Name: Des's review of Twisted by Emily McIntire
Item: Twisted
Rating: 4
Author: Des

Emily McIntire

From International bestselling author Emily McIntire comes a dark and delicious fractured fairy tale reimagining of Aladdin.

She's his diamond in the rough. He's her worst nightmare.
Yasmin Karam, daughter to one of the richest men in the world, has never known strife. So, when her beloved father falls ill, she's determined to make his final days his happiest. His last wish? To see her married to a man of his choosing. Except Yasmin's heart already belongs to someone else. A servant. A street rat. A man her father would never consider worthy. Stuck between a rock and a hard place, Yasmin strikes a desperate deal with her father's right-hand man, Julian, not realizing he has his own twisted agenda.

Julian Faraci has one goal: become the most powerful man in the world. He's built a future from broken bones and faded bruises, never caring who he hurt along the way. But when his mentor falls ill, he finds himself on the verge of losing everything, and he'll stop at nothing to inherit what is rightfully his. Even if it means forcing a woman he can't stand into marriage.

Yasmin is a brat who speaks out of turn, and he's the villain of her story. But he decides she'll be his—no matter what it takes to convince her.

*Twisted is a dark, contemporary romance (not fantasy or a literal retelling) and the fourth complete standalone in the Never After series: a collection of fractured fairy tales inspired by our favorite villains. It features mature themes and content that may not be suitable for all readers. READER DISCRETION IS ADVISED. Detailed TW can be found on the author's website.*

Never After Series, Book #4

Twisted

Holly 

Sometimes, it's okay to be a little selfish.

Hana 

"Don't you know yet, gattina? I would do anything for you. Burn this life down to the ground and build a whole new world if you demanded it."

After all, problems that show up are nothing more than puzzles asking to be solved.

"It is amazing what women in love will do."

Linsey Mombert

Some people say that family is family, blood is blood. But I say that toxic is toxic, and no one is more important than my inner peace, even if it means I lose them for good.

It is amazing what women in love will do." -Anonymous, The Arabian Nights

“What's mine is yours, 𝘸𝘪𝘧𝘦”

nanafark

Some people say that family is family, blood is blood. But 

 say that toxic is toxic, and no one is more important than my inner peace, even if it means I lose them for good.

People only have the power you give them, and I’m done giving her mine.

She’s under no illusion of what this started as, but I want to make sure she knows that if she isn’t in my world, it isn’t worth living.

“You are so fucking perfect. And so fucking 

“You’re an angel, gattina. And I’ll break your wings just to keep you by my side. So do us both a favor and walk. The fuck. Away.”

“I want to reach into your chest and hold your heart in my hands, making sure it only beats for me,” I rasp. “But I don’t want your firsts, Yasmin. I want your forever.”

“I would kill anyone who looked at you. Anyone who dared to even breathe too close.”

With clarity comes pain. With acceptance comes grief.

I’ve been told that right before you die, you straddle the worlds, one foot in this one and one foot in the next. It makes my stomach cinch up tight when I think about how far gone out of this life he has to be to not have noticed I was here.

“But that’s the thing about abuse, I guess. The pain always lasts even after the bruises fade.”

He doesn’t wait for a reply, which is good because I don’t have one to give him. Instead, I’m sure his question will just seep into my subconscious and fester there so I can overthink it later and wonder if he’s right.

The last thing I need is for anyone else to see me try and fail at something most people know how to do.

You’re more than your current circumstance.

“Photographs help us remember things we’d otherwise forget.”

[…] there’s no true good and evil. The separation is an illusion created by those of us in power to keep the masses at bay and feeling as though there are people fighting for what’s right.

Jocelyn Smith

Age gap, dark romance, Aladdin retelling. The spice was spicing. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It had an enemies to lovers trope. I wouldn’t say it was super smutty but definitely some smut scattered throughout the chapters! 

Vera Parker

Great plot and characters, a little predictable near the end but still great. 

Taiha Morton

I’m really enjoying this series so far! I liked the concept of this one and some parts of it reminded me of the first book but obviously not everything. The flow of the story was nice and kept me intrigued. I do think it went from hate to live in a flip of a switch for both of the characters so that was the only abrupt thing for me. Maybe some of the ending too but that didn’t stick out to me as much. But I am really enjoying the series and am excited to continue them. 

Priscilla Stanfield

4.25/5⭐️ • 3/5🌶️

I’m really enjoying this series so far! I liked the concept of this one and some parts of it reminded me of the first book but obviously not everything. The flow of the story was nice and kept me intrigued. I do think it went from hate to live in a flip of a switch for both of the characters so that was the only abrupt thing for me. Maybe some of the ending too but that didn’t stick out to me as much. But I am really enjoying the series and am excited to continue them. 

Current Ranking:

1.Hooked

2.Wretched

3.Twisted

4.Scarred

Stranded 

Really enjoyed the story of Julien and Yasmin, but I felt that it was really missing somethings that made me take away a star.

I loved the chemistry between J & Y, but I feel like Julien did a complete 180 at the end just so we could have a HEA and finish the story. I also felt like this book was not as dark and heavy as the other books in the series. I also think that have the internal dialogue of Julien noticing Aiden did not care for Yasmin in the beginning of the story kind of ruined the plot twist at the end.

I really enjoyed having a character named Jeannie, I thought that was a clever name.

Overall, I was very captivated by the overall story and these characters. I do not think it dragged on and the spice was there, but I wish that some parts of the story could  have been elaborated more. 

Also if the next book talks about burning the world down and being the king or queen of ashes I might go crazy :)

🌞Laur🌞

Really enjoyed the story of Julien and Yasmin, but I felt that it was really missing somethings that made me take away a star.

I loved the chemistry between J & Y, but I feel like Julien did a complete 180 at the end just so we could have a HEA and finish the story. I also felt like this book was not as dark and heavy as the other books in the series. I also think that have the internal dialogue of Julien noticing Aiden did not care for Yasmin in the beginning of the story kind of ruined the plot twist at the end.

I really enjoyed having a character named Jeannie, I thought that was a clever name.

Overall, I was very captivated by the overall story and these characters. I do not think it dragged on and the spice was there, but I wish that some parts of the story could  have been elaborated more. 

Also if the next book talks about burning the world down and being the king or queen of ashes I might go crazy :)

Julian was really misogynistic and the change from hating Yasmin to loving her was really quick and quite unbelievable.

I also did not enjoy Yasmin’s whole “woe is me” act and Julian’s whole “I’m having a worse life than you” competition. It was weird.

I did like the abuse aspect and the realistic way it was portrayed. The ending was sweet though between them as a couple.

Kyra

This was not my favorite…

Julian was really misogynistic and the change from hating Yasmin to loving her was really quick and quite unbelievable.

I also did not enjoy Yasmin’s whole “woe is me” act and Julian’s whole “I’m having a worse life than you” competition. It was weird.

I did like the abuse aspect and the realistic way it was portrayed. The ending was sweet though between them as a couple.

I enjoyed their dynamic very much. Forced marriage is not my favorite trope but I liked this retelling a lot and the 🌶️ SCENES… yum! 

Valentina Moreno Escobar

This is definitely my favourite book of the never after series based on Aladdin and they deal in diamonds 💎 and Julian is the touch her and you die type guy. Forced marriage well pretending. I loved the ending it was actually so cute.

I liked it but not my favorite might read the other books

Keira

This series is just amazing. I read this book in one day. It just catches my attantion and I can’t stop reading it. 

Emma Kamer

This is written for those of us who love morally grey characters, villains, Disney, and plot twists, with some murder thrown in for good measure.

Hannah Cromby 

Taylor Arevalo

Pains me to give this less than 4 stars so Im giving it like a 3 point.. 65?. the villain did a 180 really fast and I almost got whiplash from the last few chapters.

I’m in love with this series , I didn’t think it could get better than hooked but it definitely did 

Maria Morales 

so i can definitely say in this series, the books get better as they go. this was by far the best one in my opinion, I LOVED Julian and Yasmin so much :,) 

grayson gruber

so this one felt kind of lighter than the other three, and i truly enjoyed it. i always appreciate it when i don't cry my eyes out lol.

the way it hinted at the plot twist made me again expecting it, but this is something i never bother.

i also liked the links with the fairytale in this one as well.

i liked Julian and Yasmin's dynamic, which completely altered throughout the book by the way. i was expecting it more spicy and dark considering the very first chapters, to be honest. but turned out lighter and maybe Julian's turning point wasn't that smooth in my opinion. 

so this one felt kind of lighter than the other three, and i truly enjoyed it. i always appreciate it when i don't cry my eyes out lol.

the way it hinted at the plot twist made me again expecting it, but this is something i never bother.

i also liked the links with the fairytale in this one as well.

i liked Julian and Yasmin's dynamic, which completely altered throughout the book by the way. i was expecting it more spicy and dark considering the very first chapters, to be honest. but turned out lighter and maybe Julian's turning point wasn't that smooth in my opinion. 

nice one though, i recommend it!

What a wild ride. Never expected to have read 2 Jasmine/ Jafar romance novels in my life but here we are…

It’s dark and fun with good smut and cute Aladdin references. I could not put it down. Thanks 

 for the buddy read! We read it in less than two days. 

Very protective morally questionable MMC and a FMC who is getting to make her own decisions for the first time in her life. Overall, I quite enjoyed it. I felt some parts needed more or less explanation but it was okay to ignore and focus on the enjoyable bits. 

Megan BV

What a wild ride. Never expected to have read 2 Jasmine/ Jafar romance novels in my life but here we are…

It’s dark and fun with good smut and cute Aladdin references. I could not put it down. Thanks @thaliaships for the buddy read! We read it in less than two days. 

Very protective morally questionable MMC and a FMC who is getting to make her own decisions for the first time in her life. Overall, I quite enjoyed it. I felt some parts needed more or less explanation but it was okay to ignore and focus on the enjoyable bits. 

Twisted is the 4th installment from the Never After series. I absolutely adored this one, and while "Hooked" still reigns supreme of the series, this one I enjoyed so much more than the 3rd book "Wretched", so this was such a win for me and plus I adore that this is a retelling of Aladdin. And for fans of Aladdin, I can't recommend this one as it has so many tiny details that connects it to the tale of Aladdin. I just adored how this story was implemented and it had some fun tropes that are delivered on this one.

Its definitely a dark romance though, so make sure you are aware of the content warning if you happen to get triggered, as it might be rough for some readers. I actually loved the darker aspects of this one and I really enjoyed the way that this author wrote out the love triangle. And I always love a forced marriage and boy this hero is such a badass haha but he is a dark one and such a anti hero. I do think he was well written though. I found the steam in this one to be really well done and balanced with the story. This author knows how to implement decent steam and still deliver a strong plot and storyline.

Overall I found Twisted to be a addictive read that I couldn't put down and I just immersed myself so easily into this one. Definitely a keeper for dark romance lovers.

Lover of Romance 

Twisted is the 4th installment from the Never After series. I absolutely adored this one, and while "Hooked" still reigns supreme of the series, this one I enjoyed so much more than the 3rd book "Wretched", so this was such a win for me and plus I adore that this is a retelling of Aladdin. And for fans of Aladdin, I can't recommend this one as it has so many tiny details that connects it to the tale of Aladdin. I just adored how this story was implemented and it had some fun tropes that are delivered on this one.

Its definitely a dark romance though, so make sure you are aware of the content warning if you happen to get triggered, as it might be rough for some readers. I actually loved the darker aspects of this one and I really enjoyed the way that this author wrote out the love triangle. And I always love a forced marriage and boy this hero is such a badass haha but he is a dark one and such a anti hero. I do think he was well written though. I found the steam in this one to be really well done and balanced with the story. This author knows how to implement decent steam and still deliver a strong plot and storyline.

Overall I found Twisted to be a addictive read that I couldn't put down and I just immersed myself so easily into this one. Definitely a keeper for dark romance lovers.

Cici Pearson

“You’re an angel, gattina. And I’ll break your wings just to keep you by my side.”

Okay, WOW! I thought I loved James and Tristan, but Julian came to knock everyone off first place! 😮‍💨 His dirty mouth had me panting and blushiiiing!

❤️‍🔥 Slow Burn with Sexual Tension

Julian wants Yasmin’s legacy. Yasmin just wants to marry the “love of her life” without disappointing her father. When Julian finds out, he forces her into a marriage, with the promise that it’s fake so she can go live off with her secret boyfriend, but Julian has ulterior motives that don’t involve Yasmin. What neither expects is the sexual tension that is brewing between them to the point of explosion!

This Dark Romance is down-right addicting

 with its plot and characters. Julian will have you drooling and dropping down to your knees! And his backstory will make you want to put him inside a bubble to protect him. 😭

"That's the thing about abuse, I guess. The pain always lasts even after the bruises fade."

Yasmin starts off being quiet, but boy, does Julian bring out the worst—or best—in her. Claws come out and she goes head to head with Julian. And 

the romance and spice between these two will light your book—and kindle—on fire!

“You look so perfect like this. With your makeup smeared and your pouty lips wrapped around my d!ck. I bet if I asked you to ch0ke on it, you’d slide that pretty mouth down my length until you were gagg!ng like a greedy little wh0re, wouldn’t you?”

I loved all the little details related to Aladdin's fairytale. 

Emily has a way of including those details and characteristics of the original characters in the story, all the while executing a unique plot that has you gripping the edge of your seat with all its twists and turns!

 is a charming, daring, magnetic, addictive dark romance that exceeded all of my expectations in plot, writing, characters and spice!

 Once I started, I could barely stop reading. The obsession is real for this series and Emily's writing. If you're looking to dive into Dark Romance, this series is a great introduction to this sub-genre!

Genesis (@whisperingchapters)

“You’re an angel, gattina. And I’ll break your wings just to keep you by my side.”

Okay, WOW! I thought I loved James and Tristan, but Julian came to knock everyone off first place! 😮‍💨 His dirty mouth had me panting and blushiiiing!

🧞‍♂️ Aladdin Reimagining
😏 Villain Gets the Girl
🖤 Unhinged MMC
💀 Touch Her and I’ll Unalive You
💍 Forced Marriage
😮‍💨 Hate to Love
🙌🏽 Age Gap
🥵 Panty-Dropping Smut
❤️‍🔥 Slow Burn with Sexual Tension

Julian wants Yasmin’s legacy. Yasmin just wants to marry the “love of her life” without disappointing her father. When Julian finds out, he forces her into a marriage, with the promise that it’s fake so she can go live off with her secret boyfriend, but Julian has ulterior motives that don’t involve Yasmin. What neither expects is the sexual tension that is brewing between them to the point of explosion!

“I would kill anyone who looked at you. Anyone who dared to even breathe too close.”

Y’all, THE TENSION!!! This Dark Romance is down-right addicting with its plot and characters. Julian will have you drooling and dropping down to your knees! And his backstory will make you want to put him inside a bubble to protect him. 😭

"That's the thing about abuse, I guess. The pain always lasts even after the bruises fade."

Yasmin starts off being quiet, but boy, does Julian bring out the worst—or best—in her. Claws come out and she goes head to head with Julian. And the romance and spice between these two will light your book—and kindle—on fire!

“You look so perfect like this. With your makeup smeared and your pouty lips wrapped around my d!ck. I bet if I asked you to ch0ke on it, you’d slide that pretty mouth down my length until you were gagg!ng like a greedy little wh0re, wouldn’t you?”

I loved all the little details related to Aladdin's fairytale. Emily has a way of including those details and characteristics of the original characters in the story, all the while executing a unique plot that has you gripping the edge of your seat with all its twists and turns!

Overall, Twisted is a charming, daring, magnetic, addictive dark romance that exceeded all of my expectations in plot, writing, characters and spice! Once I started, I could barely stop reading. The obsession is real for this series and Emily's writing. If you're looking to dive into Dark Romance, this series is a great introduction to this sub-genre!

Please check TW before reading!

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LEBANESE FMC LEBANESE FMC ‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️

i was skeptical about this at first because julian’s opinion of yasmin was very iffy (daddy’s girl who is spoiled and all that when he didn’t even know her???) 

his character development ate, my guy went from “she pisses me off” to “the only future for me is her”

HE CASTRATED IAN FOR INSULTING HER AND MADE HIM CHOKE ON HIS DICK BEFORE FEEDING HIM TO ISABELLA 🤭🤭🤭🤭🤭 if that’s not romance i don’t know what is.

now yasmin was lovely, my girl was trying so hard to please everyone she sometimes forgot to think about herself but it’s okay. she grew up with her father who had cancer and didn’t want to disappoint him in his final moments. 

i say this about a lot of mcs but the song “the man” by taylor swift is written for yasmin too.

my girl grew up with an old fashioned father who didn’t want her getting involved with the business and whose dying wish was for her to find a husband who could take care of her and if his legacy. We see towards the end that she was OVER being pushed around by men and trying to make everyone happy. gf shot her backstabbing ex as she should 🫶🫶

Riya’s sass doesn't need color to bleed through the lens. 

I roll over and see Riya on top of Darryn, her fists slamming repeatedly into his face. 

LEBANESE FMC LEBANESE FMC ‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️

i was skeptical about this at first because julian’s opinion of yasmin was very iffy (daddy’s girl who is spoiled and all that when he didn’t even know her???) 

HOWEVER 

his character development ate, my guy went from “she pisses me off” to “the only future for me is her”

HE CASTRATED IAN FOR INSULTING HER AND MADE HIM CHOKE ON HIS DICK BEFORE FEEDING HIM TO ISABELLA 🤭🤭🤭🤭🤭 if that’s not romance i don’t know what is.

now yasmin was lovely, my girl was trying so hard to please everyone she sometimes forgot to think about herself but it’s okay. she grew up with her father who had cancer and didn’t want to disappoint him in his final moments. 

i say this about a lot of mcs but the song “the man” by taylor swift is written for yasmin too.

my girl grew up with an old fashioned father who didn’t want her getting involved with the business and whose dying wish was for her to find a husband who could take care of her and if his legacy. We see towards the end that she was OVER being pushed around by men and trying to make everyone happy. gf shot her backstabbing ex as she should 🫶🫶

RIYA MY GIRL 🫶🫶🫶🫶

I LOVE HER SO SO SO SO MUCH 

Riya’s sass doesn't need color to bleed through the lens. LITERALLY OUR FIRST TIME MEETING HER

I roll over and see Riya on top of Darryn, her fists slamming repeatedly into his face. MY GIRL



Jocelyn Smith &
Twisted by Emily McIntire

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Twisted by Emily McIntire