Review by TeachinTeens -- Twisted Threads
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TeachinTeens
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Review by TeachinTeens -- Twisted Threads
[Following is a volunteer review of "Twisted Threads" by Kaylin McFarren.]
Though originally trained as a geisha, Akira’s past has been erased to leave a jaded assassin. Akira is tasked with assassinating the wealthy couple that inexplicably killed members of the Mitsui family. She joins them on a cruise, knowing she must act before the ship reaches its destination. Though Akira knows she cannot refuse the order, she insists upon finding proof of their guilt before taking action. She turns her wiles upon Devon Lyons, hoping to use his status as the nephew of her targets to discover their guilt. However, her seduction of Devon quickly turns into a true love affair. Time runs out when multiple guests on the cruise start to die mysteriously, and Akira must act before she loses her chance at a life with the man she loves.
I particularly enjoyed the twist regarding the identity of the villain. Multiple mysterious individuals are introduced over the course of the cruise, spanning from guests to crew. I anticipated the climax coming when Akira completed her mission and dealt with the emotional fall-out with Devon. However, Kaylin McFarren crafted her complex cast of characters and backstories to truly weave like threads. I was pleasantly surprised by the actions of the so-called watcher and the appearance of an unexpected and twisted villain.
The aptly named Twisted Threads is correctly advertised as an adult erotic, psychological thriller. The developing relationship eventually blooms into intimate scenes, so the audience should be prepared for explicit and detailed sexual scenes. However, the erotic marker does not fully prepare the audience to read the few scenes involving sexual assault. Audiences should be prepared for the potentially triggering scene, and audiences sensitive to the topic of rape or assault against male victims would not find this an enjoyable read.
The assault itself was the worst part of the novel. The villain’s ploy to use Devon against Akira makes sense, but explicit rape is unnecessary to the plot. There is no trauma from the assault addressed in the resolution for the characters, and even Devon’s internal thoughts during the assault did not convey the harsh reality of the events. In order to create the setting for this particular form of torture, a room on a cruise ship is inexplicably fitted with a thick ring in the floor to affix chains and custom-fitted submissive-wear is available within hours’ notice. A more feasible hostage situation would work just as well with the plot structure and not create such unresolved trauma.
The mature romance that develops between Devon and Akira earn Twisted Threads only 2 out of 4 stars. As much as I enjoyed the mystery and the depth of Akira as a character, the mystery is not prominent until the end when the many twists are revealed. Further, the biggest set-back for me as a reader was the explicit rape scene; it was disappointing to see the trauma of rape dismissed by both the characters and author by the end of the novel.
******
Twisted Threads
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Though originally trained as a geisha, Akira’s past has been erased to leave a jaded assassin. Akira is tasked with assassinating the wealthy couple that inexplicably killed members of the Mitsui family. She joins them on a cruise, knowing she must act before the ship reaches its destination. Though Akira knows she cannot refuse the order, she insists upon finding proof of their guilt before taking action. She turns her wiles upon Devon Lyons, hoping to use his status as the nephew of her targets to discover their guilt. However, her seduction of Devon quickly turns into a true love affair. Time runs out when multiple guests on the cruise start to die mysteriously, and Akira must act before she loses her chance at a life with the man she loves.
I particularly enjoyed the twist regarding the identity of the villain. Multiple mysterious individuals are introduced over the course of the cruise, spanning from guests to crew. I anticipated the climax coming when Akira completed her mission and dealt with the emotional fall-out with Devon. However, Kaylin McFarren crafted her complex cast of characters and backstories to truly weave like threads. I was pleasantly surprised by the actions of the so-called watcher and the appearance of an unexpected and twisted villain.
The aptly named Twisted Threads is correctly advertised as an adult erotic, psychological thriller. The developing relationship eventually blooms into intimate scenes, so the audience should be prepared for explicit and detailed sexual scenes. However, the erotic marker does not fully prepare the audience to read the few scenes involving sexual assault. Audiences should be prepared for the potentially triggering scene, and audiences sensitive to the topic of rape or assault against male victims would not find this an enjoyable read.
The assault itself was the worst part of the novel. The villain’s ploy to use Devon against Akira makes sense, but explicit rape is unnecessary to the plot. There is no trauma from the assault addressed in the resolution for the characters, and even Devon’s internal thoughts during the assault did not convey the harsh reality of the events. In order to create the setting for this particular form of torture, a room on a cruise ship is inexplicably fitted with a thick ring in the floor to affix chains and custom-fitted submissive-wear is available within hours’ notice. A more feasible hostage situation would work just as well with the plot structure and not create such unresolved trauma.
The mature romance that develops between Devon and Akira earn Twisted Threads only 2 out of 4 stars. As much as I enjoyed the mystery and the depth of Akira as a character, the mystery is not prominent until the end when the many twists are revealed. Further, the biggest set-back for me as a reader was the explicit rape scene; it was disappointing to see the trauma of rape dismissed by both the characters and author by the end of the novel.
******
Twisted Threads
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Soul Seeker by Kaylin McFarren
