The Dazzling Awards-ENGLISH-[#TDASΕ2024]

WINNERS: Mystery/Thriller

Winners

Winner #1 - The Grimm Dossier by @BellOfSilence
Judge: @Aster_Rae27
Score- 196/200
Review-

Cover: It gives the vibes of a bloody tale, which is certainly befitting. Simple yet elegant - a beautiful combo.

Blurb: It was so captivating. The information given was enough to draw in the reader with the promise of a supernatural mystery, effortlessly interweaving the setting into the plot, and giving a solid feel for what to expect.

Moral, Subliminal, and Social Messages: The story discusses many themes on the grim side, such as humans’ herd mentality and their false sense of security. The human psyche is a very interesting thing, and only he who understands how others’ minds work can get ahead in life. The Order’s apparent mission of preserving that sense of security around the ‘herd sheep’ - the humans - seems like a noble being reminiscent of the coming of a prophesied saint. The further one reads, the more immersed in those social issues one becomes - it’s incredibly well-thought-out and profound.

Grammar: Mostly perfect. There were a few punctuation and capitalization errors here and there, along with confusing sentence structure, but otherwise fine. They were likely missed in revision. The prose was so beautifully descriptive, painting a vivid image of every scene - maybe too descriptive? Writing vivid imagery is in no way a bad thing, but writing it in excess can also be off-putting and sometimes makes it hard to keep up with the scene. Still, The Grimm Dossier was a real treat to read in terms of descriptive writing. The text structure was perfect, with paragraphs just long enough to not be too short and short enough to not be boringly long. The writing style was generally fine-tuned and flowed very naturally.

Character Development: By the fourth chapter, each character had already been well-fleshed-out, with their own separate personalities, sentiments, likes, and dislikes - and it was all so seamlessly weaved into the prose, the way a masterful seamstress would weave together a tapestry. With distinct personalities and characters rooted in their habits and beliefs, they all come to life, and we as readers as though we’re experiencing the story with them. We grow a bond with them, in a sense. Grow attached. I know I basically adopted Kyle by chapter three. XD And I really love his dynamic with Benjamin.

Plot Development: Thus far, the plot advances at a steady pace, inserting small elements that expand on the mystery of the disappearances, and pique heavy interest in the Order of Seekers. The characters fit well into this seemingly crafted mould, wanting to be ‘heroes’ - or at least to themselves, from what I’ve understood. They charge into uncharted territory, where one could either feast or be feasted on, but what is it for, I wonder? Glory? Hopes? Dreams? Many questions, and I wonder how they’ll all come to be answered by the end of the book.

Overall, The Grimm Dossier is an astounding mix of real-life heroism and the darker sides of society, taking from history whilst staying true to the fantastical aspects of the story. The setting is certainly… grimm. Get it? I’m sorry. XD Either way, the small beliefs and how they tie to the characters’ actions, their underlying motives for embarking on such a journey, and their relations with the supernatural are certainly a recipe for a good, intricate plot. (You also get a shoutout for mentioning Egypt because I’m Egyptian, and we need more love in novels and literature overall that ISN’T about Egyptian mythology.) There is much to be appreciated with this story, and much of the plot to gnaw at and scratch your head over. My favorite kind of book, indeed!