On the one hand, he becomes as ruthless as the other servant men, and decides to take revenge for all the suffering that led him there. On the other, he attracts the attention of the handsome young Prince, newly crowned King, and manages to open the doors to what looks like the peace and riches he never even dared to dream of.
Of course, the strong action we've seen up until this point hints at the fact that things won't be so easy. While the stark contrast between these two worlds gave me a little bit of whiplash at first, it makes for a fun, engaging and pleasurable read.
Creativity: 10/10
This is one of the most unique stories I've ever seen, it meddles historical fiction with enraged murderers, dark humor, and violence with a fluffy boy-and-boy romance. There is so much to enjoy and elements that will attract the attention of any kind of reader.
I have to applaud you for coming up with not just a unique writing style and a unique universe, but also a very original of genres and tropes that makes for a very refreshing and surprising read.
Conflict: 9/10
There are many conflicts in this story, and they're all very strong.
The first one is Auden himself. He's been through a lot, hurt and slapped around like a little punching ball by awful men, his good-for-nothing brother, as well as life as a whole. He seems frail and naive in comparison to the other servants, and yet he turns out to have a very twisted mind.
Auden is thrust into a cutthroat world that he doesn't seem to fit in at first, but when he's pushed into a whirlwind of revolt and violence, it awakes his thirst for blood. It's almost horror-like to see how he evolves there and surpasses the violence of the very men I first thought would push him around.
Then, almost by accident, an immediate chemistry sparks up between two people who do not belong together, a servant and a prince, and a budding forbidden romance begins to bloom amidst all the chaos.
The Prince too seems to hide his own internal conflicts, and something darker seems to loom beneath his perfect appearance.
All these conflicts make it hard to stop reading, and you balance them so well in a way that never feels confusing, but will make your heart race just as fast as Auden's.
Organization: 9/10
Your story is filled with dialogue and action, which makes it highly energetic and engaging. You keep the perfect amount of tension, broken by some welcome moments of ethereal calm when the Prince is around. Your chapters feel much shorter than they really are because so easy to devour.
The main inciting incident arrives at the right moment, not too early nor too late. We've gotten to know Auden by then, and you've sprinkled in loads of twists, thrills and incidents to keep us entertained until then. Auden's background is masterfully weaved in as the plot unfolds, there's no info-dumping and not a single moment of boredom.
Character Development: 8.5/10
At first, and then time and time again, Auden comes off as very innocent (like when he's worried he'll be accused of attempted murder with a pebble), which makes him very endearing. You've made that trait so strong that it persists even when he goes ahead and slits someone's sides with a butcher's knife. He's as attracted by the Prince as he is by vicious murder and rotting pig heads, and this self-aware dichotomy is beautifully exposed by the repeated imagery of red blood, red flames, and red curls. (Knowing this know, I'd actually love to see more red on your cover, since it is the main color of the book).
Auden has a terrifying character growth, but oh my God it's amazing, and oh so thrilling. Perhaps it's confusing at times, but I feel it can be explained by the fact that Auden is easy to influence.
By this point in the book, we've finally met the Prince, who is perfect in an almost unsettling way. We get a crush on him as fast as our narrator does, and the care he shows for our beloved Auden comes as a very welcome relief from the madness and mayhem. Still, beneath the bows and frills, amber eyes and pretty curls, a troublemaker lurks, and the reader wonders to what extent this could affect Auden. The Prince hints at getting Auden to do things that could get him punished, and there's doubt over whether he might have killed his own father. I feel that perhaps, behind this angel-like character, there might be some more danger.
I felt it was important to add a small paragraph about Geoff, too. I have a feeling he might be more important to the plot than I first perceived him to be (maybe he got a little lost in the craziness at the beginning). He's a bit of a madman, and the complete opposite of the Prince. Where the Prince seems to bring out the best in Auden -- his sweet, innocent, and loveable side -- Geoff brings out the worst, and turns him into someone insane. And yet, despite his scary demeanor and awful actions, he seems to have a softer side, one that dreams of running away to Rome with his muse and become a writer.
All your characters feel real and compelling, they're multidimensional and jump out of the page, and there's something to love and something to hate about every single one of them.
Total: 54.5/60
Notes: This is a beautifully written book that will have you on the edge of the seat. It spans so many genres, and is so complete that I'm pretty sure most, if not every reader out there will absolutely enjoy it as much as I did.
Congratulations on first place, this is a very deserved win!
Once again, congratulations to the winners and thank you to all who have participated! 💛
Good luck in all your writing endeavors!
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