Chanticleer Reviews
A hybrid service where the review is also a contest entry — appealing for genre fiction authors who want both a quotable review and legitimate award consideration in one submission.
chantireviews.comQuick Stats
| Founded | 2012 |
| Review type | Editorial + contest evaluation |
| Turnaround | 8-12 weeks |
| Price range | $55 - $245+ (varies by category and tier) |
| Word count | 200-400 words |
| Audience | Genre fiction readers, award watchers |
| Accepts self-pub | Yes |
| Accepts ARC/digital | Yes |
| Awards | Annual CHIC Awards (Chanticleer International Book Awards) |
Best Use Case
Chanticleer is well-suited for genre fiction authors (mystery, thriller, romance, historical fiction, fantasy) who want a review that doubles as contest entry for the CHIC Awards. If your book is well-executed within its genre, the award consideration at no extra cost is a real bonus.
Authors entering multiple categories (different genre sub-categories) will see fees add up. The best approach is to identify your book's strongest genre fit and enter there rather than casting widely.
Pricing
| Tier | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Review / Entry | $55 - $135 | Review + contest entry in one genre category |
| Additional categories | $45 - $90 per | Enter in more than one genre category |
| Premium tiers | $175 - $245+ | Additional features, higher visibility |
Pricing varies by award category and tier. Check the Chanticleer site for current rates, which change annually.
What You Get
A 200-400 word editorial review published on the Chanticleer website, plus automatic entry into the annual CHIC Awards for your submitted genre category. First-round winners advance through genre-specific award tiers, with finalists and winners announced at the annual CHIC conference (held annually in April).
Award winners receive digital badges, placement on the Chanticleer winners lists, and are featured in the Chanticleer newsletter and website. The conference ceremony gives the awards a physical presence that online-only contests lack.
Voice and Style
Chanticleer reviews are genre-specific in their framing — they assess your book by the standards of its category, which is more useful than a general "good writing" evaluation. A mystery review will assess clue planting, pacing, and sleuth characterization; a romance review will address emotional arc and character chemistry.
Reviews tend to be constructive rather than brutal, but they're genre-literate enough to identify when a thriller pacing doesn't hold up or when a romance lacks emotional stakes. The contest context means reviewers are evaluating against genre benchmarks.
Analysis based on publicly available sample reviews.
The Honest Take
The Chanticleer CHIC Awards have genuine recognition in indie genre fiction circles, particularly at book fairs and within the Romance Writers of America, Mystery Writers of America, and similar communities. Winning a CHIC Award means something to the readers who follow those awards — but that's a specific, limited audience.
The fee structure can get expensive if you're entering multiple categories or tiers. The base entry is reasonable, but the total cost for a fully optimized Chanticleer submission (premium tier, multiple categories) can reach $200+, which is comparable to better-known editorial services.
For genre fiction authors specifically, this is worth considering. For literary fiction, nonfiction, or memoir authors, the genre-focused framework doesn't translate well, and better-suited alternatives exist.
Pros
- Review doubles as contest entry — dual value in one fee
- CHIC Awards have real recognition in indie genre fiction communities
- Genre-specific review framework is more relevant than general criticism
- Annual ceremony gives awards physical weight and community
- Multiple award categories cover broad genre range
Cons
- Fee structure can escalate with multiple categories or tiers
- Awards recognition is limited to genre fiction communities
- No trade distribution to libraries or booksellers
- Poor fit for literary fiction, nonfiction, or memoir
- 8-12 week turnaround is slow