Reviews with content warning for Torture - All This Twisted Glory

I think this was my favorite of the books so far. I have a soft spot for tragically misunderstood MMCs and the band of misfits is quite entertaining. I do feel like alizeh is too perfect sometimes but what's a fantasy world without a Cinderella princess. Other nitpick is just how much plot resolves around misunderstanding and miscommunication and bad assumptions.

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destdest's review against another edition

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mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

Yes, wade through the rivers of purple prose with me. Two books in and nary a liberation to be found. The men here are all in-universe handsome and mystified by Alizeh. We’ve got a tortured sad boy who originally wanted to be a magical nun vs conceited narcissist who thinks everyone is beneath him. Alizeh is still unremarkable. She is kindhearted but not much else.

People are always on the brink of death here but never actually dead. Cyrus is strung out akin to a drug addict for Alizeh. If she bats her eyes at him, he loses 75% of control over his entire body. Her putting a hand on his chest had him seconds from exploding.

BUT this book series is entertaining, so who are me to judge? I did rate this lowly due to the sheer repetitiveness of dialogue and character monologue. So much of this filler could’ve and should’ve been cut.

Also,

you just know a woman is writing this lol. In Cyrus' deepest desires/wet dreams, he fantasizes about eating Alizeh's kitty poetically so.

2 stars

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kassidyreads's review against another edition

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slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

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pizzamyheart's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Awwww Cyrus. 💔

I thought this was a trilogy and was concerned with the pacing. Turns out there's more! Which is good because I need more but also ugh! Because I want the rest and now have to wait until who knows when.

Also, Kamran can go jump off a cliff. Ugh.

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leahegood's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character

2.0

3 stars for story telling.
2 stars for personal preferences on language and romantic content.
1 star for the level of "romantic" content in a book marked, on Amazon, for readers ages 13-17.

Summary
Nothing is as it seems. Alizeh is increasingly suspicous that Cyrus, the young king of Tulan, is not as wicked as he allows people to believe. The potential that a kind heart hides behind his terse exterior only makes her path forward more difficult. Whatever the truth is about Cyrus, his offer to give her his kingdom--and his life--in exchange for her hand in marriage, is her best option to serve her people well. Her people must come before all else.

Matters are further complicated when Prince Kamran storms into Tulan. Kamran is bent on revenge, wants to marry Alizeh, and is completely blind to his perpetual attitude of entitled arrogance. With Kamran comes a gaggle of unlikely allies.

My Thoughts
I'm rather annoyed at this book. The writing style is good. The storytelling is good. There are even really good themes about self-control, sacrifice, and not allowing discomfort to prevent you from fully engaging in life.

The characters are also, in my opinion, compelling. Alizeh is a bit of a Mary Sue, but I still like her. The chemistry between her and the triangulated male leads is even good for what it is. But this book, more than the previous two, is filled with moments where it feels like the story hits pause in order for some steamy, lust-driven attraction, before once again resuming ... including an open-door bedroom dream scene which, though not fully explicit, was much too far for a book targeted at 13-17 year olds in my opinion. I think the story would be better marked as New Adult instead of Young Adult. The hyper-focus on the "romance" also slowed the story down by repeating elements of attraction we've already been hit over the head with repeatedly.

Content
Romance: See my mini rant above. Chemistry is good, but interrupted by lust-driven attraction that often did not, in my opinion, even seem to fit the character development. Also one open-door bedroom scene.
Language: Infrequent but consistent swearing, including a few f-bombs.
Violence: Characters are injured, though descriptions are not overly graphic. Cyrus is tortured by the devil.
Religion: The devil is an infrequent character that strongly impacts the storyline and is portrayed in negative light. The diviners seem to be the positive mirror to the devil.

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lenilinnea's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I found myself jumping between feeling extreme ich and swoon over the mail characters thoughts and description of eachother. I listened to some of it on audiobook so maybe the narrator affected it a little. Miss Huds creates a comedic relief and her quarrels with Kamran are entertaining.
The world is also very interesting!

SPOILERS:

I don’t really find the whole reasoning for why the blood pact absolutely HAD to be done plausible as it seems like Alizeh did kind of trust him enough to a point where it was not neccessary to go through with it other than for the drama of it.
Was interesting to learn more or Cyrus background and time at the diviners.

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sophierosemaria's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Incredible book! Although this one had a slower start than the previous ones of the series, it picks up and then races on.
It does feel like only half a book, with so much and yet so little happening. But that might just be wishing for more.

I am waiting for Cyrus’ redemption. I’m sick of the other characters constantly maligning him. Also Kamran turning into THAT guy that doesn’t take a hint and is so possessive. Upsetting turn but also not unexpected? Mafi really had us falling for him in book 1 and then now revealing his true character. What an ass.
For the next book I’m hoping for: more Cyrus and Alizeh, Cyrus’ redemption arc, and I unfortunately foresee an enemies to lovers situ with Huda and Kamran (although she could do so much better than that ass).

Enchanting as always, and I can’t wait to read the next one!!

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soniajoy98's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional inspiring sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

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