Picking up only three weeks since the conclusion of the first book, Twisted Shadows finds empath-hunter Evan Grayson continuing to deal with the fallout from the shocking discoveries and events centered in Seattle and Stone Solutions. Meanwhile empath Reece is trying to keep a low profile until Evan returns to Seattle. When empaths go missing, it looks like Reece may be a target.

Liar City, the first book in Therin’s Sugar & Vice series, was one of my top reads last year, making Twisted Shadows one of my most anticipated reads of 2024, and it did not disappoint (mostly). The book starts slowly so that readers can recall and acclimate, but then it quickly picks up speed, jumping from one POV to another. At one point I was consuming the words so quickly because my heart was racing and I needed to know what happened next.

Therin expands upon her unique universe, fleshing out details about organizations, the past, and empathic abilities, especially for Reece, while developing the depth of the overall series plot. There is a somewhat self contained story centering on a missing Canadian empath, but it all ties into the interconnected government agencies that put a target on empaths. And we discover pretty quickly that the plight of the empaths is much more dire than we found out in the first book.

The author also ups the ante on the taboo attraction between Reece and Evan. I love the banter between the pair. They get bolder with their flirtations because it’s reciprocal and they know they can’t act on it, so why not push boundaries. Even though this is not a genre romance, there is a wonderful love story in the works.

One thing that is worth noting is that it doesn’t take much to see parallels between the treatment of empaths and the LGTBQ+ community here in the U.S. I started reading this book just after the election in November, and it was tough for a bit. The way anti-empath energy sweeps over crowds who are fearful is all too real.

My only hang up comes with how the book ends. I immediately drew a comparison to something that happened in a well-loved TV show, but I don’t want to give away any spoilers so I’ll say no know. I don’t know how long we’ll have to wait for the next book, but I need it NOW!

I really enjoyed Twisted Shadows. The story is engrossing, exciting, and had me on edge. In the end, this book is an excellent second chapter in the larger story.

My Rating: B+/B

OH MY GOSH

OH MY HOLY GOODNESS THIS WAS AMAZING AND I AM DISTRAUGHT AND NOW I HAVE TO WAIT EVEN LONGER FOR BOOK THREE TO COME OUT WHY DID I THINK ASKING FOR AN ARC WAS A GOOD IDEA

10/10 WOULD RECOMMEND BUT ALSO NOW MY HEART HURTS

(Actual review to come later when I can think about this book without crying)

EDIT: Actual review here

Twisted Shadows is a stunning follow-up to Liar City. The stakes are even higher and the characters even more loveable. Allie Therin is almost supernaturally good at gripping readers by the heartstrings and sometimes that's a wonderful thing because she is so effective at creating soft safe moments and other times it's a terrifying thing because she is also very effective at creating heartbreakingly sad and painful moments.

I would read anything and everything Allie Therin writes.

This book tho! I cannot wait until the rest of the series is in my hot little hands. Bring me the rest.

How do you review this without spoilers?

Overall I enjoyed this book! It basically picks up right from where Liar City left off, so make sure that one is fresh in your mind!

I absolutely loved that we're seeing more of The Dead Man and getting more of his background story. I loved seeing Reece being his anxious self and battling with his dark side. I loved the baddies being really bad, and I loved seeing folks start to question things involving the government and the empaths and government funding and all of that.

The one thing that I struggled with, though, is that throughout the book they refer to the North Coast of BC, and BC does not have a North Coast. I grew up there, and there is a political boundary area called the North Coast, but no one actually refers to it as such. That kept pulling me out of the story, because it was so obviously incorrect.

But, other than that, I really enjoyed it and absolutely CAN NOT WAIT for the third book!!!

On the plus side, and the reason this gets 3 stars, is that in spite of all the flaws in plotting and especially in worldbuilding, the relationship between Reece and Evan really works for me. I love the flirty text exchanges and the complicated mix of suspicion and trust and sexual desire they feel (note that word!) for each other; also, they finally manage to have sex, and, well, yes please.

But lord, the worldbuilding is a mess. Most glaringly, even in a fantasy/sf world, the invented elements have to hang together at least with what I’ll call myth logic or a logic of symbolism. But while it makes sense that the empaths’ power should come with a dark side, there’s no sense of believability about the specific form “corruption” takes — it doesn’t feel like a, I don’t know, poetically logical outgrowth of their power.

Second most glaringly, there’s Evan Grayson, known as the Dead Man because he feels no emotion whatsoever. But he behaves like a person who feels emotions, for example in the series of nicknames he gives Reece — actually, in pretty much all his interactions with Reece, but specifically the playfulness of nicknaming someone, with affectionate-sounding nicknames to boot, just doesn’t square with emotionlessness.

Also, brain science! I’m typing on my tablet, which is horrible so I’m not adding links, but people whose brains are damaged in ways that destroy their capacity to feel emotions find it almost impossible to make decisions. Evan should be just about nonfunctional. And I know, I know, fantasy, but if you’re writing a novel whose premises diverge from our reality you kind of have to acknowledge the divergence and account for it somehow.

I had a good time reading, don’t get me wrong, but the worldbuilding gaps in this installment troubled me much more than they did in the first book. And, that having been said, I’m still invested enough to want to find out how that cliffhanger ending gets resolved.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

DNF, While I like the ideas here (and enjoyed them in the first book), the characters and their relationships continued to leave me rather cold.

Much like the first book this took a bit to get going but once it did I devoured it. such a good slow burn with a lot of horny thoughts which all came crashing down into a cliffhanger and now I need the third book IMMEDIATELY WHAT THE HECK

so be warned this is absolutely not a standalone and there are a million loose ends but i am committed to this ride.

"An empath pining for the world’s most emotionally unavailable man would be the icing on Reece’s endless cake of bad decisions."

Y'all this book manages to be even better than Liar City and that was pretty darn good. The whole forbidden romance and the slow burn tied in with the fantasy plus all the mysteries, and ruthless billionaires and CEO's doing nefarious things, makes for an entertaining book. Like this is the ultimate forbidden romance because Grayson has no emotions and Reece is an empath, and they can't even touch without Reece passing out. But these two still end up having so much chemistry and I need them to find a way to be together.

"Reece could platonically text Grayson while eating candy from Grayson’s platonic gift basket in the hoodie that he had borrowed from Grayson. Platonically. No feelings involved. Totally fine."

My favorite thing about their relationship has always been their banter and this book had it in spades. We start pretty soon after book one ends with Grayson off working cases in other states and Reece trying to move forward with his life after the events of Liar City and the knowledge that he's teetering on the edge of corruption. But do these two use their resources to deal with that? No, they don't. Instead they end up having the most random, flirtatious conversations via text until Grayson's case puts him back in Reece's orbit and they continue their pseudo flirting in person.

“Empaths are such givers. And I bet plenty of folks are happy to just take, but you deserve someone who gives right back to you.”

For someone who has no emotions, Grayson sure does show a lot of them when it comes to Reece. For example, the nickname? You cannot convince me that he's calling Reece "Care Bear" in a way that's not romantic because that's just adorable. And sending thirst trap selfies is not something the Dead Man would do with anyone else. And constantly flirting with each other and calling it hypothetical is just the cherry on top. Like I just know there's a glitch in the matrix and he's having some major feelings for our little empath.

"There are a lot more important things than correcting everyone who thinks we’re boyfriends, right? Who even knows where they get such a wild idea?”

And don't even get me started on that twist towards the end. Actually now that I think about it, there were a few that really took me by surprise. But there's one in particular that when I look back on it, I can see how everything was basically leading up to it. But it still had me reeling and now I NEED book three because that cliffhanger was brutal and I need to know what happens next.

"Reece wasn’t going to put a name to the bone-deep sense of protectiveness and affection that now ran through him in Grayson’s presence, but he would admit to himself that he’d left any semblance of platonic back in Seattle."

To recap this book, Reece is still ignoring what people say and doing his own thing especially if it's a danger to himself. Jamey is still fearless and fabulous and now she has an equally fierce medical examiner partner. And Grayson is still an emotionless agent/protector whose past is slowly unravelling making him less of a mystery. I for one can't wait to see how everything comes together and how things are going to play out in book three. It's sure to be an exciting, slightly (mostly) nerve-wracking journey!

Good lord, holy macharoni and all those other exclamations with multiple exclamation points, Allie, darling. Darling Allie, you have broken me. Just a bit. I went so willingly into this hole you have dug for us, KNOWINGLY reading this second book BEFORE it’s released and therefore having to wait FOREVER for the third book to come out. I read it, died a little bit, managed to piece my soul back together by kind of forgetting I’ve read it and then saw a meme that reminded me of the pain and now I’m here, again, in agony.

Okay, let‘s make a tiny bit more sense. This second installment of the series does not disappoint. It doesn‘t feel like a filler or just a way to get to the third book, which I greatly appreciate. There is murder, there is mystery and there is the pressing urge to DO something, anything, because someone is getting closer. I love the world building and the build up toward the ending. But if it’s something Therin is excellent at, it’s characters. At describing the gray area of the complex beings that are human (and empaths). Reese’s journey is nicely done (even if I sometimes want to shake him for being stupid) and I won’t write more about it because you need to read it. And to see the cracks in Evan’s shell makes me flip pages in higher speed than I can actually read. He definitely shouldn’t be so lax with his darling, but it also shows that the Dead Man isn’t so dead, after all,

And the crackliiiiinnng tension between Reese and Evan, hello?? Are we okay? No, great, because I am not.

Oh, right, and the ending. Right. Heh.

All this said, the book is by no means perfect, unless you’re looking for vibes only. Then it’s great, I saw someone wanting more of the mystery and I agree. One of the reasons for reading an urban fantasy with thriller/mystery vibes is often to get to follow an investigation while it’s taking place.
But I loved this book, will reread it along with the first one and wait in agony for the next book.

Thank you, Allie, for the arc - I’m so grateful for these kinds of books in the world.

/ Denise

The second book in Therin's alternative Seattle world of empaths and those that would oppress them, Twisted Shadows is just as fast paced and exciting as the first installation. There's murder, mystery, and the undeniable tension between everyone's favorite empath and the Dead Man, a living weapon made to contain empaths. I'm sure NOTHING will go wrong.

To be quite frank, it's difficult for me to put into words how far I fell into this book. Therin crafts a world that's dark and vivid; we can see the city lights reflected off of puddles and feel the crackle of tension between Reese and Evan as the book follows them through their investigations into the mystery of a dead empath that holds more questions than answers for most of the story. Therin's characters are also so intuitive; she excels at the subtle art of depth and development, showing us all the hints and tells of romance and exploration. It's just SO good.

I have been waiting for almost two years for this book. It did not disappoint!! I will now be awaiting book three, less patiently, as this one had a cliff hanger ending. I absolutely adore Reece (protagonist) he is sweet and sarcastic. His sense of humor is right up my alley. He further evolved in this novel and became more lovable (hard to believe, but it is true). Evan Grayson plays a bigger role and you get to know him better. He is a treat!! Again this novel kept a quick pace and had you turning page after page in anxious anticipation. The stakes were high and pushed higher and higher as the novel progressed. Allie Therin is a novel writing genius. I can not say enough good things about this book!!! I have recommended this series to my friends and will continue to do so. The Sugar & Vice series is a must read. I would like to thank Carina Adores and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have been waiting for this follow-up to Liar City! I reread book 1 so that all the details would be fresh in my mind. This story takes place immediately after, and the main characters Evan 'the Dead Man' who feels no emotions and Reece the empath who is realizing that empaths aren't always the good guys continue to draw closer emotionally (and physically as much as they are able, since Evan's touch knock's Reece out). There is another murder to solve and in the search for answers, Reece discovers more things about himself that lead him down a dangerous path. The action is non-stop, and the ending, perhaps not surprising, is definitely a cliffhanger and I can't wait for more!

I have such conflicted feelings about this one. Don't get me wrong I loved it but there are some glaring flaws. What isn't a flaw is Therin's absolute commitment to the empathy related worldbuilding in this. There is such dedication to it (such as Reece and other empaths being unable to even watch cartoon violence) that you can almost believe it's real (in other words it doesn't turn off and on like with Star Trek's Deanna Troi though her life is much easier. As much as I'd love to think we'd accept true empathic powers like everyone does Troi but we all know it would be like Reece Davis world)

Note: this is book two and you absolutely MUST read book one or you will be lost. THis is not a mystery you can pick up otherwise. (and it's really good anyhow). My issue with this is it does start out as a mystery, a Canadian empath is killed in New England so Evan Grayson is sent to investigate because as 'the dead man' he handles most empath crime. He lost his emotions (and had his body changed to be superhuman thanks to his empath brother, which is also happening to Reese's sister Jamie) He knows the anti-empath group he works with can't be trusted.

Evan also knows Reece shouldn't want to be with him but 'Care Bear' as he calls him definitely does. So my issue? The mystery barely takes up half the book. This one goes hard core will they/won't they have sex romance and that is really the bulk of the book. I certainly don't mind it (figuring there has to be a way even if touching Reece will knock him unconscious) I love Evan and Reece but it does serve to make the book feel very unbalanced plot wise.

Evan also calls Reece 'Bad Decisions Bear' which is key because way too many times Reece does something that has him toeing the too stupid to live line. I wish he would think things through better (or that Therin could find other ways to put him in danger other than Reece being utterly stupid or impulsive)

It's clear someone is gunning for Reece (and the fortress the corrupted empaths are being kept in). Reece is of course one step from corruption himself and Evan is turning a blind eye to Reece's developing power other than admitting he might have to take Reece down in spite of his physical attraction to him (his body remembers even if his brain can't register love any more)

The other issue was the ultimate bad guy is supposed to (I think) by a mystery but is so blatantly obvious it kinda burned. That said I was happy to see who it was. Without spoilers, the ending is a cliffhanger (boo) and takes Reece to a place that in theory he can't return from so I'm wondering if the next book is also the last (I'm not sure if this is meant to be a series or a trilogy but I could see it going either way). I do love the characters (all of them including Diesel) so I'm very much looking forward to the next one (which I know will be something of a wait since I'm reading this early)

Mercy me! This sequel to Liar City absolutely had me riveted and reading late into the night! There's all the banter and tension of the first book, but leveled up as Reece and Grayson are put in even closer proximity on their search to find answers to the latest empath emergency. Reece is walking the fine line between pacifism and corruption, while also the toeing the line of his attraction to Grayson. What I especially loved is getting more of Grayson's POV and backstory. These two have intoxicating chemistry and a delicious slow burn that's made even hotter by the high stakes and danger closing in around them. I liked how the book contains so many light, cute moments between Grayson and Reece, while simultaneously following the increasingly dire investigations by Jamey and Aisha. There are plot twists and jarring revelations, and the ending left me needing the next book ASAP! Action packed and big feels!

I don’t have words other than: phenomenal. But seeing as I received an ARC for review, I guess I should find a few more. TWISTED SHADOWS was the perfect follow up to LIAR CITY. Having Grayson’s pov elevated the romance to a whole other level—how can a book be so charged and hot when the two characters can’t even touch??? It’s a mystery that Therin has solved. The amount I laughed and grinned at these two muppets exponentially increased with each chapter.

Beware though: If I were an empath the ending of this book would be my trigger point. It’s a gut punch in all the best and worst ways and why did I read this early when that means I have to wait even longer for the final installment?! The book had to play out as it did, it wouldn’t have been believable otherwise, and despite being sad af over it I also was giddy over the last lines.

I need book three, like, yesterday, and I also need it to take preferably less than 5% into it to resolve the end of book 2 so the slow burn can finally go up in sexy flames while they simultaneously take down the bad guys.

Twisted Shadows by Allie Therin is the second book in her Sugar & Vice series, and follows Reece and Grayson as a murder of an empath in Vermont reveals a plot against Reece and their forbidden attraction risks more than they bargain for.

This book was an absolute delight while also being tense and ending on such an 'oh no!' moment. It continues from the first book in exploring the government corruption and mad science of the so-called good guys (no secret government agency is ever good) while also ramping up the romance arc quite a lot. Reece and Grayson still can't touch skin-to-skin because of the whole empath vs Dead Man thing, but Therin makes it work.

I liked that this book has POV from Grayson after the first book didn't. We get a lot more of Grayson's backstory and his confusing no-feelings (but maybe feelings?!?). We also get to see Reece trusting his instincts and how much he learns about Grayson from his actions. I also like that we get POVs from Jamey and Aisha (and some others) that round out the explosive plot.

And that ending!! I can't believe I have to wait more than a year for the final book.

I loved this book from start to finish, just like I devoured the first installment with gusto. I tried to savour this for as long as I possibly could but I had to sadly finish reading it. I loved going back to an alternative Seattle and the world of empaths and mystery with a dash of politics. Add to that the best type of slow burning romance (slow but BURNING) and banter between Reece and Grayson and you honestly have a fan for life in me, Allie Therin.

this second installment to the sugar & vice series was a VERY pleasant surprise. i had a lot of issues with the pacing and worldbuilding of the first installment, liar city, but i was invested enough to stay tuned into the series. i had a feeling that this second book was going to be a lot better, and it absolutely delivered!

"twisted shadows" is not without its flaws. some of the pitfalls from the first book carried over into this one, particularly the pacing and the excess of characters/names to remember. with the constantly switching perspectives, it can get frustrating trying to keep up with the plot-heavy scenes.

that said, this book was a much more enjoyable read than the first one. i am a lover of paranormal romance, and one of my biggest critiques of liar city was how little romance there was to be found. twisted shadows VERY MUCH remedies this - reece and evan's relationship is hands down the best part of this book. they have fantastic, convincing chemistry and banter. they have such a satisfying build up - so much tension and mutual obsession that was just addicting to read. i was honestly really delighted by all of evan's POV chapters, he is such an endearing and charming character. anyone who loved evan in the first book is really in for a treat.

i found the plot and overarching mystery of this installment a lot more compelling than the first book's. i was really hanging onto every word in the last 20% of this book because i honestly had no idea what was going to happen. i LOVED the ending and i am so locked in for the next installment.

overall i am so glad i stayed with this series because it was really worth it. this installment really finds its footing and i'm already counting down the days until the next one comes out!!

<b>4 Stars</b>

Simply put, this second installment basically threw the door wide open and took off running!

The first book definitely took its time setting up the premise, the world building, and the foundation of who and what empaths are. In this alternate reality, empaths are inherent pacifists, putting others before themselves, and avoiding conflict at all costs. However, with such an ability to read and influence emotions, the potential danger of them using this power for nefarious means has resulted in global initiatives to protect the general populace from being affected.

Expanding upon the greater machinations behind the institutions who are against empaths, this again explored an X-Men type scenario. How or should a particular subset of the population be monitored and possibly controlled for the benefit and security of the masses, and when does scientific advancement go too far, crossing the line to infringe upon basic human rights in the name of safety?

Rest assured, this isn’t all existential pondering. Still caught in the middle is empath Reece who is this close to being corrupted, where he’d use his powers for bad selfish intent instead of good, able to “thrall” anyone to do his bidding. However, always present is Evan, an empath specialist known as the Dead Man, who’s completely immune to any emotional influence and thus, not vulnerable to empath powers. Where these two cannot and should not work, where their fundamental biological makeup won’t allow them to normally connect on any level, Therin deftly makes their burgeoning forced companionship succeed quite wonderfully.

Admittedly, I had my doubts as to how this series could, or would, progress as an MM romance, and all I can say is that this far exceeded my expectations. Not only is Reece and Evan the perfect complete opposites pair, but their banter was spot on, and their (not) flirty interactions were smile inducing. As they both grumpily force themselves to work together because neither has a choice (not that they wanted any other options), they investigate a series of empath disappearances, and what they find is not good at all.

Told in alternating POV, this really lent great fascinating insight into both Reece and Evan. Reece continued to drive me just as crazy as he did in the first book due to his complete lack of self preservation, but his antics were mitigated by the lovely sexy Evan who makes quite the compelling mysterious character. It also doesn’t hurt that the supporting cast was equally intriguing as they all eventually converge for the big reveal.

Again, this was a wonderful follow up to Liar City. The story propelled me along at a clipped pace, ending on a cliffhanger between Reece and Evan who are both pushed into a corner that they don’t see any way out of. However, I now have faith in Therin to deliver an alternative to both their immutable paths that supposedly can’t be changed despite everything and everyone saying otherwise. Sadly, it will be a long wait to get the next installment, but I will be here waiting for the drop as soon as it comes!

Thank you to the author and Carina Adores via NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review posted to Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6934831937

Twisted Shadows hit me like a brick.

I'm still reeling from the ending over a month later.

The plot was so well crafted, the character interactions so beautifully emotional, and the stakes so high. I was sucked in for the duration and left cursing Allie Therin for not having the next book immediately available for me to read.

I can't tell where the series is going, or how anything will be resolved, which is really unusual, and it has brought with it an unsettling amount of anxiety that the author may get delayed in writing the next book.. or just abandon it altogether like certain other authors I won't name. It's just too good to not get more.

My one warning to readers would be that if you hate a cliffhanger ending you should wait for the next book in the series to be released before reading this one. But definitely read it. Because it is AMAZING.