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Twisted #1
Twisted Fate
Capturing the attention of a dangerously sexy fae leader was never part of my plan.
I wanted to finish college, get a job, and maybe find a nice guy to date.
Instead, I end up forced to work alongside the very fae who gets under my skin like no man ever has. I can’t stand him, but I also can’t deny the tension that ignites whenever he’s close.
After surviving my run-in with the fae, I planned to go back to my perfectly mapped future and forget they existed. Silly me, I should have known that silver-tongued Tristan wouldn’t leave me alone.
And maybe I don’t want him to.
But when my brother falls ill to a sickness not even fae magic can cure, none of my plans matter anymore. And before I have a moment to catch my breath, both my life and my heart are put in danger when Tristan’s fae nemesis emerges and forces me to make a terrible choice.
One I don’t know I’ll survive.
I wanted to finish college, get a job, and maybe find a nice guy to date.
Instead, I end up forced to work alongside the very fae who gets under my skin like no man ever has. I can’t stand him, but I also can’t deny the tension that ignites whenever he’s close.
After surviving my run-in with the fae, I planned to go back to my perfectly mapped future and forget they existed. Silly me, I should have known that silver-tongued Tristan wouldn’t leave me alone.
And maybe I don’t want him to.
But when my brother falls ill to a sickness not even fae magic can cure, none of my plans matter anymore. And before I have a moment to catch my breath, both my life and my heart are put in danger when Tristan’s fae nemesis emerges and forces me to make a terrible choice.
One I don’t know I’ll survive.
296 pages, Paperback
First published February 13, 2018
99 people are currently reading
1245 people want to read
About the author
Jessi Elliott
23 books401 followersJessi Elliott is a new adult and young adult paranormal and fantasy romance author.
She lives in Ontario, Canada with her adorable calico cat, Phoebe.
When she's not working on her next book, she likes to hang out with friends and family, get lost in a steamy romance novel, watch Friends, and drink coffee.
You can find Jessi on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. Join her newsletter to stay up to date on book news and upcoming releases!
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3ibmmLg
Instagram: https://bit.ly/39YAnsQ
TikTok: https://bit.ly/3JgKlaV
Facebook: https://bit.ly/3kb7D4Y
She lives in Ontario, Canada with her adorable calico cat, Phoebe.
When she's not working on her next book, she likes to hang out with friends and family, get lost in a steamy romance novel, watch Friends, and drink coffee.
You can find Jessi on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. Join her newsletter to stay up to date on book news and upcoming releases!
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3ibmmLg
Instagram: https://bit.ly/39YAnsQ
TikTok: https://bit.ly/3JgKlaV
Facebook: https://bit.ly/3kb7D4Y
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 155 reviews
May 31, 2020
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First Read -13th February 2018 - 5 Stars
Re-read - 6th April 2019 - 4 Stars
( Edit- I didn’t enjoy it quite as much on the second read through mainly because this time around I around Aurora rather irritating and immature it’s still a good read though )
Twisted Fate (Twisted, #1) by Jessi Elliott is a fabulous debut offering.
In fact, it's hard to believe this is from a debut author.
Jessie Elliot has managed to completely smash it with Twisted Fate.
I don't usually read many New Adult novels, but I do like to partake in a good fantasy and I'm a sucker for anything involving the fae.
This is a fantastic addition to the genre.
So in This, we have Aurora Marshall a fourth-year business student currently attending college.
In a case of mistaken identity, Aurora finds herself abducted from a college party and in the hands of Tristan the gorgeously overbearing leader of the dark fae.
Her eyes opened to a world she had no idea existed.
Now in danger from various factions, Aurora finds herself in the position of needing Tristan's protection.
Entering into a wary alliance Aurora finds herself in the employ of Tristan's very successful business as part of her final studies criteria.
As the pair become closer a mutual attraction develops between Tris and Rory.
But there's a war brewing between the Dark and the Light and Aurora as Tristan's weakness might just get stuck right smack in the middle of it.
So I really adored Twisted Fate, from the second I started reading this I was absolutely transfixed with this fascinating tale.
Both Aurora and Tristan are such great relatable and likeable individuals.
There was also the added bonus of the well rounded diverse secondary players that were involved.
So many new authors make the mistake of not fleshing these out, not Jessie, these are just as multi-faceted as the main players.
There are the usual twists and turns with this along with some extremely heartbreaking moments where Tristan really comes into his own showing Aurora just what kind of man or fairy he really is.
The ending itself, well let's just say I really didn't see that one coming.
It will be very interesting to see where the author takes this next.
And I'm gagging for the next instalment I need this so now!!!
So there we have it a brilliant debut offering that's completely knocked it out of the park.
Give this a go its all sorts of fairylicious and it's certainly such addictive reading it should come with its own warning.
I was provided with an ARC of Twisted Fate (Twisted, #1)
by Jessi Elliott of which I have reviewed voluntary.
All opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
www.beckiebookworm.com
April 16, 2019
Call me crazy, but I don’t make a habit of putting a book down halfway through the story.Aurora Marshall was in her final year as a business student. Almost every detail of her life was already carefully mapped out, staying on her comfort zone and having control over her future. Wanting to start off her senior year right, she agreed to attend the first college party of the year with her friends.
But when she found herself being kidnapped because of a case of mistaken identity, the world she once knew changed and there she met the attractive and charming fae leader and owner of Westbrook Hotel.
Tristan Westbrook found Aurora intriguing and knew that there’s something special about her, so he made a deal with her. While Aurora thought that giving in will bring her old life back, she realized she must choose which is more important when she found out what was involved, her mundane life or the loyalty she has for her best friend?
Rory, as Tristan calls her, was like the modern Princess Aurora who was caught in the middle of a conflict between the forest kingdom she has grown to love and the human kingdom that holds her legacy (referring to the movie, Malefecient). Rory may be occasionally a bit confusing, impulsive yet she was a smart and a confident woman who has an unwavering determination and loyalty. When her mind was set to do something she knew was right, she was bold enough even if it will put her life in danger.
Jessi Elliott was able to create a strong female character in her that broke some sense of stereotype where women cannot be controlled because we are our own person.
On the other hand, Tristan’s character captured the mysticism and magic of a fae. He’s somehow funny and outgoing but he was also a good leader who put the best interest of his own people first before anything. He could be domineering at times but you know he cares. And I love to get inside his head somehow in which I hope to read conflicting versions on both main to know each other's POV.
With the attraction between Tristan and Aurora being like a strong chemical bond, the romantic personality of their relationship was well rounded and rooted for the right reasons. The bantering and humor brought into it was delightful that balanced out the heaviness of the impending war between the two fae group—the light fae and the dark fae.
From the reading of emotions, shifting to dreamwalking, I’ve waited for the fae-filled action and more history of the war happened years ago and the destruction of the fae world that I presume Jessi Elliot will carry out in detail on her next book. There were also questions hanging that I needed answers to like who the Prince was or was there a real significance on Dr. Collins' character? All, I can’t wait to find out.
I also love how the supporting characters were not just a decorated wallflower but were very much involved having a real connection to the two main. Aurora’s friends, Allison and Oliver, were both fun and friendly while Tristan’s, Skylar and Max were sarcastic and unaffected. Well, they’ve all changed along the way and I saw a redemption especially on Max’s character.
I may have predicted the first twist in the story but I never, ever (I am stressing this one out) could have expected how the story ended. It was wicked, emotional and heart breaking. I almost felt like crying because I know how much I wanted to know what will happen next but was utterly helpless because I need to wait for Twisted Gift for months which I don’t know how much longer?
Given that this was Jessi Elliot’s first book, the world building and character dynamics were surprisingly excellent and it never felt like a debut. Twisted Fate could be the opening of a challenging and addictive world where the author can choose to go deeper and pull out diverse spin-off potentials or go beyond the story and add other character elements that also wield great power and magic.
Would I want to see more enchanted related characters? Yes, definitely! And I am excited to know if the author will consider taking this direction. I’ll just have to wait and see what will happen next.
Family, friendship, forbidden love and heart break were also pointed out strongly by the author as well as how politics and desire for power were featured as an important plot element. There was also a great message on diversity, equality and a voice of embracing self-discovery and acceptance towards LGBTQ.
Twisted Fate by Jessi Elliot is a bittersweet debut, leaving all readers on edge of wanting more and nothing less. It is a crazy ride without missing all the bumps, keeping the story upbeat and ending it on a crooked yet most delightful cliffhanger.
After everything we’ve endured together since we met, we end in the most tragic way I can imagine— in a cruel twist of fate.***Thank you to Jessi Elliott and Between The Sheets Promotions for providing me an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review!
Full Review - Tale Out Loud | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest
December 31, 2017
Twisted Fate is Jessi Elliott’s debut novel and she knocked it out of the park. I enjoyed it so much, I stayed up late reading it.
The premise of the story intrigued me enough to give this one a chance, and I’m glad I did. Not only did it surprise me in the best way possible, but I’m already anxiously waiting for the next book.
I loved the banter between Tristan and Aurora. Every time these two were together I couldn’t help but have a big smile on my face.
Most people walk on eggshells around Tristan because he can be intimidating, but Aurora is constantly challenging him. I found it hilarious.
Jessi gave us a heroine that I always enjoy reading about. Aurora is vulnerable at times, yet she can also be feisty as hell. She gives as good as she gets and I loved her instantly for it.
As for Tristan, well, he’s a freaking delicious, arrogant fae leader. He’s still a mystery and those type of heroes are my kryptonite. It also doesn’t hurt that he wears a suit. *drools* And every time Tristan would call Aurora “sweetheart”... GAHHH, I would melt into a puddle of goo. I very much liked seeing his sweet side.
Is it too soon to ask for Max’s book? Asking for a friend. Seriously, I love him. He’s a jerk in the beginning, once you get towards the end he’s not so bad.
All in all, I really enjoyed Twisted Fate. It has twists you don’t see coming, humor, a great cast of secondary characters, and a compelling storyline. I can’t wait to read more and see what happens next.
*ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review!*
The premise of the story intrigued me enough to give this one a chance, and I’m glad I did. Not only did it surprise me in the best way possible, but I’m already anxiously waiting for the next book.
I loved the banter between Tristan and Aurora. Every time these two were together I couldn’t help but have a big smile on my face.
Most people walk on eggshells around Tristan because he can be intimidating, but Aurora is constantly challenging him. I found it hilarious.
Jessi gave us a heroine that I always enjoy reading about. Aurora is vulnerable at times, yet she can also be feisty as hell. She gives as good as she gets and I loved her instantly for it.
As for Tristan, well, he’s a freaking delicious, arrogant fae leader. He’s still a mystery and those type of heroes are my kryptonite. It also doesn’t hurt that he wears a suit. *drools* And every time Tristan would call Aurora “sweetheart”... GAHHH, I would melt into a puddle of goo. I very much liked seeing his sweet side.
Is it too soon to ask for Max’s book? Asking for a friend. Seriously, I love him. He’s a jerk in the beginning, once you get towards the end he’s not so bad.
All in all, I really enjoyed Twisted Fate. It has twists you don’t see coming, humor, a great cast of secondary characters, and a compelling storyline. I can’t wait to read more and see what happens next.
*ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review!*
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February 18, 2018TWISTED FATE IS AVAILABLE NOW!!!
***SNEAK PEEK***
He rises from his chair and walks around the desk, closing the space between us. He stops a mere foot away, so close I could lean in and feel his breath on my face. “It seems we both have things we don’t want to talk about.”
“I . . .” Blood rushes to my cheeks. “There’s nothing to talk about.”
He reaches forward and twirls a strand of my hair between his fingers. “You’d rather not talk, then?” he murmurs.
My heart lurches in my chest. This scenario could go a few different ways. I know which way my body wants it to go, but my mind is screaming at me to run away.
“I know we got off to a bad start, Rory, but I think you can agree things have changed since then,” he says in a hushed tone before dropping his hand back to his side.
I open my mouth to—what? Dispute his claim? He’s right. I just don’t want to admit it.
He wets his lips and backs away a few steps. “Tell me you don’t want me. Say it, and I won’t bring it up again.” His eyes flick back and forth across my face as he waits for my response. He’s giving me an out. All I have to do is say I don’t want him.
I can’t do it. I can’t make the words form on my lips.
“This is ridiculous,” I mutter instead.
“I’m not asking for much,” he says.
“You know what you’re doing. I’m not going to do this with you. We work together. I have to see you at least twice a week on top of the times you pop up out of nowhere, including when I’m asleep—”
“That happened one time,” he cuts in.
I run my fingers through my hair. “It’s late, and I’m exhausted. I should go home.”
“If only you were in a hotel full of beds,” he says with a wry grin.
I sigh. “You are insufferable.”
“Thank you,” he replies.
I turn my back on him and walk to the door, opening it quickly. I need to get out of here and clear my head.
“When you’re ready to admit what you want,” he calls after me in that deep voice I can feel all over, “you know where I am.”
Want to find out what happens next?
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***SNEAK PEEK***
He rises from his chair and walks around the desk, closing the space between us. He stops a mere foot away, so close I could lean in and feel his breath on my face. “It seems we both have things we don’t want to talk about.”
“I . . .” Blood rushes to my cheeks. “There’s nothing to talk about.”
He reaches forward and twirls a strand of my hair between his fingers. “You’d rather not talk, then?” he murmurs.
My heart lurches in my chest. This scenario could go a few different ways. I know which way my body wants it to go, but my mind is screaming at me to run away.
“I know we got off to a bad start, Rory, but I think you can agree things have changed since then,” he says in a hushed tone before dropping his hand back to his side.
I open my mouth to—what? Dispute his claim? He’s right. I just don’t want to admit it.
He wets his lips and backs away a few steps. “Tell me you don’t want me. Say it, and I won’t bring it up again.” His eyes flick back and forth across my face as he waits for my response. He’s giving me an out. All I have to do is say I don’t want him.
I can’t do it. I can’t make the words form on my lips.
“This is ridiculous,” I mutter instead.
“I’m not asking for much,” he says.
“You know what you’re doing. I’m not going to do this with you. We work together. I have to see you at least twice a week on top of the times you pop up out of nowhere, including when I’m asleep—”
“That happened one time,” he cuts in.
I run my fingers through my hair. “It’s late, and I’m exhausted. I should go home.”
“If only you were in a hotel full of beds,” he says with a wry grin.
I sigh. “You are insufferable.”
“Thank you,” he replies.
I turn my back on him and walk to the door, opening it quickly. I need to get out of here and clear my head.
“When you’re ready to admit what you want,” he calls after me in that deep voice I can feel all over, “you know where I am.”
Want to find out what happens next?
SIGNED PAPERBACK
http://bit.ly/2mfiiiL
iBOOKS
https://apple.co/2CDYImC
AMAZON US
http://amzn.to/2FjS1HZ
AMAZON CA
http://amzn.to/2CVU0op
KOBO
http://bit.ly/2mbFu0H
INDIGO
http://bit.ly/2EAZbLq
BOOK DEPOSITORY
http://bit.ly/2EMYoWH
BARNES & NOBLE
http://bit.ly/2o8yvY9
February 21, 2018
⚪🔸⚫ 4.5 STARS⚫🔸⚪
< ⚫A R C R E V I E W ⚫ >
-
"He makes me feel right - But that’s not for tonight"
-
Never imagining to find herself landed in a world where Fae exist Aurora finds herself in a situation of do or die. Being in the clutches of the Fae leader is so not cool and to top it off the said king looks like a Sin waiting to happen. That's Lethal..
-
" He isn’t finished with you."
-
For Aurora, now to get out of his clutches, the only way left is consider all the demands made by him or else the life she had constructed with so much hardwork would be destroyed brutally.
-
“I’m not talking about you, specifically. Not everything is about you. Shocking, I know.” His lips twitch, “You’re brave.”
-
Aurora and Tristan's Bickering was too entertaining, her wiity remarks & their constant retorts were joy to read.
-
"You’re . . . everything I can’t control.” My breath hitches.
“Control is overrated,” I say, “At least that’s what I’ve heard.""
-
Where Aurora had the personality of being a smart mouth, Tristan gave away being the powerful yet sensual Fae, who will lure you in the Dark and you will happily go towards it..
I swooning over Tristan Westbrook just a few thoughts and words of his was so powerful, ethereal and magical I was in a state of pure bliss.
-
"This pain, this heartbreak, is the worst thing you’ve ever experienced in your life, but you will bear it, and it will make you stronger.
-
I couldn't believe this is Jesse's Debut Novel, it was like her words had the touch and the world she created was enchanting enough for us to get lost. I didn't wanted e story to end.. but That CLIFFHANGER Not Cool Jesse So not Cool. I'm so eager and excited to read where she would take the story.
-
"After everything we’ve endured together since we met, we end in the most tragic way I can imagine— in a cruel twist of fate."
-
So if you need something different, Twisted Fate is it for you as this Paranormal World is a mixture of Dark & Light where every Twist would leave you with more questions...
< ⚫A R C R E V I E W ⚫ >
-
"He makes me feel right - But that’s not for tonight"
-
Never imagining to find herself landed in a world where Fae exist Aurora finds herself in a situation of do or die. Being in the clutches of the Fae leader is so not cool and to top it off the said king looks like a Sin waiting to happen. That's Lethal..
-
" He isn’t finished with you."
-
For Aurora, now to get out of his clutches, the only way left is consider all the demands made by him or else the life she had constructed with so much hardwork would be destroyed brutally.
-
“I’m not talking about you, specifically. Not everything is about you. Shocking, I know.” His lips twitch, “You’re brave.”
-
Aurora and Tristan's Bickering was too entertaining, her wiity remarks & their constant retorts were joy to read.
-
"You’re . . . everything I can’t control.” My breath hitches.
“Control is overrated,” I say, “At least that’s what I’ve heard.""
-
Where Aurora had the personality of being a smart mouth, Tristan gave away being the powerful yet sensual Fae, who will lure you in the Dark and you will happily go towards it..
I swooning over Tristan Westbrook just a few thoughts and words of his was so powerful, ethereal and magical I was in a state of pure bliss.
-
"This pain, this heartbreak, is the worst thing you’ve ever experienced in your life, but you will bear it, and it will make you stronger.
-
I couldn't believe this is Jesse's Debut Novel, it was like her words had the touch and the world she created was enchanting enough for us to get lost. I didn't wanted e story to end.. but That CLIFFHANGER Not Cool Jesse So not Cool. I'm so eager and excited to read where she would take the story.
-
"After everything we’ve endured together since we met, we end in the most tragic way I can imagine— in a cruel twist of fate."
-
So if you need something different, Twisted Fate is it for you as this Paranormal World is a mixture of Dark & Light where every Twist would leave you with more questions...
June 18, 2019
I had a lot of problems with this book. Now, I have nothing against the author. She seems lovely enough. But for the first time ever, I had to keep taking notes on my kindle because of a book.
I don't normally go into great depth in my reviews, but I feel misled. I heard so much hype for this book, for this series, and I feel seriously betrayed and like I wasted my time reading it- so I'm going to be That Person On Goodreads.
First of all, and most upsettingly for me- I felt literally no attachment to anything in this book. All the characters came off as 2D, and lackluster. It honestly feels like the author took Twilight, 50 Shades, and Sarah J Maas, and mushed them together in a self insert fanfic. That is LITERALLY what this book is. We all wrote self insert fanfic as teens- none of us had the audacity to publish it and treat it like a fresh new thing, however. And if you have- shame on you, fam.
The first issue begins with Aurora/Rory/Roar/Sweetheart (ugh).
Aurora is a typical Mary Sue. She has no flaws (well, I think everything about her is, but it's a different definition of that), she's smart, the Hot Guy inexplicably falls for her, yada yada. I want to say, it's annoying when a character is an obvious self-insert of the author. Stephenie Meyer got away with that because she was writing for teens, but this is allegedly NA. Aurora is studying business, loves reading, is sassy, and has a favourite StarBucks drink- she's definitely a projection of the author. She's even physically described as similar! Blond wavey hair, hazel eyes, "a little curvy in the hips"- I mean, come on, girl. Just admit this is your self-insert fantasy where the hot dude loves you for no reason. Also, her personality is I AM SASSY AND STRONK but also uwu save me, Tristan. Wtf, she's actually the worst MC I've seen in a while.
Everyone else is somehow even less dimensional. Like I legit did not care about anyone- I don't even remember anything about them. And that whole OH NOES HER SICK BROTHER DIED thing? Normally, sick kids get to me, they hurt my heart. I honestly cringed a lot during this weakass plot point to shove the love interests together cause she needs him!!!!
Now, I'm gonna highlight some things that I took notes of, and discuss them:
-Any variation of brow arching. Like, it's as if the author doesn't realise people have OTHER gestures and facial quirks. I personally highlighted over fifteen instances of brows being arched. The same four word sentence! Over! And! Over! Again!
-Present tense. We can all agree this was dumb, right? Unless you're writing a choose your own adventure ("I throw my kindle into the bath, hoping that this cleanses the book from my mind. I wait with bated breath as Tristan calls out from beneath the surface of the water. "Sweetheart," he arches a brow, his face on the kindle screen. "You can't kill me, I'm already dead inside." Okay, knock off Rhysand.)
Now comes the "did anyone actually read this over and edit this book" portion. And these are just the ones that were SUPER obvious to me.
-I recoil, revulsion twisting my expression. (?????? This is so awkwardly phrased, hello?)
-She presses her lips together against a smile (???)
-His lips pull up. (YOU MEAN, HE SMILED? IS THAT WHAT THIS MEANS?)
-Tristan is sitting behind his desk having an animated conversation with someone on his phone. (lol what are commas)
-“Thanks,” I say. He closes the door in my face without a word as if he’s worried I’ve already heard too much. (Commas!)
-Oliver gives me a bear hug before he heads upstairs. I grab my textbook and join a few of the girls from my program who are there with their books already open, chatting about the upcoming test. I hurry over and sit, cracking my book open to join in the discussion. (There are a lot of stupidly weird, nonsensical transitions that had me flipping back to see if I read things right, or if I somehow missed massive chunks of text. Nope, just the author going lalala this is the thing now)
-“Get some rest, sweetheart,” “Don’t worry, sweetheart. No more needles.” you can bet your ass I’m going to cut a bitch.” “Take a breath, sweetheart. It won’t come to that.”. (lol, just a little bit of this cringe)
- He arches a brow at her. He arches a brow. He arches a brow. again. arch a brow. I arch a brow. Dad arches a brow. I arch a brow, pressing my thighs together as if that’ll relieve the pulsing between them.
- ignore the delicious throbbing between my legs. (this sentence actually ruined any plans I had of intimacy with my partner- namely cause I kept laughing, saying it, and killing any and all mood. For a romance, it sure is fuckin' unsexy)
- It would be a lie to say the next month is any easier than before Adam’s death because it gets harder after the day of his memorial. (You can use commas, sweetheart; they won't hurt you the way Dollar Store Rhysand is hurting my soul)
- “You think I won’t cancel that to be inside you?” (Ewww, if anyone I dated ever said that, they wouldn't be anywhere near me for a while. This legit made me feel dirty, and I was clean and in the bath!)
-"You’re so tight, sweetheart.” (ARE YOU KIDDING ME?)
There are a lot of instances in this book that leads me to believe that this book wasn't as closely edited as it should be (especially as it's indie published, and there is a lot more scrutiny on the community). I don't think this book should have been the author's debut- it feels like she just Wanted To Be Published, and quality and effort are afterthoughts. I have a lot more thoughts on this, but I've ranted enough. I'm definitely no longer trusting the opinions of other's after this though. Even as someone that isn't a HUGE romance reader, a lot of the language is problematic and/or cringey, and this book is just not up to scratch
I don't normally go into great depth in my reviews, but I feel misled. I heard so much hype for this book, for this series, and I feel seriously betrayed and like I wasted my time reading it- so I'm going to be That Person On Goodreads.
First of all, and most upsettingly for me- I felt literally no attachment to anything in this book. All the characters came off as 2D, and lackluster. It honestly feels like the author took Twilight, 50 Shades, and Sarah J Maas, and mushed them together in a self insert fanfic. That is LITERALLY what this book is. We all wrote self insert fanfic as teens- none of us had the audacity to publish it and treat it like a fresh new thing, however. And if you have- shame on you, fam.
The first issue begins with Aurora/Rory/Roar/Sweetheart (ugh).
Aurora is a typical Mary Sue. She has no flaws (well, I think everything about her is, but it's a different definition of that), she's smart, the Hot Guy inexplicably falls for her, yada yada. I want to say, it's annoying when a character is an obvious self-insert of the author. Stephenie Meyer got away with that because she was writing for teens, but this is allegedly NA. Aurora is studying business, loves reading, is sassy, and has a favourite StarBucks drink- she's definitely a projection of the author. She's even physically described as similar! Blond wavey hair, hazel eyes, "a little curvy in the hips"- I mean, come on, girl. Just admit this is your self-insert fantasy where the hot dude loves you for no reason. Also, her personality is I AM SASSY AND STRONK but also uwu save me, Tristan. Wtf, she's actually the worst MC I've seen in a while.
Everyone else is somehow even less dimensional. Like I legit did not care about anyone- I don't even remember anything about them. And that whole OH NOES HER SICK BROTHER DIED thing? Normally, sick kids get to me, they hurt my heart. I honestly cringed a lot during this weakass plot point to shove the love interests together cause she needs him!!!!
Now, I'm gonna highlight some things that I took notes of, and discuss them:
-Any variation of brow arching. Like, it's as if the author doesn't realise people have OTHER gestures and facial quirks. I personally highlighted over fifteen instances of brows being arched. The same four word sentence! Over! And! Over! Again!
-Present tense. We can all agree this was dumb, right? Unless you're writing a choose your own adventure ("I throw my kindle into the bath, hoping that this cleanses the book from my mind. I wait with bated breath as Tristan calls out from beneath the surface of the water. "Sweetheart," he arches a brow, his face on the kindle screen. "You can't kill me, I'm already dead inside." Okay, knock off Rhysand.)
Now comes the "did anyone actually read this over and edit this book" portion. And these are just the ones that were SUPER obvious to me.
-I recoil, revulsion twisting my expression. (?????? This is so awkwardly phrased, hello?)
-She presses her lips together against a smile (???)
-His lips pull up. (YOU MEAN, HE SMILED? IS THAT WHAT THIS MEANS?)
-Tristan is sitting behind his desk having an animated conversation with someone on his phone. (lol what are commas)
-“Thanks,” I say. He closes the door in my face without a word as if he’s worried I’ve already heard too much. (Commas!)
-Oliver gives me a bear hug before he heads upstairs. I grab my textbook and join a few of the girls from my program who are there with their books already open, chatting about the upcoming test. I hurry over and sit, cracking my book open to join in the discussion. (There are a lot of stupidly weird, nonsensical transitions that had me flipping back to see if I read things right, or if I somehow missed massive chunks of text. Nope, just the author going lalala this is the thing now)
-“Get some rest, sweetheart,” “Don’t worry, sweetheart. No more needles.” you can bet your ass I’m going to cut a bitch.” “Take a breath, sweetheart. It won’t come to that.”. (lol, just a little bit of this cringe)
- He arches a brow at her. He arches a brow. He arches a brow. again. arch a brow. I arch a brow. Dad arches a brow. I arch a brow, pressing my thighs together as if that’ll relieve the pulsing between them.
- ignore the delicious throbbing between my legs. (this sentence actually ruined any plans I had of intimacy with my partner- namely cause I kept laughing, saying it, and killing any and all mood. For a romance, it sure is fuckin' unsexy)
- It would be a lie to say the next month is any easier than before Adam’s death because it gets harder after the day of his memorial. (You can use commas, sweetheart; they won't hurt you the way Dollar Store Rhysand is hurting my soul)
- “You think I won’t cancel that to be inside you?” (Ewww, if anyone I dated ever said that, they wouldn't be anywhere near me for a while. This legit made me feel dirty, and I was clean and in the bath!)
-"You’re so tight, sweetheart.” (ARE YOU KIDDING ME?)
There are a lot of instances in this book that leads me to believe that this book wasn't as closely edited as it should be (especially as it's indie published, and there is a lot more scrutiny on the community). I don't think this book should have been the author's debut- it feels like she just Wanted To Be Published, and quality and effort are afterthoughts. I have a lot more thoughts on this, but I've ranted enough. I'm definitely no longer trusting the opinions of other's after this though. Even as someone that isn't a HUGE romance reader, a lot of the language is problematic and/or cringey, and this book is just not up to scratch
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 16, 2020
Sadly this one fell a little flat for me.
It was too instalovey for me and I just felt chemistry was lacking between Tristan and Aurora.
It was too instalovey for me and I just felt chemistry was lacking between Tristan and Aurora.
April 9, 2018
For more review follow my blog shades of paper
This book was one of my most anticipated books of this year, and I had such high hopes, but unfortunately it ended up really disappointing me. When I first heard it was about faeries, I added to my TBR because I usually tend to love those type of books, but I felt that I didn’t get much from this one.
For starters, I didn’t like neither of the characters. I found them so lineal and underdeveloped, and none of them hardly had any development throughout the story. The romance happened so fast and was super insta-lovey, and I basically didn’t care about any of them most of the time.
The story felt flat for me, and I found most of it a bit anticlimactic. The thing that intrigued me the most about this book was the faeries, and I felt like most of the book was focused on the romance and drama part that I hardly knew anything about them. Also it appeared as if it was a vampire story, but then the author decided to swap it for faeries instead, because the I-feed-on-human-feelings thing was so odd and I didn’t like it that much.
This book was one of my most anticipated books of this year, and I had such high hopes, but unfortunately it ended up really disappointing me. When I first heard it was about faeries, I added to my TBR because I usually tend to love those type of books, but I felt that I didn’t get much from this one.
For starters, I didn’t like neither of the characters. I found them so lineal and underdeveloped, and none of them hardly had any development throughout the story. The romance happened so fast and was super insta-lovey, and I basically didn’t care about any of them most of the time.
The story felt flat for me, and I found most of it a bit anticlimactic. The thing that intrigued me the most about this book was the faeries, and I felt like most of the book was focused on the romance and drama part that I hardly knew anything about them. Also it appeared as if it was a vampire story, but then the author decided to swap it for faeries instead, because the I-feed-on-human-feelings thing was so odd and I didn’t like it that much.
February 24, 2018
Rating and review to come!
February 15, 2018
🔥Genre: Paranormal (Fae), Romance
🔥First-person heroine POV
🔥Cliffhanger: medium
🔥No love triangle nor cheating
Full review to come!
🔥First-person heroine POV
🔥Cliffhanger: medium
🔥No love triangle nor cheating
Full review to come!
February 16, 2018
Jessi Elliott can write. There's no question about that. I enjoyed Twisted Fate, but there was something...well, someone, that didn't let me love the story as much as I was hoping to.
But first, let's talk about what I loved about the book.
The cover.
Definitely one of my favorites!
Tristan...
I loved him!!!! He was this fucking delicious, arrogant man, ehem, ehem, fae, that I-wanted-to-bang-him-like-a-screen-door-in-a-hurricane, LOL.
Then, what I didn't like...
Aurora.
I'm sorry but I just couldn't deal with her. Now, don't go thinking she was mean or something like that because she was not. This was just an "it’s not you, it’s me." kind of thing. And unfortunately, this bad blood between us didn't let me feel the chemistry between her and Tristan.
All in all, Twisted Fate was an ok book. It may not have been the perfect choice for me, but I'd recommend it to any fantasy romance lovers out there.
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January 18, 2018
I received an e-arc of this from the author, in exchange for an honest review, and I can’t thank her enough for that.
Twisted Fate is a contemporary fantasy novel. It follows Aurora, a business major, who is thrust out of her own life and into the world of Tristan the Fae leader. Aurora’s life gets entangled with not just his life, but also his world.
The novel is romance-centric, it focuses on Aurora and Tristan’s developing relationship, while in the same time discusses this world’s issues.
The two things I didn’t like about this novel was that, in my opinion, the world wasn’t fully developed, I would have loved to get a few more details here and there. The same thing can be said about the characters, we got more dialogues than we did narrations, so maybe that was it.
All in all, this book may not have been for me, but I would recommend it to any romance novels fan with a taste for fantasy.
Twisted Fate is a contemporary fantasy novel. It follows Aurora, a business major, who is thrust out of her own life and into the world of Tristan the Fae leader. Aurora’s life gets entangled with not just his life, but also his world.
The novel is romance-centric, it focuses on Aurora and Tristan’s developing relationship, while in the same time discusses this world’s issues.
The two things I didn’t like about this novel was that, in my opinion, the world wasn’t fully developed, I would have loved to get a few more details here and there. The same thing can be said about the characters, we got more dialogues than we did narrations, so maybe that was it.
All in all, this book may not have been for me, but I would recommend it to any romance novels fan with a taste for fantasy.
July 8, 2018
Aurora the 20 something year old human grabs the attention of the (probably) ancient fae leader. She was different and witty etc. although she really didn't stand out all that much IMO. Tristan was okay but too nice for a badass leader. His threatening bad boy image faded real fast. I appreciated that their relationship was slow burning but it was almost too slow.
Aurora wasbossy forthright and self righteous kindly shared her opinions with others. She annoyed me sometimes when she thought she knew better than the fae about how to deal with the fae when she barely knew shit about the fae. Tristan wasn't much of a leader. He just seemed like a business man and nothing more. If the fae were on the verge of war, why did he and his two closest confidants/aids spend all of their time focusing on business instead of politics? He supposedly had strong magic but other than some minor healing he didn't do anything.
The friendship between Aurora and Allison was weird. They were supposed to be best friends but Allison was not a good friend. She lied to Aurora, even tried to kill her, but all was instantly forgiven because they were BFF and supposedly Allison would have done anything for Aurora although no evidence whatsoever supported this. With friends like that who needs enemies.
Technically this was new adult but it had a strong YA vibe. The romance was tame. Quite frankly Aurora wasn't the brightest. Her ability to judge the trustworthiness of other seemed like that of a young teen who'd never been wronged. When asked to find a fae at her college, I immediately figured out who she was looking for although she didn't get it until the last minute. Something was clearly up with Grant because why else would some random dude innocently keep popping up in the story especially since he clearly wasn't a love interest. She didn't even suspect a thing until it was explained to her.
The whole thing with Aurora's brother being sick didn't do anything for me. It was sad but I didn't know enough about the brother to be invested in his story. The situation with him didn't play out like I thought it would. The real ending was far less complicated and devious then the one I envisioned. The only complication in this ending was Aurora letting her own doubts trip her up. I'm not too interested in reading the next hoping that she'll finally get over her own insecurities.
Aurora was
The friendship between Aurora and Allison was weird. They were supposed to be best friends but Allison was not a good friend. She lied to Aurora, even tried to kill her, but all was instantly forgiven because they were BFF and supposedly Allison would have done anything for Aurora although no evidence whatsoever supported this. With friends like that who needs enemies.
Technically this was new adult but it had a strong YA vibe. The romance was tame. Quite frankly Aurora wasn't the brightest. Her ability to judge the trustworthiness of other seemed like that of a young teen who'd never been wronged. When asked to find a fae at her college, I immediately figured out who she was looking for although she didn't get it until the last minute. Something was clearly up with Grant because why else would some random dude innocently keep popping up in the story especially since he clearly wasn't a love interest. She didn't even suspect a thing until it was explained to her.
The whole thing with Aurora's brother being sick didn't do anything for me. It was sad but I didn't know enough about the brother to be invested in his story. The situation with him didn't play out like I thought it would. The real ending was far less complicated and devious then the one I envisioned. The only complication in this ending was Aurora letting her own doubts trip her up. I'm not too interested in reading the next hoping that she'll finally get over her own insecurities.
February 15, 2018
Reading this book was a lot like reading fanfiction for source material you're not familiar with. There's no real world building or character development, and without that framework the story just isn't as engaging. This trend of lackluster delivery extends to other elements of the novel as well. The characters will often remark that somebody is witty, or full of sass, yet the actual dialogue never reflects that. While this novel is far from the worst things out there, it does ultimately fall firmly into the disappointing camp.
February 14, 2018
Elliott’s debut novel, Twisted Fate, was an exciting read. I was immediately drawn into the premise, an average, everyday college student, suddenly thrust into a world she didn’t know existed. A world filled with light and dark fae, in a war for power. As Aurora grows closer to the dark fae, and especially Tristan, their leader, the danger increases. Supernatural beings, suspense, danger, sexual tension…sign me up!
I enjoyed the banter between these characters. Aurora was headstrong and witty, and while I liked that about her, I did find her stubbornness to be a bit much at times. I couldn’t help but swoon over Tristan’s charm and charisma. I feel like there is much we don’t know about Tristan and I would love to see more about his past. Together, their chemistry was undeniable. I enjoyed the push and pull. It was clear they were attracted to one another, but neither would act. The way their feelings grew throughout, helped to draw out that tension.
My favorite aspect of the story was the story line itself. I love the paranormal coexisting with the human world. A war spanning centuries. Adding in the fact that Aurora, herself, is maybe something more. It really hooked me.
There’s a lot going on throughout this book. I laughed, I cried, got frustrated and anxious, and so much more. With a whopper of a cliffhanger, Elliott leaves us waiting for more. I was quite surprised with some of the twists and I can’t wait to see how everything plays out.
December 31, 2018
I really enjoyed this book! It has been a while since I have read a fantasy romance and I tend to like the stories about Faes. The the book first started I was unsure how I was going to like the characters. Aurora definitely grew on me with her sarcasm and witty comebacks. I wish though that the readers would have got to read some chapters in Tristian's perspective. Overall, I loved the story!
February 4, 2018
***ARC received in exchange of an honest opinion***
January 11, 2018
I know I’ve enjoyed reading Jessi’s work whenever I was lucky enough for her to send me blurbs for feedback when we were in high school, so I knew I’d enjoy Twisted Fate too. I really was only going to read a couple chapters before bed last night…
But oh my word! Once I started, I could not put this book down!
I knew Twisted Fate was a new-adult, paranormal romance, but I don’t think I entirely knew what that meant going into this. I’m not a huge Romance reader (look at my ‘read’ shelf for proof), but by the time the romance was really introduced into the story, I was so emotionally invested that I absolutely loved it! Aurora and Tristan are the perfect enemies-to-lovers, and their witty banter and undeniable chemistry ooze out from the pages of this book. As well, I love the world of the fae Jessi has created here; I hear world-building in fantasy like this can be extremely difficult, but I think the explanations given in the book are clear, concise, and entertaining!
I don’t think I really anticipated just how quickly we were going to be immersed into the plot of the novel, but Chapter One piqued my interest enough to start Chapter Two; and by then I was all in! Jessi dives right into the story, but manages to hold back just enough information that you feel the need to read the next chapter right away. And then the next chapter right away. And the next chapter. And the next. And suddenly, like I did last night, you realize you’ve finished the book! I was totally engrossed in this story.
The ending of Twisted Fate was beautiful and devastating, and I cannot wait to get my hands on Twisted Gift (Jessi, if you ever need to run passages by me, I’m literally across the hall)!
But oh my word! Once I started, I could not put this book down!
I knew Twisted Fate was a new-adult, paranormal romance, but I don’t think I entirely knew what that meant going into this. I’m not a huge Romance reader (look at my ‘read’ shelf for proof), but by the time the romance was really introduced into the story, I was so emotionally invested that I absolutely loved it! Aurora and Tristan are the perfect enemies-to-lovers, and their witty banter and undeniable chemistry ooze out from the pages of this book. As well, I love the world of the fae Jessi has created here; I hear world-building in fantasy like this can be extremely difficult, but I think the explanations given in the book are clear, concise, and entertaining!
I don’t think I really anticipated just how quickly we were going to be immersed into the plot of the novel, but Chapter One piqued my interest enough to start Chapter Two; and by then I was all in! Jessi dives right into the story, but manages to hold back just enough information that you feel the need to read the next chapter right away. And then the next chapter right away. And the next chapter. And the next. And suddenly, like I did last night, you realize you’ve finished the book! I was totally engrossed in this story.
The ending of Twisted Fate was beautiful and devastating, and I cannot wait to get my hands on Twisted Gift (Jessi, if you ever need to run passages by me, I’m literally across the hall)!
December 26, 2017
Big thanks to Jessi Elliott for an ARC copy for review
Oh sweet apple pie, this book was good! With a great atmosphere, the magical and deviant world of the fae, solid characters, and a romance that you cannot help, but get swept away in. Jessi Elliott did a fantastic job with her debut novel, Twisted Fate. I can’t wait for book two, Twisted Gift and for more Tristan Westbrook of course.
Oh sweet apple pie, this book was good! With a great atmosphere, the magical and deviant world of the fae, solid characters, and a romance that you cannot help, but get swept away in. Jessi Elliott did a fantastic job with her debut novel, Twisted Fate. I can’t wait for book two, Twisted Gift and for more Tristan Westbrook of course.
May 1, 2019
DNF at 25%. I gave this one so many extra chances because it was on my phone for half a year and some stubborn part of me kept trying despite the dozens of other novels that wouldn't make me feel like a brain cell was being killed off with each melodramatic sentence.
It read like bad Mary Sue fanfiction and both main characters were so stereotypical that at one point, I actually thought it was meant to be a parody. It's actually like some new form of YA or NA or whatever-it's-called torture for the reader.
I mean, imagine reading paragraphs like this over and over and over again:
"Did you come to see me?" he purrs. His voice is sensual but dangerous. Even with the space between us, his inviting scent reaches me. I wonder if all fae men are as gorgeous as he is, then I mentally slap myself for allowing my head to go there.
Oh Aurora, I spent about four months(!!!) getting 25% into this book and yet I've wanted to slap you more than a dozen times... The vocabulary is incredibly repetitive, every other page the main character's eyes are widening (it's quite a feat to do this three times in a row in the same scene, you know?), Tristan does something "sensual," etc.
The next paragraph:
I attempt to make myself leave--to force my feet to career me out the door--but fail. "Did you follow me?" My eyes travel across his face and drop to his chest where a landscape of hard muscle pulls at his shirt.
A couple pages later:
I pry my eyes open to find Tristan. He's glaring at me, his unfairly gorgeous features dark and sharp in the moonlight.
Honestly, I don't know whether to be impressed or disgusted with myself that I made it a fourth of the way into this book. I should've known with his first appearance that it wasn't going to get any better:
His laugh is a deeply sensual, caressing sound, making my eyes widen.
Did I mention this is from the scene after she's been kidnapped, put in chains, choked, and tossed against a wall?
Even in the throes of teenage angst, I don't think I managed to create characters like Aurora and Tristan, and I wrote and read plenty of craptastic fanfiction AND original fiction.
It read like bad Mary Sue fanfiction and both main characters were so stereotypical that at one point, I actually thought it was meant to be a parody. It's actually like some new form of YA or NA or whatever-it's-called torture for the reader.
I mean, imagine reading paragraphs like this over and over and over again:
"Did you come to see me?" he purrs. His voice is sensual but dangerous. Even with the space between us, his inviting scent reaches me. I wonder if all fae men are as gorgeous as he is, then I mentally slap myself for allowing my head to go there.
Oh Aurora, I spent about four months(!!!) getting 25% into this book and yet I've wanted to slap you more than a dozen times... The vocabulary is incredibly repetitive, every other page the main character's eyes are widening (it's quite a feat to do this three times in a row in the same scene, you know?), Tristan does something "sensual," etc.
The next paragraph:
I attempt to make myself leave--to force my feet to career me out the door--but fail. "Did you follow me?" My eyes travel across his face and drop to his chest where a landscape of hard muscle pulls at his shirt.
A couple pages later:
I pry my eyes open to find Tristan. He's glaring at me, his unfairly gorgeous features dark and sharp in the moonlight.
Honestly, I don't know whether to be impressed or disgusted with myself that I made it a fourth of the way into this book. I should've known with his first appearance that it wasn't going to get any better:
His laugh is a deeply sensual, caressing sound, making my eyes widen.
Did I mention this is from the scene after she's been kidnapped, put in chains, choked, and tossed against a wall?
Even in the throes of teenage angst, I don't think I managed to create characters like Aurora and Tristan, and I wrote and read plenty of craptastic fanfiction AND original fiction.
December 20, 2018
Twisted Fate is about a snarky young woman who is misidentified as the target of a Fae kidnapping... but something about her makes it impossible for the Fae to erase her memories.
This book was highly enjoyable and I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys a mouthy female lead and light erotica. As for content on the latter, there was one short explicit sex scene towards the end, so that makes this an adult novel, but far tamer than most romances which go into that territory.
What I didn't like: The book could have used one last round of very harsh edits. I didn't notice typos or grammatical errors, but there were a number of scenes that had no point and were rather boring. Conversations like her friend offering to pay her tab at the bar, her refusing, them going back and forth a while as to why he or should or should not pay. Another conversation of basically the same thing between the protagonist and her mom--cut it. These are the sort of conversations that happen in real life, but drag the pacing of a book down and don't contribute anything. Fortunately, while there were a number of them, they were all short so I was able to get back to the story quickly. Another minor point was the dialogue, which felt clunky and forced at times, but the major issue that bothered me was a lack of consistent characterization of the secondary characters. Several of them didn't have any continuity as to their motivations or actions. I won't go into specifics for spoilers, but there was some very noticeable flip-flopping of "I'm evil! Now I'm not! Now I'm evil again! Now I'm not!" along with some smart characters suddenly acting dumb and then back again, and all the other characters just... going along with it? This would be a cardinal sin if performed by a man character, but secondaries are easier to brush off and just read as annoying.
Things I liked: The chemistry between the male and female lead was legit and palpable. The romance worked and I dug it. I've read a run of books that seem to romanticize Stockholm Syndrome in kidnapping plots, so I was concerned that that was how this story was going to handle the romance as well, but it wasn't and for that I am grateful. She has (arguably misguided) but reasonably legit reasons for continuing to interact with the male lead until a mutual spark has a chance to ignite into something more on both sides. This wasn't an insta-love, and I enjoyed how it was handled. I read this book pretty quickly because it kept me interested and wanting more. Another thing I enjoyed was the ending--it felt like an ending. While this is the first book in a series and there are clearly plot lines that need to be explored and tied up, it didn't end on a clifhanger and it felt like a satisfying ending. I've shied away from series lately because I so often feel like my emotional investment is being exploited to spend more money on the next book to get the sense of completion and satisfaction that I was promised in the first book. It's not a good feeling, and this book respects it's readers enough not to do it.
To sum up, this is a fun romance that I'd recommend if you like Fae storylines, snarky protagonists and light erotica. You'll need to suspend your belief a little more past the normal paranormal romance, but it's still fun and you should give it a try.
This book was highly enjoyable and I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys a mouthy female lead and light erotica. As for content on the latter, there was one short explicit sex scene towards the end, so that makes this an adult novel, but far tamer than most romances which go into that territory.
What I didn't like: The book could have used one last round of very harsh edits. I didn't notice typos or grammatical errors, but there were a number of scenes that had no point and were rather boring. Conversations like her friend offering to pay her tab at the bar, her refusing, them going back and forth a while as to why he or should or should not pay. Another conversation of basically the same thing between the protagonist and her mom--cut it. These are the sort of conversations that happen in real life, but drag the pacing of a book down and don't contribute anything. Fortunately, while there were a number of them, they were all short so I was able to get back to the story quickly. Another minor point was the dialogue, which felt clunky and forced at times, but the major issue that bothered me was a lack of consistent characterization of the secondary characters. Several of them didn't have any continuity as to their motivations or actions. I won't go into specifics for spoilers, but there was some very noticeable flip-flopping of "I'm evil! Now I'm not! Now I'm evil again! Now I'm not!" along with some smart characters suddenly acting dumb and then back again, and all the other characters just... going along with it? This would be a cardinal sin if performed by a man character, but secondaries are easier to brush off and just read as annoying.
Things I liked: The chemistry between the male and female lead was legit and palpable. The romance worked and I dug it. I've read a run of books that seem to romanticize Stockholm Syndrome in kidnapping plots, so I was concerned that that was how this story was going to handle the romance as well, but it wasn't and for that I am grateful. She has (arguably misguided) but reasonably legit reasons for continuing to interact with the male lead until a mutual spark has a chance to ignite into something more on both sides. This wasn't an insta-love, and I enjoyed how it was handled. I read this book pretty quickly because it kept me interested and wanting more. Another thing I enjoyed was the ending--it felt like an ending. While this is the first book in a series and there are clearly plot lines that need to be explored and tied up, it didn't end on a clifhanger and it felt like a satisfying ending. I've shied away from series lately because I so often feel like my emotional investment is being exploited to spend more money on the next book to get the sense of completion and satisfaction that I was promised in the first book. It's not a good feeling, and this book respects it's readers enough not to do it.
To sum up, this is a fun romance that I'd recommend if you like Fae storylines, snarky protagonists and light erotica. You'll need to suspend your belief a little more past the normal paranormal romance, but it's still fun and you should give it a try.
February 8, 2018
MY RATING: 3.5/5 STARS
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
When Jessi first approached me back in Summer of 2017 with hopes of letting me review her debut novel, I knew I had to get my hands on one. I loved romance but I didn't know what urban fantasy was nor did I know if I actually liked fantasy novels. Thank goodness, a long list of fantasy arcs from publishers fell into my hands and converted me into a fantasy lover so I absolutely had no doubts when I read this book.
Twisted Fate tells the story of Aurora Marshall, a senior in university who has eyes on the prize also known as graduating and making a name for herself. While she may seem like a typical student, she has a family that is drained financially from taking care of her younger brother who is fighting cancer. That's right, folks. It's going to be a tear-jerker. Typically found in libraries cramming for the next exam or finishing up a project, Aurora is convinced to attend a party and it's there were things go wrong. She's kidnapped, exposed to the world of faes (mythical creatures who look eerily like humans but so much more beautiful), and finds herself on a quest to protect her best friend. Oh yeah, and it doesn't hurt that the leader of the faes is smokin' hot.
I thought Twisted Fate was an entertaining read. It's light and fun. Jessi did a great job at writing a piece that isn't heavy with big dialogues or lengthy descriptions or huge paragraphs explaining motives of characters. I thought the book was written well for a debut novel. It was filled with a good set of characters with individual motives and personalities. And most importantly, the plot moved along, never dragging.
I also enjoyed the romance between Aurora and Tristan towards the end. Twisted Fate honestly gave me some Twilight vibes mixed with a hint of Fifty Shades of Grey without the controlling Christian Grey but billionaire romance vibes. Firstly, Tristan has magical powers and so does Edward Cullen. He also owns a huge chain of hotels which therefore, makes him super rich like Christian Grey. He's also dominating, holds power in the boardroom and well, in his body, and is totally hot. Secondly, Tristan also does this weird thing where he invades Aurora's dreams like kind of how Edward watched Bella sleep at night so I think I made my case pretty clear. While Twilight and Fifty Shades of Grey have been ridiculed a lot in public media, Twisted Fate does not hold the poor aspects of these NYT Bestsellers but more so similar plot attributes and the entertainment factor.
Moving onto characters, I hate to say it but sometimes Aurora was very confusing. She's not a shy one like Anastasia Steele if that's what you think. She's witty and does not hold her tongue. She says what's on her mind. But sometimes, I found her a tad aggressive. In pieces of dialogue, Tristan would just ask a simply friendly question but Aurora would get very defensive and react. This is just something that I find very hard with witty bold characters because they either rub me the wrong way or they're spot on and I love them. While Aurora made me laugh a few times, she did bother me a bit too.
Furthermore, Aurora is abducted by accident. Tristan tries to wash away her memories of Fae but can't. So Aurora becomes "involved" in a way because they're trying to hunt down someone she really loves and wants to protect. The thing is that I found this so hard to believe that such a noble character existed. I mean, would I sacrifice my normal life, my safety, my everything for someone? Maybe. It depends on the relationship. And I guess I felt this way because there wasn't as strong of a development as I wished with Aurora's relationship with the character. It could have been expanded on more and made sure that I would connect with them before we move on this crazy journey into the Fae world.
MY RECOMMENDATION:
Twisted Fate is a book you read for the magic, the love, and the scenes that make you blush in public. I definitely suggest you guys to give this one a try and continue with the series!
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
When Jessi first approached me back in Summer of 2017 with hopes of letting me review her debut novel, I knew I had to get my hands on one. I loved romance but I didn't know what urban fantasy was nor did I know if I actually liked fantasy novels. Thank goodness, a long list of fantasy arcs from publishers fell into my hands and converted me into a fantasy lover so I absolutely had no doubts when I read this book.
Twisted Fate tells the story of Aurora Marshall, a senior in university who has eyes on the prize also known as graduating and making a name for herself. While she may seem like a typical student, she has a family that is drained financially from taking care of her younger brother who is fighting cancer. That's right, folks. It's going to be a tear-jerker. Typically found in libraries cramming for the next exam or finishing up a project, Aurora is convinced to attend a party and it's there were things go wrong. She's kidnapped, exposed to the world of faes (mythical creatures who look eerily like humans but so much more beautiful), and finds herself on a quest to protect her best friend. Oh yeah, and it doesn't hurt that the leader of the faes is smokin' hot.
I thought Twisted Fate was an entertaining read. It's light and fun. Jessi did a great job at writing a piece that isn't heavy with big dialogues or lengthy descriptions or huge paragraphs explaining motives of characters. I thought the book was written well for a debut novel. It was filled with a good set of characters with individual motives and personalities. And most importantly, the plot moved along, never dragging.
I also enjoyed the romance between Aurora and Tristan towards the end. Twisted Fate honestly gave me some Twilight vibes mixed with a hint of Fifty Shades of Grey without the controlling Christian Grey but billionaire romance vibes. Firstly, Tristan has magical powers and so does Edward Cullen. He also owns a huge chain of hotels which therefore, makes him super rich like Christian Grey. He's also dominating, holds power in the boardroom and well, in his body, and is totally hot. Secondly, Tristan also does this weird thing where he invades Aurora's dreams like kind of how Edward watched Bella sleep at night so I think I made my case pretty clear. While Twilight and Fifty Shades of Grey have been ridiculed a lot in public media, Twisted Fate does not hold the poor aspects of these NYT Bestsellers but more so similar plot attributes and the entertainment factor.
Moving onto characters, I hate to say it but sometimes Aurora was very confusing. She's not a shy one like Anastasia Steele if that's what you think. She's witty and does not hold her tongue. She says what's on her mind. But sometimes, I found her a tad aggressive. In pieces of dialogue, Tristan would just ask a simply friendly question but Aurora would get very defensive and react. This is just something that I find very hard with witty bold characters because they either rub me the wrong way or they're spot on and I love them. While Aurora made me laugh a few times, she did bother me a bit too.
Furthermore, Aurora is abducted by accident. Tristan tries to wash away her memories of Fae but can't. So Aurora becomes "involved" in a way because they're trying to hunt down someone she really loves and wants to protect. The thing is that I found this so hard to believe that such a noble character existed. I mean, would I sacrifice my normal life, my safety, my everything for someone? Maybe. It depends on the relationship. And I guess I felt this way because there wasn't as strong of a development as I wished with Aurora's relationship with the character. It could have been expanded on more and made sure that I would connect with them before we move on this crazy journey into the Fae world.
MY RECOMMENDATION:
Twisted Fate is a book you read for the magic, the love, and the scenes that make you blush in public. I definitely suggest you guys to give this one a try and continue with the series!
January 6, 2019
The synopsis was really intriguing, so I was excited to read this book. I liked it, but I had a difficult time really connecting with the story. I felt like the world of the book wasn't fully developed, especially regarding the fae. I liked Aurora's feistiness, but at times she acted really reckless, especially considering she was dealing with the fae. I also liked Tristan, but he didn't seem like a strong enough character to be the leader of the dark fae. Most of the characters seemed pretty one-dimensional, with the exception of a couple of the supporting characters (Max and Skylar). Max and Skylar seemed to show more growth and development than anyone else in the book. There were a lot of things in this book (characters, events, and potential storyline arcs) that had the potential to make this story amazing and add more depth to it. But those things weren't followed through, developed, or resolved, so this book ended up falling flat for me. The romance between Aurora and Tristan is a really slow burn and it takes approximately 90% of the book before they decide to take their relationship to the next level. Then Aurora decides to take things into her own hands and goes to confront the leader of the light fae which leads to the book ending in a way that I never expected and left me slightly confused on how that ending was possible. I realize that this is the first book in a series (I don't know how many books will be in the series), so the full story isn't complete. My hope is that the next book will continue to develop the world of this series and that some of the things that weren't pursued in this storyline might be followed up with in the second book (e.g., Aurora's family lineage, among other things). I will be reading the next book in the series to see how the story continues and if any of those loose threads in the story get resolved.
January 7, 2019
I was given an ARC for this book in return for an unbiased review.
Wow what a book!
Paranormal/Fantasy books are not normally my top picks but I am so happy I took a chance on this book and author. I loved the main characters Aurora and Tristan and could feel the tension between them from their first meeting. I was sat on the edge of my seat as I read this book their were so many twists and turns one minute I was crying the next minute I was laughing out load.
This was definitely a slow burn romance and I felt like as soon as they were figuring out they belong together something stopped them in their tracks - I cannot wait to see what happens between these two.
I also feel like their is so much more to be explored with Tristan (the leader of the fae) I want to know more about his back story, how he got to where he was and his powers.
The only thing I didn't fully get was how Auroras brother fit into the story line it felt a bit pointless (unless something happens in the next book...).
I cannot wait to read the next book in this series and I will definitely be looking out for more books by Jessi Elliott!
Wow what a book!
Paranormal/Fantasy books are not normally my top picks but I am so happy I took a chance on this book and author. I loved the main characters Aurora and Tristan and could feel the tension between them from their first meeting. I was sat on the edge of my seat as I read this book their were so many twists and turns one minute I was crying the next minute I was laughing out load.
This was definitely a slow burn romance and I felt like as soon as they were figuring out they belong together something stopped them in their tracks - I cannot wait to see what happens between these two.
I also feel like their is so much more to be explored with Tristan (the leader of the fae) I want to know more about his back story, how he got to where he was and his powers.
The only thing I didn't fully get was how Auroras brother fit into the story line it felt a bit pointless (unless something happens in the next book...).
I cannot wait to read the next book in this series and I will definitely be looking out for more books by Jessi Elliott!
December 22, 2018
Wow!!! Those twists and turns were not at all what I was expecting! I was not expecting to laugh as much as I did! I loved the dialogue and wit between characters!
Aurora Marshall has her perfectly planned life turned upside when mistakenly kidnapped by the Fae. With one look at her captor, Tristan, ruler of a group of Fae, she and the reader couldn’t help but wickedly smile!
Her no fear, say exactly what she’s thinking attitude intrigues Tristan and only endears her to him further.
Despite what she wants she is often saved and protected by him and this new Fae world that is full of danger. He is a handsome, rich, warrior alpha-hero who is willing to do anything for those he loves.
Their romance is slow and torturous leaving the reader wanting more. Build up and tension leads to some steamy moments. Being NA I’m guessing that’s as hot as it’s going to get😉😊
The back story with her brother feels a little out of place but it causes interactions that might not have happened.
The twists! I was shocked! Rory, as Tristan calls her, broke my heart! I felt Rory had a major change in personality which I’m not sure was completely believable but I went with it! Fae do heighten emotions so maybe that’s it?
I really liked this book and I look forward to reading the series! Tris and Rory are magical together and I am fascinated by where this story is going!
Thank you to the author/publishers for this ARC in exchange for an unbiased review!
Aurora Marshall has her perfectly planned life turned upside when mistakenly kidnapped by the Fae. With one look at her captor, Tristan, ruler of a group of Fae, she and the reader couldn’t help but wickedly smile!
Her no fear, say exactly what she’s thinking attitude intrigues Tristan and only endears her to him further.
Despite what she wants she is often saved and protected by him and this new Fae world that is full of danger. He is a handsome, rich, warrior alpha-hero who is willing to do anything for those he loves.
Their romance is slow and torturous leaving the reader wanting more. Build up and tension leads to some steamy moments. Being NA I’m guessing that’s as hot as it’s going to get😉😊
The back story with her brother feels a little out of place but it causes interactions that might not have happened.
The twists! I was shocked! Rory, as Tristan calls her, broke my heart! I felt Rory had a major change in personality which I’m not sure was completely believable but I went with it! Fae do heighten emotions so maybe that’s it?
I really liked this book and I look forward to reading the series! Tris and Rory are magical together and I am fascinated by where this story is going!
Thank you to the author/publishers for this ARC in exchange for an unbiased review!
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March 12, 2021I’m on a mission to read as many self pub books as I can...even if they are out of my preferred genres. That is all.
March 5, 2020
Underdeveloped and rushed world building with instalove romance.
February 17, 2018
Mixed feelings with this book. Heroine struck me as a bit dumb most of the time. She moaned allot too. I will read to the second book to see if it improves.
February 26, 2021
Aurora, a normal third year college student, gets sucked into the world of the Fae at a college party by accident, and gets entangled with Tristan - the leader of the dark Fae.
I am a HUGE sucker for enemies to lovers and Fae, so obviously I absolutely loved this read that has both!
It was fast paced and intriguing, and never dull for a second.
I really liked the characters and the story, and I completely fell in love with Aurora and Tristan's relationship! And that twist that got even more twisted? I did not see coming!
I did wish there would be a bit more smut in there, but I guess I'm going to have to read the rest of the series for more ;)
I am a HUGE sucker for enemies to lovers and Fae, so obviously I absolutely loved this read that has both!
It was fast paced and intriguing, and never dull for a second.
I really liked the characters and the story, and I completely fell in love with Aurora and Tristan's relationship! And that twist that got even more twisted? I did not see coming!
I did wish there would be a bit more smut in there, but I guess I'm going to have to read the rest of the series for more ;)
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