Book Review – TWIXT
Disclaimer: As with all my reviews there is the possibility of spoilers, though I work my hardest to avoid them when I can.
No Touching My Hair
I went into TWIXT not knowing a thing about it, other than I assumed it would have a Lesbian protagonist (based on the author). This level of knowledge about the book is actually almost how the protagonists go into the world of Twixt, except they didn’t even have assumptions, because they started with no memories.
TWIXT (I don’t know if all caps is necessary, so it’s happening) is the story of a group of people mysteriously appearing in a city, while being hunted by demonic looking creatures and with no memories of their lives previously. At least until they take a drug that is literally sticking the quills of the feathers from the demonic birds into their bodies.
Much like the characters are, you are thrust into this world instantly with the main character waking up and being attacked by a creature. Well the creature actually attacks the person who woke her up, Charlie, who grabs her and drags her back to the safe house away from the birds.
Over the course of the adventure you discover more and more about each of the main characters, Charlie and Lottie, as well as the world that is TWIXT. I’d rather not give away much of it since I feel this book relies on a lot of thriller type elements to keep pace and talking about those here would ruin that for people who haven’t read it. I will say that some areas were predictable, like who Charlie was; while others were cool realizations like what the demonic creatures were.
I really enjoyed the slow-paced and increasing romance between the two main characters, which you could tell was going to occur from young in the book. But it grows slowly and not from the obvious ‘I hate you’ and ‘Now I love you’ kind of thing too many romances stories do. Also I loved the concept of their name picking and each of them using half of the same name (Charlotte), it was truly a brilliant and uniquely romantic idea.
Most of all though, I have to express how well this story can serve for a trans individual in the romantic department. Around the time when Lottie discovers who she is, she is at first reluctant to tell Charlie (the person interested in her and who she likes), but is eventually glad you does, because Charlie accepts her as she is and even has some thoughts on explaining that Lottie had always been the person she is now, even in the past with some careful observations.
That kind of moment is incredibly effective for someone like my self who has literally dealt with romantic ties right around the times of transitioning and still going through with telling the people you are interested in. I’m not sure the author is even aware of how well this shows the romance side for a trans individual (especially one that isn’t fully transitioned or will always be between genders). It can be a scary experience to reveal yourself to the world, especially when many are met with a lot of fear in return. And this book managed to show both sides of that fear rather well.
That moment is one I can always connect to, and I’m sure there are many non-trans reasons others could connect to that, because having someone accept you for who you are is something everyone would and should want.
With that said, the ending didn’t have quite as much power, in fact it felt rushed and ended with a brisk note. But the more I stewed on the ending, the more I could at least recognize the poetics of that chosen end. I still felt like it left things literally and figuratively hanging in the air, which does frustrate me when a book isn’t marked for a series and is likely to be stand alone. I want to feel like the experience is complete and something felt a little missing.
Overall, the story was unique and interesting, and that’s coming from someone who is normally bored by the average romance story. The thrills can really get you going, and all wrapped into a bit of mystery and romance with a dash of darkness. I definitely suggest this one for anyone interested in romance, and you’ll even enjoy the mystery of a well-crafted (you have no idea how ironic that is) fictional world.
All but one of my imps were all over this story, and the last one was flip-flopping because of the ending, which is why I’m just going to count her, since I don’t let my imps go halfway in anything.
Five out of Five Little Imps
