Quinn Darkova made a vow from the very beginning.And now she’s home.For revenge . . . Except N’skara isn’t the same as it was ten years ago, and the person she came for is nowhere to be found. After being taken ashore by armed guards of the same Council they came to sway, Quinn knows it’s up to her to uncover the truth about what really happened, while seeking the retribution owed to her. Lazarus … retribution owed to her.
Lazarus knew she was hiding something. He knew she had unfinished business in N’skara. But never could he have known this. He hadn’t predicted how set in their ways the people were. He hadn’t listened to the warnings when Quinn spoke of secrets and lies. He hadn’t realized that the woman he couldn’t stay away from was forged as much by blood as she was by darkness.
Now it was time to learn.
In a land of sheep, it pays to be a wolf.
For King and Corruption coming Winter 2019. This series must be read in order.
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It’s no secret that I’ve been a huge fan of this series from the beginning, but honestly, I can’t get over how incredible it continues to be from book to book. The world-building, the depth of character growth, and the visceral reactions you get from reading Quinn’s story continue to take my breath away. Quinn Darkova is hands down my favorite anti-heroine and if she was a real person, I’d make it my mission in life to be her best friend. This book did have some darker themes and scenes in it than the previous two, but they were masterfully written and handled well. As always the pacing was perfect, I both laughed out loud and teared up a bit at times, and then just wait until you get to the steamy bits. Ladies have a fan nearby, you’ll need it!
Bring on For King and Corruption this winter, because I am DYING to know where Quinn goes next, and what exactly she’ll do next because that was one hell of a ride and the ending left me wanting more!
Twisted is the Crown by Lucy Smoke is an awesome story to read. This is book number three in this awesome series that I have read and loved the story very much. I highly recommend this story to everyone who loves reading about dark romance and fantasy.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This installment was the best yet! It is darker but really this series is darker. We get so much more insight into Quinn and learn surprising secrets. I can’t say too much without spoiling things but YES!!!
Twisted is the Crown (Dark Maji Book 3) Kindle Edition
by Kel Carpenter
Quinn and Lazarus and their entourage are now in Quinn’s former home. The reader finds that her parents and her elder sister, in all their virtuous behavior, are truly monsters. Lazarus has come seeking an alliance in his upcoming bid to take the throne of his home. But nothing is what he expected. Ms Carpenter lays the vengeance Quinn is seeking slowly, letting the reader parse together what happened and what Quinn will do.
The story is lush in descriptions. N’Skara is a stunning winter wonderland filled with more court conspiracy and intrigue than most epic fantasies pack in several books. The characters of N’Skara are not as well drawn as in the earlier books, but that may be because of the intricate plots that the characters have planned.
While Quinn and Lazarus do bear the brunt of the narration duties with limited first person storytelling, several others do hop in and share their stories as well. Risk, one of Quinn’s family members does get her chance to fill in the background and lay out exactly how vile the N’Skari really are.
The actual text, the writing, mines the archetypes of epic fantasy and then turns them on their head. Quinn is not a nice girl waiting to be saved. She is wicked, dark and full of anger. Lazarus skates the edge of a Byronic hero and manages to be both cruel and kind, brooding and intrigues. Some of the ‘side-characters are as well-thought out as the main characters.
The villains of the piece are horrid for many reasons and it works. Sometimes, Ms. Carpenter does leave great big breadcrumbs, so the villains are fairly easy to identify when we fist meet them.
Ms. Carpenter has done an extraordinary job creating a whole world that is familiar and yet fresh!.
4 stars out of 5
https://www.amazon.com/Twisted-Crown-Dark-Maji-Book-ebook/dp/B07TS9PC22
And…they just keep getting better! Book 3 is deliciously dark and full of suspense. I enjoyed every twist and turn of this story.
I’m totally loving Kel Carpenter and Lucinda Dark’s Dark Maji series. It’s gotten more and more fun with each book – a tough act since I gave book 1 five stars (see my separate review). That’s certainly held true with the latest, Twisted is the Crown (Book 3). “In a land of sheep, it pays to be a wolf.” Hooked me right there. This was a fun book. Well written, with a great plot, a perfect cast from Quinn (what a effect kick-a** anti-heroine lead: I think I adore her) on down and perfect world-building. Definitely recommended.
This series keeps getting better and better! This one was both the darkest, steamiest, and most fulfilling. I highly recommend this series and this book!
I had previously read a book by Lucy Smoke but that was a completely different genre than this book. What a writer she is! Where I found her other book mostly erotic, I am now thrown into a dark fanatic world. With her words she builds a world that is dark and hard and where magic plays a major role. Because this is a 3rd part in a series, and I have not read the other 2 parts, it was difficult to get into the story. Small retrospects are given to the other parts, but not enough for me to form a good picture. The story in this book is clear. A sister looking for her half-sister and her quest for the people who harmed her and her sister. She achieves this with dark forces. Her revenge actions are described in detail and well reflect her sense of anger. An intriguing book and at the end I am where the writer wants her readers …… curious about the rest of the story
The third installment of the Dark Maji series did not disappoint!!!
Dare I say it but this is my favorite in the series. Revenge, secrets and some truths come to light in Twisted is the Crown. But the ENDING!!! WHAT AN ENDING!!! The infamous due left me hanging by my fingertips from a major cliffhanger. I can’t wait to get my hands on the next one. I’ll be counting down the seconds until I see it in my kindle
I have enjoyed this series from book one and each book is just as amazing at the first! Quinn is one of my favorite heroines and I love how she has continued to grow throughout the series. Learning her backstory during this installment was heartbreaking, but seeing how she has evolved and thrived from her setbacks was also empowering. The relationship between Quinn and Lazarus takes a backseat for a while, but don’t let that detour you. This is story you don’t want to miss! The world-building is so well done that I can easily visualize the characters, landscape, and features described so that the movie plays seamlessly in my mind as I read. Well done! I can’t wait to read the next installment!
I just love this series! Quinn is spectacular; the character development and world-building are pure genius, and the prose is achingly beautiful. This is an experience that twists your soul–you can’t emerge on the other side unchanged. My soul feels all snarly now. I think a big part of why I love this installment so much is that seeing Quinn’s origins and family, understanding that she IS truly dark, and feeling that visceral reaction of wanting what she wants–it’s as if I have permission to embrace the way her darkness resonates. It’s a bit cathartic (I tend to live vicariously). I can’t wait for the next book to follow Quinn wherever fate tries to take her next!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I am living for this series! Oh my goodness gracious!!!! I’m completely in love with this book, if I could give a hundred stars I would. This is an absolute page turning series that I highly recommend reading.
If you’ve been reading this series, you know that it’s rather dark, violent, and has some language thrown in. But this particular book was exceedingly graphic in its violence against women — and the punishment eventually meted out by Quinn. And the whatever-it-is building between Lazarus and Quinn finally explodes in a rather descriptive way. There was very little to advance the premise of the series — that of getting Lazarus his crown. While working towards an alliance with the Nskari, this whole book was really just a way to resolve Quinn’s backstory.
I REALLY hate leaving less than stellar reviews; I was only planning to take off a star for a lot of wrong-word usage (some the wrong spelling, some just plain wrong) and one for very little plot advancement, but had to take off another for a couple of scenes that were just…too much. It felt like this book was just one long and violent killing spree with some graphic (and also violent) sex thrown in. But that’s my own opinion. Some people won’t bothered by it, and that’s OK, but if you’re sensitive to triggers, I would avoid this one.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This was another wonderful installment of action, sass and unique story. I love everything Kel Carpenter is part of and will be a fan forever. Her turn of phrase captures the mind and forces you to reread her tales again and again.
Thank you for another awesome story!
I have really enjoyed reading this series so far. It has been amazing from the very beginning. Quinn is an amazing character and I love the world that was created. I am so excited to see what happens in the next book I cannot even describe!!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
If you thought the first two books were good, you haven’t seen anything yet!! This story keeps on getting better and better! I won’t post any spoilers, but be prepared, and hold on for a wild, emotional ride!! Five stars!!
This was an interesting book. I enjoyed it and the characters. It was an interesting take on a story. I liked how the relationships evolved
Quinn Darkova made a vow ten years ago. Now it’s time. She’s back in N’skara, back home but she can’t find what she came back for. But she will have her answers and she will have her revenge. Even if she must dance with Mazzulah to do so. Lazarus needs an alliance with N’skara. She will get it for him. He will have his victory, she will have hers. No matter the cost.
There’s more to Quinn than her darkness. There are rage and violence but there’s a hidden part of her. One that confuses her, one she almost won’t acknowledge herself. We see that side of Quinn in N’skara. We meet her people, her family, and we realize just how different Quinn is. As she states, they may dabble in darkness for one reason or another, she lives in it and there’s no line she seems unwilling to cross to accomplish her plans. We see that Quinn loves, deeply. This makes her more deadly. She is karma. She is gloriously bloodthirsty. She’s smart, unapologetic, and has no remorse. She is a perfect right hand for Lazarus. She is Saevyana.
This is a well-written, well-thought-out, satisfying bloody adventure. Quinn’s history and the world-building are nicely done. Tension built until it exploded. This story mostly focuses on Quinn as the others wisely keep out of her way, yet you know that they are there for her at every turn if needed. She may scare them but they care for her. The scenes between Quinn and the others were sparse but wonderful. As one story ended another began and I am interested to see why the god is sending us south.
You learn alot of Quinn’s past in this book. How she became a slave, her childhood, of her family, and her people. Fair warning like all of Kel’s books they are dark fantasy. This is not to be taken lightly. There are some very dark scenes in this one but you cant have a character like Quinn without a dark past and moments a darkness in the present. But it’s what makes these stories so intriguing. Loved it through and through cant wait to see how the series continues after all the secrets you learn in this one.
Book three and I am still on the edge of my seat. This is extremely well written, very dark yet a very satisfying read. We learn a lot more about Quinn as she takes a trip back down memory lane. I read this book in one hit, it held me in it’s deliciously dark grip, I cannot wait for book four