Alright, I'm not a professional critic but I'll give my opinion. Credits to [@McHaggis] because I'm stilling his layout scheme. <3


[color=gold]Disclaimer: This is just one humble person's opinions, and I am merely attempting to offer constructive criticism.[/color]
[color=orangered][b][u]The Nightcrawler[/u][/b][/color]
[hider=Review]
[color=39b54a][b]+[/b][/color] The entire time I was reading this, I was thinking "This feels like a slasher flick", and you know what. You didn't let that thought down. I'm actually really pleased with the little ending twist, otherwise the story itself what have felt cheap and lackluster, but it finished off in a way that matched how I was feeling through the whole piece. The premise is  relatable, as are the characters, which is nice. Even though it has supernatural themes the piece follows realistic tendencies. I agree with Haggis here, it was entertaining.

[color=ed1c24][b]-[/b][/color] However, I also agree with Haggis that the dialogue felt a little clunky and forced, even with you trying to play it off as a blockbuster horror. If this were an actual movie I might watch it on Netflix, but what I'm expecting is something I would buy. The other problem I had was detail. I would have liked to know so much more about their environment and area, maybe a little exposition of the characters. I couldn't relate to anything other than the experiencing of hunting something abnormal, which sucks because I want to be attached to the characters. Otherwise their death is just cheap and anti-climatic. There were a few grammatical flaws here and there, but overall I didn't find myself hung up on anything particular except the dialogue.

Conclusion: [color=ed1c24][b]✖️[/b][/color]
I don't feel this story really hit on the theme of Heatwave. It's summer yes, but the overall focus is the hunting of the creature. There wasn't really any build up of tension, no real hero, and so forth. Overall it was a quick read, and felt a little lacking, but it was well put together and the ideas were solid. It may not be my favorite, but I did like it.
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[color=orangered][b][u]The Spark[/u][/b][/color]
[hider=Review]
[color=39b54a][b]+[/b][/color] This story was cute. I agree with the critics above, in that it seems like one big analogy, and I can see the resemblance to the afore mentioned games; [i]Spore[/i], and [i]World of Goo[/i]. Both of these games are favorites of mine, and the character does remind me of those adorable little goo balls. Also, referring to the character as [i]"Our Spark"[/i] does give opportunity for form an attachment, but it's one that must be made by the reader, as I'll explain below. 

[color=ed1c24][b]-[/b][/color] Because of the writing style of this story, it's up to the reader to make their own connection to the main character.. thing. It doesn't exactly draw you in, the only real theme here is the struggle for survival which not everybody is going to relate to. From the first paragraph it should draw you in. It was also a very [i]'soft'[/i] piece, meaning that the action scenes and resolutions were not very gripping, almost like a narrative.

Conclusion: [color=39b54a][b]✔️[/b][/color]
I believe this story met the theme. Albeit the beginning had nothing to do with the premise of [i]"Heatwave"[/i], the middle section showcasing the rising tension with the other Sparks is what fueled a lot of the development and plot progress of the story. I don't really count the [i]"Sun Bomb"[/i], as there was very little focus around it -It just kind of happened. Overall I enjoyed reading this piece.
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[color=orangered][b][u]The Ash Grows Cold[/u][/b][/color]
[hider=Review]
[color=39b54a][b]+[/b][/color] At first, I really liked this piece. It felt like a good cross between being a poem, and something akin to a Grecian Epic. The imagery was well done, poetic, and just enough detail to really let my imagine do most of the portrait painting, which is what a lot of epics go for, in my opinion.

[color=ed1c24][b]-[/b][/color] I have to agree to McHaggis and Silver again, the grammatical errors were a real hang up. They interrupt the flow, and they make it difficult to keep the imagery in my mind as I get hung up and usually reread the same line a few times. I was also not a fan of the few lines that felt like narration, as that just completely broke the poetic format; Notably line 23, and 37, I would have enjoyed it more if these lines had been broken down and fit in with the rest of the epic.

Conclusion: [color=39b54a][b]✔️[/b][/color]
Despite all that, it was a well written piece and I did enjoy it. There was a clear cut hero, and a focus on the element of heat and fire, all of these things fit the category for me. Overall, I enjoyed this piece, you did a good job. 
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[color=orangered][b][u]The Tenth Circle[/u][/b][/color]
[hider=Review]
[color=39b54a][b]+[/b][/color] Oh man, I really enjoyed this. It was such a unique take on the whole [i]Heaven and Hell[/i] thing, and with his mom, man. The concept here was great, and the writing was solid. You have this big scary beast, the character is in hell, but the plot of the story just came out of nowhere for me. I wasn't expecting a [i]"Ghosts of Christmas Past"[/i] type deal. I have to completely disagree with Haggis here, Robert was wrong. At some point the innocence should become the wisdom of an Adult, and despite his fears, he should have tried to contact the woman who suffered so much for him. I was hooked by the time he found himself in hell, everything just worked together well. The post office scene was one of my favorites, just because it was kind of [i]"The Reveal"[/i], I guess. The hospital scene however, I knew it was coming, but you did something unexpected. I thought he was going to get a second chance, but rather he appeared as a ghost, hitting on that seeing your loved ones on your death bed deal. That hit close to home for me. The dialogue is what really did it for me, I think that was excellent.

[color=ed1c24][b]-[/b][/color] I do think the character came to acceptance a little too quickly, and that some of the imagery was a bit repetitive. Most notably that after every scene he [i]"Awoke"[/i], I would have liked to see some synonyms, or at least a different way of saying the same thing. I also would have liked to see a little bit more of the father, a different scene showing just how much his mother sacrificed for him. It was an underlying tone that never really surfaced again, meaning I had no real attachment to it one way or another. It was both the beginning point of the story, but at the same time it was kind of put on the back burner. I felt closer to Synchoron than the theme of an estranged son because of fatherly abuse.

Conclusion: [color=ed1c24][b]✖️[/b][/color]
Despite how much I enjoyed this story, it didn't really hit the contest theme for me; No hero, No romance, No tension. I mean, yes, he was in Hell, which is hot if you believe all the stories, but that's not the focal point of the story. It's just kind of there, unimportant. The story would work if it was the ghost that haunts Scrooge. That being said, I really did enjoy this piece. I gave me a case of the feels, so I applaud you for that.
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[color=orangered][b][u]Beating the Heat[/u][/b][/color]
[hider=Review]
[color=39b54a][b]+[/b][/color] Short, sweet, and to the point. It kind of feels like those short stories you'd read as a kid, not quite a children's book of morals, but not quite Huckleberry Finn. Just kind of a feel good story, not too long to bore me, but not to short to lose interest. You had a solid idea and you nailed it. As Silver put it, just a nice little [i]"Slice of Life"[/i] piece.

[color=ed1c24][b]-[/b][/color] That being said, it's not exactly memorable. The grammar is a little choppy at times, and its lacking most of the elements of a lasting tale, a hero, tension, plot, development, and so forth. Just a sleepy little town in summer, and some swimming going on. It's a filler episode, one I believe is specifically tailored (as Silver suggested) to winning a bonus category. I'm not sure the mindset going into this, and despite being a pleasant little read, I don't really feel anything one way or another, there doesn't really seem like much effort was put into this. 

Conclusion: [color=39b54a][b]✔️[/b][/color]
To be fair, you met the theme, but I don't really consider this a winner in my book. It was a nice little read, but I don't feel it's a contest piece. You did a good job writing it for what it was, however, Its just not doing [i]it[/i] for me. Maybe my expectations are too high, but as the disclaimer above says, these are personal opinions and I personally would have liked something more substantial.
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[color=orangered][b][u]The Watched Pot[/u][/b][/color]
[hider=Review]
[color=39b54a][b]+[/b][/color] What a story! This was a pretty enjoyable read. It starts off a little slow for me, but I didn't find myself bored with it. The descriptions and detail are spot on, the characters are well portrayed. The dialogue is well written as well. The entire time I felt like I was watching an episode of [i]"Kitchen Nightmares"[/i], or [i]"Restaurant Impossible"[/i], which was cool, I enjoy all of those shows. Let me just say again, the descriptive writing was- Very. Well. Done. Closely followed by the character portrayals. The piece, overall, was a great read.

[color=ed1c24][b]-[/b][/color] It felt like an episode of the above mentioned shows. There wasn't any real unique flare for me. Successful brother tries to help failing brother, sleeps with his wife and probably fathers a son that they really don't discuss, etc. Notably there is a line that I got hung up on, "Remember that when you make the decision on whether or not you're going to ruin Darius's life for something he didn't even do", but you can't tell if Lucas' or Sacha is speaking, which means that I don't understand how the latter half of that sentence relates to the situation. If Sacha said it, he's warning Lucas not to ruin Darius' life for Sacha and Michelle sleeping together; If Lucas says it, and it is attached to the same paragraph where Lucas was speaking, I'm left assume Lucas was saying something about Sacha teaching Darius improperly. I think, but I'm kind of hoping Sacha said it because that would make more sense to me, personally. 

As a modern, slice of troubled life kind of story, some things were unrealistic to me. Notably, the period when the heat intensifies and people flock to the restaurant, but through your descriptions I'm left floundering, exactly how hot is it? They get a dinner rush as the temperature cools down, but I can't really envision it myself. In New York a heatwave is officially declared when it's about 90 degrees Fahrenheit for three consecutive days. But it was already in a heat wave, so if it really bit down did it hit 112? How far did the temp drop at night? How many people would go out in that heat, especially in to the Bain Marie where there is only an a/c unit strong enough to provide a chill when not a lot is going on. So during this heat intensity and the dinner rush, I mean, I just don't feel the realism.

Conclusion: [color=39b54a][b]✔️[/b][/color]
Between the summer heat affecting some minor details, and then escalating with the dinner rush, and the rising tensions between the brothers I feel this hit the mark. I do have some qualms with this piece, but it was very well done, the descriptive writing was exquisite, as I said. Good job, you.
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[color=orangered][b][u]The Springs Gone By[/u][/b][/color]
[hider=Un-Review]

Conclusion: [color=gray][b]_[/b][/color]
Because of my opinion and lack of interest in stories such as these, I will refrain from posting an opinion. I did read it, it was just very difficult for me. It felt like a historical narrative mixed with an autobiography, and to be frankly honest it didn't hold my interest. But, as I said, for the sake of fair voting I made it through beginning to end. I apologize, you put a lot of effort into this and I recognize that, I just didn't get any enjoyment out of it. The whole piece felt very passive to me, soft, and with lackluster action. Yet, at the same time, it was well written, all the key writing elements were spot on; Dialogue, personalities, the quirks of military service, and so forth. It was a [u]good[/u] piece, it just wasn't for me personally. Apologies mate, I know you worked hard on it.
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After many hours of deliberation, I've decided to pick the story that most appealed to me (and fits the theme, in my opinion);
[indent]I humbly cast my [@vote] for [u][color=gold]The Watched Pot[/color][/u].[/indent]

Urgent Update: I did change my vote, I never meant to vote for the spark, haha, for [i]reasons[/i].
[sup][b]Pro Tip: Don't cast your vote at 5 a.m. just before bed, you'll make mistakes[/b][/sup]