I’d spent my life as a plaything. A toy to be used by powerful and deadly men in whatever way they pleased. So I was just as surprised as anyone else that I had feelings left. Feelings that lead me to fight for true love while damning myself. And that’s just where this story begins. Desperate and alone I turned back to my childhood home. The first wicked place I’d known with the darkest villain … the darkest villain among them. My stepfather. But I could weather his storm in exchange for safety. I had to.
What I didn’t expect to find was Niall McDonough. The only man I’d ever really loved had reappeared only to become one of them. Someone ruthless and cruel. He wants to ruin me. As my stepfather’s savage soldier he might just do it.
But then again, twelve years ago a fortune teller predicted I’d need just such a soldier to save both my heart and soul.
this book can be read as a complete stand-alone or following Twisted Secrets/as the fifth book in the Twisted world
*This book contains graphic sex, violence, uncomfortable sexual encounters, and dub con. It’s intended for mature audiences, over 18 only*
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This was my first book by the author, and it’s now my firm intention to read more work by her!
I read this in order to lead a Book Of The Month discussion, in the Dark Erotica group. I have to say, well done to Dana for suggesting the book and to those who voted for it because this was a huge, huge hit for me. Trying a new author, especially in the dark realm of romance, always feels like a risk. I’m sure for every one book I’ve enjoyed there are a dozen that have missed the mark by a country mile. This one ticked every box for me and I found myself not wanting to put it down. It was also second-chance, which is hands down my favourite tropes ever.
The authors voice, the plot, pace and characterisation were all top notch. There was no effort involved in reading this book, well other than putting it down when it got VERY late into the night and my alarm was set for less than 6 hours later! Though I did have to forgive the use of ‘drug’ instead of ‘dragged’, but hey, no biggie. This really is an addictive read that wraps you up in it’s dark and depraved world, draws you into the lives of the damaged folk that exist there (because it could never be called living) and will keep you enthralled from the very first to the very last line.
Drea and Niall had so much history to overcome, had so much pain and sorrow weighing them down, needing to forgive and to receive forgiveness. There were moments in this story that made my heart melt, moments that shattered it into a thousand pieces, moments that made me gasp, or laugh, or cry, or swoon, sometimes more than one at the same time. This pair were never destined for a nice easy love story, and boy does the author drag us all through the depths of hell before we see any glimpses of light at the end of the tunnel.
The book starts off right in the deepest end of the dark pool. There are scenes of non-consensual sex and physical violence perpetrated on the heroine, some of which are witnessed, but not prevented, by the eventual hero These were not easy to read, though Drea had been living this hell for so long that she was almost immune to it now. So it didn’t feel as emotionally harrowing as it could have. The author saved that for later when we learnt more of Drea’s reasons for leaving Niall. There were times when I disliked Niall, but he had his reasons, he suffered through his conflicted feelings and he earned his redemption at least twice. Why twice? Because this man was an insufferable idiot at times!
Whilst the second half of the book didn’t feel as dark, it was still gritty and, at times, violent. It’s difficult to go into details without giving away spoilers, but I felt that the consequences and events that followed Mac Ulster’s final manipulation of Niall were believable and hard won. There is no single handedly bringing down a whole mob family, no miraculous deal, just a whole world of misery and pain to endure. I could understand Niall’s struggle, his wanting to do right by his friends, even if it did mean he wasn’t thinking clearly on who to do right by Drea. That moment in the motel room was a huge wake up call for him and the future Drea could have faced.
This story didn’t follow the paths one would expect, right to the very end it defied expectations and gave something refreshingly different to a genre that is sometimes tired and cliched. I loved how this book didn’t pull any punches at the same time it gave us an epic story of endless love.
I devoured this story. It is a dark romance and it’s a rough time but Ace brings all of them to life with her writing and there is redemption. It a great branch of the Twisted series.
This book was all kinds of twisted depraved darkness so be warned there are triggers everywhere and I’d take heed in the warning and not read it, because this is a love story., but if twisted, dark, gritty, eye clenching while reading it is your kind of story then I would recommend one clicking it, because it is one twisted kind of read and even if it’s a standalone you might want to read the other book’s in the twisted series.
This book completely blew me away!!!
******
Overall Rating: 5 Stars
Kindle Unlimited: Yes
Standalone: Yes, but it would add to the experience to read the entire series
Steam: 5, I am wrong for loving all this, flames
Violence: 5, let the carnage begin
Triggers: All of them….
*****
“Rivers of blood. Chaos and pain. Betrayal at your hand.” She mused in partial phrases. “You will need a soldier at your side if you wish to be free of it all.”
“If you don’t find him, you both end up dead. Just like the legend.”
Deirdre and Niall were each other’s first love. Niall is planning a future for the two of them, but lightning is about to strike and change both their worlds. A fortune teller’s prophecy ends up meaning more than anyone could imagine and through the book we discover just what happened to force Deirdre to make decisions that put her on a tragic path of pain, humiliation, and sorrow.
The story picks up 12 years after Deirdre met with the fortune teller whose words had become truer than anyone could imagine. We meet Niall as he is standing in the middle of a bloody mess, bodies all over the floor of a competing gangster family, the MacCowan’s. This is carnage through and through, and there are no survivors. Now he and his team need to know who, how, and why and if their family, the Ulster’s, is next. And where is Deirdre, the last Niall had heard she was living with the MacCowans? Is she responsible for this mess?
Deirdre’s world has been turned upside down with the death of the MacCowan family and she has nowhere to go. She does the only thing she feels she can, she returns to the house she left 12 years ago to see if she can get help from her mother. What happens next is disgusting, depraved, sick and just awful. I have never hated a character so quickly and as much as I hate Mac Ulster, Deirdre’s stepfather. Mac is Satan on Earth. The things he has done and does to Deirdre/Drea are unconscionable, sick, and totally twisted. This is also the moment when Niall and Drea see each other after 12 years, and this is no happy reunion. I’m going to be honest, I kinda hated Niall at the beginning too. I am filled with anger, and it is only chapter 2.
In true Ace Gray fashion, I feel these emotions because the way she writes is so visual. I do not just read the words, I see them, I feel them, I smell them. I don’t know if that makes any sense, but it is like I am immersed in each scene, I can smell the blood, I feel the anguish, and I see the surroundings as if I was standing in there myself. I visualized every horror, every nasty thing that happened in the basement, I felt the pain Drea and the others go through, and I felt anger and had my own need for vengeance. I want them all to die, especially as Niall carried Drea down to the pit.
Drea grew up in a house of horrors and now she is living those horrors. Niall is not the man he once was, and Drea is broken. Drea at this point does not care if she lives or dies. She has truly hit bottom and Mac, has his own special hell that he is going to exact on her. Thankfully, as the story progresses, we start to understand what happened to get everyone to this point and I understand why they are the way they are. And, I started to like Niall, Ailee, and Ardan (Ok, I love Ardan, that twisted little shit!). Niall has been through his own personal hell, and as I read… I started to fall for him too.
This book had everything, dark depravity, totally twisted trauma, evil assholes, not-so evil assholes, blood, and violence, pretty much every trigger imaginable. It has a story that will keep you on the edge of your seat, make you angry, cry, and cheer (probably at inappropriate times, like peoples deaths…or is that just me).
This book also has humor, steam, a second chance romance, vengeance, and healing. The characters are fantastic and will grow on you until they are like family! Yes I know this is Niall and Drea’s book, but Ardan captured my heart. I know I am not supposed to love him…but my twisted little heart does. The great thing about this series and book is no matter how dark the book may go, there is always light at the end. By the end of the book, I loved Niall, his crazy friends Ailee and Ardan, and I am already anxiously awaiting the next book!
If you are looking for a dark book/series, this is it! If you want your sanity tested…this is for you. If you want to question your moral compass, come join the rest of us…we are all heading down south lololol. Are you looking for something dark and original, this is the book/series. You will not be disappointed. I love traversing on the dark side, especially when it’s well written. Are you a little twisted?
This book was a unique read. I will say the first few pages I was a little confused but was glad I forged forward. This is a dark read and had me re-reading a few times because I was thinking…”did I just read that”. Niall and Drea have a past but currently lead extremely dark lives separately and Niall hates Drea. Not 100% but close. She has been a literal sex slave and he is just evil. When their paths cross, Niall welcomes it because he is watching her get payback. But can he really watch? Do old feelings start to surface and break the walls he has so carefully built? Can he watch her be raped and tortured and passed around? Drea thought she was saving Niall. What she didn’t expect was that he would choose a dark, lonely life for an enemy of hers. Watching these two rehash old memories and the truth come to light was emotional and some scenes were just brutal. This was a standalone and I will definitely be reading the other books in this series.
Well now that was a ride!! Hot. Twisted. Emotional. Complete rollercoaster.
This book is a first for me for the author. I am kicking myself for not having read her before. I have added her now to my must binge list. Excited to dig in further to this authors work.
Finding the beauty in the darkness and the love in the filth, this is what the Twisted Series does best. Ace Gray has built this world based in filth, deceit, and deplorable people all wrapped into a beautiful love story. Somehow, she writes these beautiful dark romances that take me over. Niall McDonoungh and Deirdre Ulster are so addicting I couldn’t put them down. I freaking love Something Twisted!!! Of all of the twisted series books I think that this one pushed the limits the most. My number one way to judge if a book is great or not is if I can completely lose time while reading it. I lose hours while reading Something Twisted. The amount of angsty that flows through is evenly matched with the amount of heart. There is just something so beautiful about a “Bad” guy being good for that one special One. Niall is written to be truly dark, he stood by as some pretty triggering things were done around him, specifically to Deirdre because he held onto the hate he held. But once those defenses were breached… it was all over. I go on record again and again for this series that I don’t read dark romance, EXCEPT for this series and these characters. There are acts done throughout that make my skin crawl with the violence subjected, the bloody acts and the hurt emotionally done but I also can’t get enough. There is just enough redeeming qualities to these men that makes me come back for more. The love weaved through the muck keeps me coming back.
-Mackenzie
Never before has a book snagged my attention from the opening line!! Like, NEVER.
Something Twisted popped my Ace Gray cherry, and I went into this book without expectations or preconceived notions of what I would encounter. By the second chapter I knew I was in for one hell of a story that would be so much more than a dark romance.
The first half is dark, twisted and horrific in ways that are sickening. We know Niall and Drea have a history, but it slices deeper into your heart the further their story unfolds. You can FEEL what they once were – that they were once each other’s world – yet they are both entirely different people and broken in ways that will never be fully healed.
Through the brutality and pain, as well as Niall being unable move past the ghosts that tore them apart in the first place, there are fleeting snippets of tenderness, of hope, and of a love so raw it refuses to stay dormant when they are forced together after 12 years.
This book isn’t for the faint-hearted. Something Twisted comes with MULTIPLE TRIGGER WARNINGS, and rightly so.
It blew me away, both emotionally and how deeply it pulled me into the world of monsters that Drea was so desperate to escape from.
It takes balls to write a story like this, and Ace Gray wrote it in a way that left me both shattered and in awe.
If you like books that f*** with your mind, heart and soul before slowly piecing you back together, then I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this amazing book to you!!!
This is a dark story that is part of the Twisted World, but can be read as a stand alone. There are some twisted things included sexual abuse, violence and murder. Most of the truly horrible acts aren’t played out in the pages, but rather mentioned. It is a love story underneath it all. A second chance romance. Both were young innocent people in love, until something happened that pulled them apart and changed their futures (and not for the best.) Now he hates her and wants to be the one to break her. She must fight for her life and sanity. Both have seen things and done things that would destroy a weaker person, but both held strong. The characters are damaged by no fault of their own. This is a slower read. It’s a depressing/heart aching story for the most part, but there is also hope there. There is some suspense to he story. This is definitely meant for mature readers.
I’ve read dark romances before but this wasn’t close to dark. This was Vantablack!
It’s hard to say you love a character in this story considering what they do, did, and will do in the future. But love them I did…every last one of them. Well not ALL of them, but still.
You will feel, in your soul, every painful moment, every painful memory, and every moment of love.
Ace knocked this one out of the park!!
I have received this book as an ARC in return for an honest review. Oh my gosh, I seriously don’t know where to start. This book was everything! Ace has a way with words, she makes you really connect with the characters. Deirdre and Niall have a complicated love story. This book is not rainbows and butterflies. It is dark and raw, and I loved every minute of it. I don’t want to give to much away, but in this story they start out with young love, and both get a little lost along the way trying to make choices to help/protect the other. They get a second chance, but will their love be strong enough to withstand the storm?
If I had more than 5 stars to give for this story, I’d be throwing them at it!
I’ve loved every single one of Ace Gray’s Twisted books and she never fails to hit me in the feels each time. Just like the others, Something Twisted is raw and consuming. It is not for the light of heart by any means. There are scenes that are dark, depraved, and oh so twisted. Your breath will be only one of the symptoms of reading such an epic story. Your heart will hurt, your soul will crush and fall down the side of the mountain at high rate of speed.
You will feel like throwing your kindle across the room and screaming because you can’t take it anymore. But every once in a while there will be a sprinkle of light to seep through and let you know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
When I first started reading the Twisted books, I fell in love with Cole, right? Loved him to pieces with every single bit of my heart, but Niall. Let me tell you about Niall… I love him with every last breath. Ace writes her characters with so much everything. She’s a true wordsmith, spinning stories that have you so involved that the rest of the world slips away if even for just a few hours and I think that in itself is one of the best compliments I can give her as a writer.
Niall and Diedre are everything words can’t write and I’m so excited to see what happens next in this Twisted World Ace has spun!
Something Twisted this way comes!
okayokayokay how am I supposed to put all my feelings into words?!… Wow! Bang! Boom! Jiminy Cricket! Holy Dynamite Disco!
It’s been a moment since I stepped into this world of violence and debauchery and I swear it’s like I never left. Not all fairytales are filled with rainbows and sprinkled with sunshine. Some are dark and dangerous and full of wounds that are deeper than the scars left in their place.
While Niall and Deirdre have a passionate yet distorted history, I think neither was expecting what they would find when confronted with each other again. Both having become slaves to the lives they chose in the aftermath of their parting. Both seeking redemption that always seems to be just out of grasp. All the longing disguised by mistrust and hate. All the mistrust and hate fueling the need for revenge. The really Twisted thing is that these are the same things that draw them together.
“Follow your heart and hope like hell it hasn’t turned black before you do.”
I loved the added characters of the twins. They brought me that bit of comic relief I needed to make it through and not fall into a pit of despair.
I devoured every morsel of this delicious tale of betrayal and belonging. And for dessert? Yep, you guessed it. Poptarts. I got to visit with my ALL my favorites and once again be reminded of all the things that go bump in the night.
If this is your first taste of the Twisted series, thats okay. This is an incredible book all by itself. But, if you really want to get down to the nitty gritty, go back immediately and start from the beginning.
Dark, depraved, twisted, dangerous, and damaged.
Deirdre needs someone who will stand up for her and protect her from the one person who should be there for her. Her stepfather is the head of the Ulster Mafia family, and he’s the man that Deirdre needs to be protected from. One dark, twisted night will leave her broken and feeling damaged, it will also lead her to years of more twisted treatment, until she finds the strength to get away and seek help, only to find herself in danger and trouble again. The one man that she has never forgotten is not the same man she tried to protect years ago.
Niall McDonough loved Deirdre twelve years ago. He would have done anything for her, until she chose someone else over him and left him. He was framed and went to jail for a crime he didn’t commit. Now he’s working for her stepfather as one of his soldiers. He’s dark, twisted and angry. He’s a killer with no remorse and he hates her with all of his being. So why does it hurt so much to see Mac Ulster put his hands on her and have his men use her?
This was my first read of an Ace Gray book, but I am now hooked. I found this story to be so dark, twisted, depraved and an excellent read. Deirdre and Niall have a love story for the ages, and they have a long way to go to get back to where they once were with a lot of blood and tears in between. They have a lot to overcome if they want to live a happy life together and they have to fight for it all the way. The Irish mafia families are brutal, twisted and very deadly. None of them seem to work together. They are all their own islands with their own paths in life. They fight amongst themselves more than against other mafia families.
I loved this story and had to look up Ace Gray on Amazon for her other books In The Twisted World, I one-clicked Twisted Fate (A Twisted Fairy Tale Duet Book 1) and can’t wait to read it. I loved the characters and the plot of the story. I can’t wait to read more about the twins and how their lives will change. I look forward to more her books in this world too. I give this book a 5-star review and suggest it to readers who like dark, mafia romance, or stories of how love and hate hover over a fine line. Ace Gray sure knows how to draw out the feelings between these two.
Oh how I’ve missed the Twisted world in all its dark deliciousness. And I know I’ve said this countless times before but no one writes disturbing, dark and twisted as exquisitely as Ace does. The story, the characters, her writing style – everything so unique and compelling that I simply couldn’t put the book down. I kept on reading open-mouthed and with a racing heart, thinking that Ace’s previous works had prepared me for what to expect, and yet, I was still shocked by all the twists and turns.
If you love dark romance at its finest, then this is it. Although it can be read as a standalone, it would be a shame not to read all the other Twisted books as they are equally magnificent.
Well done Ace!
Gripping and palpable
This story gutted me with its grittiness, angst and raw emotions!
Deirdre is a strong and resilient woman having had to endure so much darkness. I really felt for her and found myself admiring her unique vulnerability and yearning.
Niall evolved through his experiences and yet beneath that pain and anger her harbored the once sweet young man shone through!
Ace Gray vividly captured my mind and emotions with her descriptive imagery and captivating characters. I loved this story!
I keep saying to myself that each new Twisted book is – THE BEST ONE YET. Thinking that you can’t top each one… and somehow that is shot down and each new book consistently gets better and better when they are already AMAZING!!
This Twisted book, like all the others in the series was a phenomenal dark read that had me on edge every second.
Deirdre , I have been wanting this woman’s story since the moment I met her. I’ve patiently waited and I was in no way disappointed by her brilliant story. The past, the pain…. how much this woman has endured, and the fact that she is still standing and fighting back is absolutely breathtaking!
Real talk— there is a serious shortage of REAL STRONG FEMALE LEAD CHARACTERS
And I say REAL because you see many “fake” real female leads, the ones who pretend to be this strong amazing woman all on her own but at the last second is ruined because they find their worth not in themselves but a man
Deirdre is a badass, independent and strong female. I am still blown away because her story is just… better than anything I could’ve wished for.
As for Niall, whew this man, this man is something else. I fucking hated him…. then again there was a time I hated Deirdre too so, I gave him a chance.
And once I got into his head, saw his perspective…. I fell so god damn hard I didn’t realize it at first. Niall is EVERYTHING WE NEEDED AND MORE. His past is murky at best and his love…. his love is consuming, it walks on the line of pain and pleasure and encapsulates you whole. He is just so perfect- lip ring and all *le sigh*
These two- the pain, the angst, the torment, the pleasure, and every gritty moment in between will give you life!
Ace blows me away with every word she writes and this was just the same. The Twisted World, the characters- all of them, are perfection and I can’t wait for more of this dark, bloody, twisted world!!
Once again I think for my review I’m going to just regurgitate most of what I messaged Ace while reading and loving this story. Ha! I pretty much went in having a bit of a grudge against Deirdre because of her role in Twisted Secrets. She redeemed herself at the end and though I did FEEL for her, I did not leave that book thinking “I need Deirdre’s story.” Just keeping it real. I digress though…Something Twisted absolutely CAN be read as a standalone but I think you MUST read ALL of the twisted books because they are really that amazing! Anyway, back to my story about how I wasn’t jonesing for Deirdre’s story…Ace immediately slapped some sense into me right in the beginning of Something Twisted, and I fell HARD for her. Her warrior strength is no joke. Her life has been AWFUL and she has endured. But my favorite part about her is her vulnerability and her yearning for a soldier to protect her. And my favorite favorite part was her realization in the end that she didn’t NEED that solider when she embraced her freedom. Of course she WANTED him but that’s different. That’s what makes this a love story.
And Niall…my heart hurt for what could have been once upon a time for D and him. Their young love and his bright future made me feel nostalgic in a way. And Ace brought his pain of rejection and betrayal (he thought) tenfold, and it bled from the pages. He went from a sweet boy to hardened monster and it was horrible and everything fantastic all at once. Reading his transformation through Deirdre’s eyes was gut wrenching, especially when she blamed herself and still felt she wasn’t worthy of him.
Something Twisted is what I crave in a story. And though it’s dark—be warned—it’s the kind of story that has all the elements of an enthralling redemption and second chance at love story. The imagery and characters are highlighted vividly, captivating your attention throughout. The storyline itself is written with the kind of beautiful elegance (yes, even with the depraved elements!) that I’ve come to know from Ace. Step into this world. You won’t look back. 5 plus plus stars for this exceptional book!
This dark masterpiece by Ace Gray couldn’t have a better name. Because Something Twisted delivered a story that’s fascinating, raw, angsty, maddening and beyond my wildest imagination. Ace Gray proved that my limits can be stretched and crossed.
Niall and Deidre were supposed to have a fairytale life. They had the swoony kind of young love that is hopeful and bright. But, alas, they have a dark time ahead. Their paths got separated. Now they meet once again after years. And they will never be the same. Deidre has been used and abused and reduced to plaything of MacCowan, one of the most ruthless House of Irish Mob running Chicago. She has become the property of the very people she wanted to escape. And Niall is no longer the sweet, caring and perfect boy. His time in prison and life afterwards has transformed him into this cruel, merciless and dangerous man. And all he has for Deidre is hate. Their paths will collide and explosions happen. And you are not ready for the journey.
This story is very raw and real journey into the deepest and most depraved parts of humanity. Or lack of it. I will warn you this is not a simple love story. This story is violent. This story is intense. This story has some angstiest and most gritty emotions those made me want to throw my kindle. Deidre is a brilliant character. Her strength and integrity shines through her horrific ordeal. I bow down to her courage and resilience. I have nothing but utter respect for her ability to love people wholeheartedly when they gave her nothing but pain, mistrust, torture and tears. This beautifully broken yet flawless girl sacrificed literally everything. And Niall is one of her regrets. My heart breaks into thousands of pieces for this scarred and brooding man. He is many things. A murderer. An angry mass. A soldier. A protector. A loyal friend. But nothing calls to me more than his jagged edges. They have a messy story. They tear each other apart and also heal their pains. The chemistry is sinful and filthy and intense. The author made me walk through hell but it was worth it. I am still mad at her for destroying me, but I loved it nevertheless.
I am mesmerised by every sick, depraved and shocking piece of Something Twisted by Ace Gray. I lost myself into the intriguing and powerful story completely. This dark romance hurt so good and Ace Gray annihilated my heart.
Received ARC for honest review
Twisted Secrets was a read full of darkness, sadness, steam and bittersweet love.
Drea’s and Niall’s story is not a sweet, romantic one. It’s dark, sadistic and with a lot of bumps on the road, but it was such a good one! Their story is not an easy one, either.
The story is steamy, tragic, dark and bittersweet. The pain in the novel felt real and made me feel uncomfortable in spots. What Drea experiences is not full of flowers, but her strength is what keeps you reading.
I fell in love with some of the secondary characters in the story. I adored Arden and Ailee. I loved their personalities and how they fit in the story. I felt so comfortable around them, like old friends. I am also a little (a lot) obsessed with Arden.
The history between Niall and Drea blew the roof. It was angsty deliciousness and experiencing everything with them was incredible.
Oftentimes, my feelings for Niall weren’t all lovey-dovey, however, the more he grew, the more I started to like him. I did want to slap him across the head sometimes.
If there is one thing I can say about this book, is that it’s an incredible read. It’s dark, it’s tragic and often uncomfortable. But the strength of Deidre and Niall, and their love for one another, hoping they get their happily-ever-after, is what makes you keep on reading. It’s very addictive, and I cant wait to see more of everybody in the Something twisted world. Brilliant!