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olivialandryxo's reviews
810 reviews
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Updated series ranking:
- King of Pride (forever my babies)
- King of Sloth (my new babies)
- King of Greed (good but not as good)
- King of Wrath (suck it Dante)
My Ana Huang holy trinity, which finally exists after this book: King of Pride, King of Sloth, Twisted Lies 💜💙💚
Representation:
- Colombian protagonist and side characters
- Chinese side characters (one is half-Filipina)
- demisexual Brazilian side character
- side character with CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome)
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Infidelity, Sexual content, and Death of parent
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
And to say the plot thickens would be an understatement… this book had me STRESSED. I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again: I can’t even begin to imagine the state of everything by the time the series is over, and that terrifies me.
And speaking of, I don’t know what Callisto is up to, but I don’t like it. My current theory is that she’s helping Circe and Minos somehow?? My first thought was maybe she was the benefactor, but now I’m just wondering if she’s willing to be an agent from the inside. She would be all too happy to watch Olympus burn, and if she agreed to help, she could probably negotiate safety for her family…
Representation:
- three bi/pansexual polyamorous protagonists (includes a Black woman and a Swedish-Korean man)
- MMF main throuple
- sapphic side couple
- various POC, queer and/or fat side characters (includes sapphic, bisexual & pansexual rep, nonbinary rep/use of neopronouns, as well as Black, Korean & South Asian rep)
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Pregnancy
Minor: Abortion
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I mean that, too. I was having such a blast from the very first page, and up till all of that crap started, I was convinced I had finally found another Ana book I loved as much as King of Pride.
(Yes, I’m looking at you, Alex.)
Also, on a less-than-impressed note, the fact that Stella was about to die and her ~big realization~ was that Christian would never drug or kidnap her like Julian did and so he’s The One… are you kidding me??? Girlie, that’s the absolute bare minimum in a relationship. The bar is so low, it’s underground. Sigh.
Final series ranking:
- Twisted Lies (despite everything)
- Twisted Love/Twisted Hate
- Twisted Games
Representation:
- multiracial protagonist with anxiety (Japanese, Black & Puerto Rican)
- fat side character
- Chinese-American side characters
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Stalking
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Torture, Kidnapping, and Murder
Minor: Suicide
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Overall, this was fun. I’d say it’s tied with Love for my favorite so far. I like Jules more than Ava, but Alex more than Josh. I think J+J’s relationship arc is more realistic, but A+A’s dynamic is more entertaining.
The best part, though, hands down, was seeing the stage set for the next book, which is unabashedly the reason I’ve read the others. Christian is so whipped already and it’s delightful. ( ͡❛ ͜ʖ ͡❛)
Current series ranking:
- Twisted Love/Twisted Hate
- Twisted Games
Representation:
- fat protagonist
- Chinese-American protagonist & side character
- multiracial side character (Japanese, Black & Puerto Rican)
- lesbian side character
Graphic: Sexual content and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Medical content, and Death of parent
Minor: Drug abuse, Car accident, and Fire/Fire injury
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
It also doesn’t help that, the more I think about it, the more I realize that Bridget and Rhys have absolutely nothing to base a relationship on. All they ever do is screw around. Ana’s other couples have foundations upon which their relationships are built, but these two are just lust. Their story is just smut. Like if you took the vibes of Princess Diaries 2, combined with the vibes of Red White and Royal Blue, but replaced 90% of the plots with (rather repetitive) smut.
And damn, is it disappointing.
Extra half star for the first half, though, because it was fun while it lasted. And the teasing glimpses of future couples have made the rest (nearly) worth it.
Current series ranking:
- Twisted Love (I’m shocked too)
- Twisted Games (I’m sad)
Representation:
- Chinese-American side characters
- fat side character
- multiracial side character (Japanese, Black & Puerto Rican)
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Gun violence and Medical content
Minor: Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Car accident, Death of parent, and War
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Representation:
- Chinese-American protagonist & side characters
- fat side character
- multiracial side character (Japanese, Black & Puerto Rican)
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Child death, Suicide, and Death of parent
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
So, yeah. Some things worked for me in this book, others didn’t, but overall, I did like it, and I do want to read the second book. I want to see more of Andy and the Lavender House family, and hopefully, I’ll really like it.
Representation:
- gay protagonist
- Mexican lesbian side character
- bisexual Jewish side character
- sapphic side characters
- achillean side characters (one is also Filipino)
- sapphic side couples (f/f)
- achillean side couple (m/m)
Graphic: Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Police brutality
Moderate: Death and Murder
Minor: Confinement and Religious bigotry
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Honestly, I feel like Ále and Dom need some time apart—for real, without him “coincidentally” ending up in the same place as her—and both individual and couples therapy to really make their relationship work again. She might’ve learned to put herself first, to stand up for what she wants and needs, but he needs to learn to respect boundaries.
And that reminds me.
“‘I would stalk you if it meant you’d talk to me again.’
‘How romantic.’
‘I’m past romantic, Alessandra. I’m desperate.’”
He’s acting like a child that forgot about their favorite toy and is now throwing a fit because said toy was donated. As if it’s not his own damn fault that he’s in this situation. And it’s aggravating as hell.
All of that aside, there’s something to be said about the fact I read this in a day. I don’t know the last time I did that, or even came close. It might have problems, but damn if it’s not an entertaining read despite them. I’m still cackling about the library scene.
(Although I won’t lie, I’m INCREDIBLY SALTY that there were two weddings in this book and neither of them were for Kai and Isa. They’re the stars of this show and they deserve better.)
Current ranking of the series:
- King of Pride (reigns supreme)
- King of Greed (is still good)
- King of Wrath (go to hell Dante)
Representation:
- demisexual Brazilian protagonist
- dyslexic protagonist
- dyslexic Brazilian side character
- Filipina-Chinese side character
- Chinese side characters
Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual content, and Abandonment
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Violence, and Blood
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
While the whole book was entertaining, the second half was especially thrilling, with many a revelation and plot twist keeping me on my toes. I love that the final showdown included a handful of chapters narrated by various side characters, thus giving us more insight into all that occurred. It really rounded things out, allowing for more detail without risk of the conflict being stretched on for too long. And the ending itself was lovely, so hopeful and honestly just perfect. ❤️
(My potential new ship—Briar/[A Newly Single Side Character]—might not have sailed, and I can see why, but I feel like it could still happen at some point in the future… Here’s to hoping.)
Also, I just want to say that I listened to this duology on audio, and I’m convinced I enjoyed the story more for it. Dani Martineck is a seriously talented narrator, and they did an incredible job with these books. While Wyatt’s chaotic gay inner monologue is hilarious in every format, this one absolutely takes the cake. I’ve never reached the end of an audiobook and wanted more, from it specifically, until now. If I reread, I’m coming back to the audiobooks; if you can get your hands on them, I highly recommend doing so; and if Dani has done any other books, I’m about to go look for them.
Representation:
- gay trans (FTM) protagonist
- Black queer demisexual love interest
- fat indigenous biromantic asexual side character
- nonbinary lesbian side character (they/them)
- various queer side characters & side characters of color (includes a Black character that uses a wheelchair)
- achillean couple (m/m)
- MMF side throuple
- minor sapphic side couple (f/f)
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Animal death, Racism, Transphobia, and Vomit
Minor: Sexual assault, Cannibalism, and Sexual harassment
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
One thing I will hold against the book, though, is the way the nonbinary protagonist was written. In their very first conversation, Jorah tells Quinn their pronouns are they/them. Why, then, are there instances later on in the book where Quinn thinks of them using he/him pronouns? I’ve never read a book where the author misgenders their own character. It’s clumsy, it’s gross, and it makes the whole thing feel like an afterthought.
Also, I don’t love the fact that Quinn was so horny for tentacles, she just gave up on her lifelong dream. We hear over and over about how hard she worked to get where she is, and then. Tentacles. That’s it. That’s the tweet.
The smut was good, though. Even better than Snowed Inn (With a Demon). And, if I suspend my disbelief, Quinn and Jorah are quite cute. So there’s that.
Representation:
- fat protagonist
- nonbinary protagonist (they/them) (supposedly) (The Demon’s Bargain by Katee Robert did it exponentially better)
Graphic: Sexual content