Book: Twisted Pawn by L.J. Shen
Reviewed by Karina's Magical Reads
Rating: God Tier
LJ gives us one of her best books yet. I loved Bad Bishop and was thrilled when I found out Tierney and Achilles were getting their own book with Twisted Pawn. There is so much to unpack in their story. Tierney and Achilles are enemies and he's hell bent on making sure she never has a relationship and she's hell bent on making his life miserable. This story takes off where Bad Bishop ends and you get crossovers of our favorite characters from Bad Bishop and even The Kiss Thief. They powerful dynamic between Achilles and Tierney is gripping. I devoured this book in 2 days, staying up till 2 am two nights in a row just because I could not put this book down.
It's important to know this is the DARKEST of the series so far. You learn so much more about Achilles and Tierney's history together but also their lives growing up as children. The trauma they both endured at the hands of people who were supposed to care for them or situations they were put into destroyed my heart. I was in tears so many times with this book. At around 50% into the book, one scene made my heart stop. I had to take a moment and just cried. LJ has the unique ability to have you so enthralled into the story, then BAM....PLOT TWIST or Pivotal moment happens. The pacing in this story is amazing honestly. I never once felt that the story was slow. You get so much insight into their pasts and their present. Achilles is a hard man born of hard circumstance and so much pressure to be who is father wanted him to be, but Tierney was his LIGHT in the world. Tierney suffered so much from the moment she was born until she was 14 plus years old along with her brother, Tiernan. Her resilience, and the ability to still love past her trauma is inspiring. I love her so much and Achilles. Watching their story unfold and where they had to go in order to get where they needed to be was something that will forever live in my soul.
I will forever recommend this series, LJ is such a talented writer and she really does and amazing job with her characters. Please know this is DARK Romance and this book in particular has some extremely dark topics. Please check your TW's. This is a 6 STAR Read for me. The spice in this book does not disappoint, I give it a 3.5 Chili Pepper Rating.