Hands down, the worst thing about this book is having to wait a year to see how Allie Therin is going to fix what she broke. Destroyed. Nuked. To recap: A fragile peace has been shattered and It. Is. Glorious.

All hell is breaking loose in the world of empaths and the people who fear them, the people who want to control them, and the one man who hunts them. When Therin introduced her version of Seattle in the stellar Liar City, it not only brought to life an allegory about compassion struggling to survive in a deteriorating social environment, but it introduced a character in Reece Davies who was fairly destined to become a casualty of a world where chaos, unkindness, and emotional exhaustion reign.

As the saying goes, “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Corrupted empaths, those who are twisted and manipulated and made into unrepentant monsters, are the ostensible enemies of humankind. Evan Grayson, known to all as the Dead Man, is the weapon created to put those empaths down. He himself was transformed into a weapon without feeling. He is apathy personified. And yet . . . there is something about Reece that makes Evan responsive and receptive in ways that shouldn’t be possible.

Factions working for and against each other dictate the danger Reece and Evan face. As the past comes back to life with a furious vengeance and Reece begins using the powers he has dedicated himself to subduing, the story races full-throttle into an end that was, perhaps, inevitable.

Introducing a new and unexpected weapon at this point in the conflict was timed impeccably to coincide with the changes Reece and Evan are going through themselves. Things are shifting, transitions are happening, transgressions have been committed, and the greatest threat now is the unknown. Whether the damage is permanent is unclear, but I can’t wait to find out.

Even if this is the second book in the series, you really don’t lose much by not having read the first one like me. This is an interesting twist to the urban fantasy genre, which I enjoyed quite a bit. I didn’t really like that the two characters Evan and Reece spent their time texting and not together, but it was still enjoyable nonetheless. The texts were quite amusing and fun. I have to admit that I didn’t click as much with Evan as I would have liked, but I really liked Reece. I have a hard time with emotionless characters like Evan because I spend my time thinking about how their actions are not “emotionless.” LOL! Add in an interesting plot, great writing, and an aggravating but intriguing cliffhanger, this is an entertaining read. Recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

This was pretty darn good. It's hard to say how much of that was because I lowered my expectations after my recent re-read of book one and how much of it was because there was a lot more focus on the relationship between Reece and Evan. While plot holes still abounded, I decided to just keep trucking along, rather than dwell on them, and I think I have a better sense of what the author had in mind on the zoomed out version of the intended allegory. I went through this pretty quickly because I did not want to put it down and it had a really strong finish. Plus the relationship pay off is worth any plot holes that get us to that point. I am very eager for book three now. Considering that often book two in a trilogy is not the strongest, I was really pleased to see the improvements over the first book and will likely re-read in anticipation of the final book.

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.