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A review by gluvsbooks
Twisted Game by Eva Ashwood
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Maybe more like a 3.5 stars, but the cliffhanger has me intrigued for book 2!
This is Book 1 ‘Twisted Game’ of the ‘Filthy Wicked Pychos’ series starts out by following Willow, who happens to find herself in a predicament where she meets three brooding brothers. Willow has had a rough upbringing where she’s mostly had to raise herself, her relationship with her mother has been strained. She finds herself wanting to get some extra money but in the process she doesn’t know that she’s about to be witness to a murder and potentially gain the attention of the Voronin brothers.
“if you're going to pull a knife on me, solnyshka, you'd better be prepared to use it.”
The three bothers—Malice, Victor and Ransom. They each have very distinctive personalities (I found this to be refreshing as in some reverse harem romances the mmc’s can often overlap in the personality department.) Their dynamic was easily identifiable. Malice is the brooding, intimidating, grumpy one. Victor has OCD, good with technology, quiet, and has obsessive tendencies and a huge need for order and control (I always find myself most attracted to these types in RH’s because even though we don’t know much about Victor just yet I know that he’ll probably be my fave.) While Ransom is the cheeky, upbeat brother. OH and did I mention, Malice and Victor just so happen to be twins!
“Sometimes the people you love turn your love against you, and it's the most brutal weapon in the world.”
The story developed quite slowly and I sometimes found myself becoming bored. It could have probably been at least 100 pages shorter in length seeing as parts did seem to drag. However, it was very detailed and the story was built up nicely, giving us little crumbs into the guys’ lives just before they met Willow.
However, something which I didn’t quite enjoy was how fast the relationship seemed to develop. Willow came to trust the brothers quicker than I anticipated or would have liked. I was hoping for a bit more back and forth from her. There wasn’t much conversation on anything overly personal between the brothers and Willow before any intimacy was established.
I will be continuing with book two as the cliffhanger made that that the only option for me!
————————
Quotes:
- [ ] "She’s delicate and fragile, like a doll that you’d think would be easy to break. But underneath that porcelain exterior, there’s something more like iron at her core."
- [ ] "Sometimes the people you love turn your love against you, and it’s the most brutal weapon in the world."
- [ ] "Willow makes me want something that no one else ever has before."
- [ ] "Willow? She feels like a drug. Like something that’s going to wreck us all."
- [ ] “maybe I’m as twisted and fucked up as I always wanted to avoid being.”
- [ ] "I crave monsters."
- [ ] “Because you’re our responsibility. And we don’t let people hurt what’s ours.”
- [ ] "Dangerous, blood soaked monsters that leave a trail of death behind them. And yet still, somehow, I feel drawn to them."
- [ ] "I realize it’s not just the brothers who are monsters. She’s one too."
————————
Tropes:
- reverse harem—3 brothers
- forced proximity
- one bed
- stalking
- age gap
Notes:
- possessive mmc’s
- organised crime
- gangs
Content Warning:
- Parental abuse (past)
- sexual abuse
- talks of (past) child sexual abuse
This is Book 1 ‘Twisted Game’ of the ‘Filthy Wicked Pychos’ series starts out by following Willow, who happens to find herself in a predicament where she meets three brooding brothers. Willow has had a rough upbringing where she’s mostly had to raise herself, her relationship with her mother has been strained. She finds herself wanting to get some extra money but in the process she doesn’t know that she’s about to be witness to a murder and potentially gain the attention of the Voronin brothers.
“if you're going to pull a knife on me, solnyshka, you'd better be prepared to use it.”
The three bothers—Malice, Victor and Ransom. They each have very distinctive personalities (I found this to be refreshing as in some reverse harem romances the mmc’s can often overlap in the personality department.) Their dynamic was easily identifiable. Malice is the brooding, intimidating, grumpy one. Victor has OCD, good with technology, quiet, and has obsessive tendencies and a huge need for order and control (I always find myself most attracted to these types in RH’s because even though we don’t know much about Victor just yet I know that he’ll probably be my fave.) While Ransom is the cheeky, upbeat brother. OH and did I mention, Malice and Victor just so happen to be twins!
“Sometimes the people you love turn your love against you, and it's the most brutal weapon in the world.”
The story developed quite slowly and I sometimes found myself becoming bored. It could have probably been at least 100 pages shorter in length seeing as parts did seem to drag. However, it was very detailed and the story was built up nicely, giving us little crumbs into the guys’ lives just before they met Willow.
However, something which I didn’t quite enjoy was how fast the relationship seemed to develop. Willow came to trust the brothers quicker than I anticipated or would have liked. I was hoping for a bit more back and forth from her. There wasn’t much conversation on anything overly personal between the brothers and Willow before any intimacy was established.
I will be continuing with book two as the cliffhanger made that that the only option for me!
————————
Quotes:
- [ ] "She’s delicate and fragile, like a doll that you’d think would be easy to break. But underneath that porcelain exterior, there’s something more like iron at her core."
- [ ] "Sometimes the people you love turn your love against you, and it’s the most brutal weapon in the world."
- [ ] "Willow makes me want something that no one else ever has before."
- [ ] "Willow? She feels like a drug. Like something that’s going to wreck us all."
- [ ] “maybe I’m as twisted and fucked up as I always wanted to avoid being.”
- [ ] "I crave monsters."
- [ ] “Because you’re our responsibility. And we don’t let people hurt what’s ours.”
- [ ] "Dangerous, blood soaked monsters that leave a trail of death behind them. And yet still, somehow, I feel drawn to them."
- [ ] "I realize it’s not just the brothers who are monsters. She’s one too."
————————
Tropes:
- reverse harem—3 brothers
- forced proximity
- one bed
- stalking
- age gap
Notes:
- possessive mmc’s
- organised crime
- gangs
Content Warning:
- Parental abuse (past)
- sexual abuse
- talks of (past) child sexual abuse
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Death of parent, and Murder