Twisted Shadows

[cornerofmadness]

Twisted Shadows by Allie Therin

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Thanks to Netgalley for the arc. I have such conflicted feelings about this one. Don't get me wrong I loved it but there are some glaring flaws. What isn't a flaw is Therin's absolute commitment to the empathy related worldbuilding in this. There is such dedication to it (such as Reece and other empaths being unable to even watch cartoon violence) that you can almost believe it's real (in other words it doesn't turn off and on like with Star Trek's Deanna Troi though her life is much easier. As much as I'd love to think we'd accept true empathic powers like everyone does Troi but we all know it would be like Reece Davis world)

Note: this is book two and you absolutely MUST read book one or you will be lost. THis is not a mystery you can pick up otherwise. (and it's really good anyhow). My issue with this is it does start out as a mystery, a Canadian empath is killed in New England so Evan Grayson is sent to investigate because as 'the dead man' he handles most empath crime. He lost his emotions (and had his body changed to be superhuman thanks to his empath brother, which is also happening to Reese's sister Jamie) He knows the anti-empath group he works with can't be trusted.

Evan also knows Reece shouldn't want to be with him but 'Care Bear' as he calls him definitely does. So my issue? The mystery barely takes up half the book. This one goes hard core will they/won't they have sex romance and that is really the bulk of the book. I certainly don't mind it (figuring there has to be a way even if touching Reece will knock him unconscious) I love Evan and Reece but it does serve to make the book feel very unbalanced plot wise.

Evan also calls Reece 'Bad Decisions Bear' which is key because way too many times Reece does something that has him toeing the too stupid to live line. I wish he would think things through better (or that Therin could find other ways to put him in danger other than Reece being utterly stupid or impulsive)

It's clear someone is gunning for Reece (and the fortress the corrupted empaths are being kept in). Reece is of course one step from corruption himself and Evan is turning a blind eye to Reece's developing power other than admitting he might have to take Reece down in spite of his physical attraction to him (his body remembers even if his brain can't register love any more)

The other issue was the ultimate bad guy is supposed to (I think) by a mystery but is so blatantly obvious it kinda burned. That said I was happy to see who it was. Without spoilers, the ending is a cliffhanger (boo) and takes Reece to a place that in theory he can't return from so I'm wondering if the next book is also the last (I'm not sure if this is meant to be a series or a trilogy but I could see it going either way). I do love the characters (all of them including Diesel) so I'm very much looking forward to the next one (which I know will be something of a wait since I'm reading this early)



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