Twisted
In “Twisted” by Emily McIntire, Yasmin Karam, the daughter of a wealthy tycoon, is forced into a desperate marriage arrangement with her father's ruthless right-hand man, Julian, while secretly in love with someone else. Julian, driven by his ambition for power, has his hidden agenda, but as their lives intertwine, unexpected feelings emerge.
I had a fun time reading this story and I enjoyed the nods to the Aladdin story. The diamond empire setting was great, and learning more about Julian’s dark and complicated past was one of the highlights for me. His tension with Yasmin was exciting to watch unfold, especially as Julian was annoyed at how much he started to like her, despite his best efforts to stay cold and calculating.
The romance was well done, and the chemistry between them was undeniably spicy—if you're here for that, you won’t be disappointed!
What I loved:
The diamond empire
Julian + Yasmin
The Aladdin references
However, I found myself wishing for more plot development outside of the romance. While the spice was definitely "spicin'," I wanted more focus on the overarching search for the lamp, which was underplayed in favor of the relationship dynamics.
That being said, if you're looking for a darker, romance-driven Aladdin retelling, this book delivers. Just go in knowing the emphasis is heavily on the romance rather than the adventure or the plot around the lamp.
*Be sure to check trigger warnings before diving in.
