Liviania’s review of Twisted (Intertwined, Book 3) by Gena Showalter
Urban fantasy published by Harlequin Teen 30 Aug 11
Gena Showalter’s Intertwined series has never been light and fluffy, but Twisted takes some dark turns. This isn’t too surprising considering Unraveled ended shortly after Aden, the hero, got stabbed through the heart.
Aden’s survival has serious consequences for both him and his vampire girlfriend Victoria. Namely, they’ve been swapping both powers and personalities. Aden’s not prepared to deal with the monster that lives in her head, nor is she suited to coping with the three souls that live in Aden’s. Aden is becoming colder, which helps him to rule the vampires, but it hurts their relationship as Victoria becomes more insecure. I particularly enjoyed the passages through Victoria’s POV. She understands what’s happening, and she’s pretty good at working through her jealousy to pay attention to what’s really at risk.
Things at the homefront kick into gear when Victoria’s brother Sorin arrives to challenge Aden for the throne. It’s a fight to the death, but Victoria wants both pugilists to survive. Aden’s old mates at the home for troubled boys are brought back in a clever way but mostly wasted. How the fight plays out between Sorin and Aden is genuinely thrilling, however.
Elsewhere, Mary Ann, Riley, and Tucker are trying to track down Aden’s parents and the people who knew the souls in his head before they died. They’re having success, but Tucker’s still on the baddie’s side. Of course, usually competent Riley does everything he can to alienate Tucker while letting him in on all of their plans. (Riley also ends the book with some frustratingly dumb moves.)
Mary Ann and Riley’s problems reflect those of Aden and Victoria – down to Riley thinking about how he and Mary Ann have swapped personalities – but it just doesn’t work as well. Possibly because we get a decent chunk of their story through Tucker’s POV. Showalter tries valiantly to make him sympathetic, but it never takes. His little brother is being held hostage, but he did a lot of damage before that development. And, “I’m sorry I got her killed because I honestly liked her” seems more loathsome to me rather than less. Tucker puts a lot of lip service toward escaping Vlad’s control, but that’s all it ever amounts to.
I enjoyed Twisted more than Unraveled, although things kind of fell apart at the end. Until then, there are a number of good action sequences and several intriguing concepts are explored. I’m loving Aden and Victoria, but it might be time for Riley and Mary Ann to see other people.
Grade: B-
Summary:
SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD ADEN STONE HAS HAD A HELL OF A WEEK. HE’S BEEN:
Tortured by angry witches.
Hypnotized by a vengeful faery.
Spied on by the most powerful vampire in existence.
And, oh, yeah. Killed – twice.His vampire girlfriend might have brought him back to life, but he’s never felt more out of control. There’s a darkness within him, something taking over . . . changing him. Worse, because he was meant to die, death now stalks him at every turn. Any day could be his last.
Once upon a time, the three souls trapped inside his head could have helped him. He could have protected himself. But as the darkness grows stronger, the souls grow weaker – just like his girlfriend. The more vampire Aden becomes, the more human Victoria becomes, until everything they know and love is threatened.
Life couldn’t get any worse. Could it?
Read an excerpt here.
Other books in the series:
