Review by booktalkwithrae - The Twisted Throne

booktalkwithrae 's review for:

The Twisted Throne by Danielle L. Jensen

4.0

adventurous challenging dark funny hopeful mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Ever since we first met Ahnna in earlier books, I’ve been waiting (not so patiently) for her story—and The Twisted Thronedid not disappoint. Ahnna is everything I hoped for: strong, sharp, and complex. I especially loved that she’s nearing her 30s, which is something we don’t often see in fantasy heroines. Most "badass female leads" tend to be in their late teens or early 20s, so seeing a more mature protagonist brought a refreshing perspective.

The setting of Harendell was another highlight for me. It felt distinct and intriguing, and it added even more depth to this already expansive world. I was excited to explore this new corner of the realm, and Jensen didn’t hold back in layering it with politics, power struggles, and secrets.

I went in completely blind—not even reading the synopsis—and I’m so glad I did. The early twists genuinely caught me off guard, and there were several moments I didn’t see coming. That said, I did find the middle of the book slowed down a bit. Like many readers, I felt the pacing dragged at times, but what kept me hooked was the steady undercurrent of political intrigue. Danielle Jensen has a real talent for weaving suspense into the power plays; I felt like I knew everything, yet also like I was constantly missing something—which made it even more fun to unravel.

Some of the side characters were surprising to me as they were nothing like I would’ve imagined, and I suspect that may have been intentional on Danielle’s part. Some characters were actually quite unlikeable, while others I thought I wouldn’t like, I ended up really enjoying. It was a strange mix, and honestly, a weird experience for me. Specifically, James—though I wasn’t a huge fan of him at first—his character really grew on me toward the end. I won’t go into spoilers, but he’s definitely going to be interesting in the next book, and I’m excited to see where his development goes.

The ending? Absolutely wild. Even though a few elements felt a bit predictable, it still had me on edge. Danielle has a way of ending books that leaves you wrecked and desperate for more, and this was no exception. I low-key regret reading this now, knowing the final installment is probably over a year away.

Overall, The Twisted Throne is a strong addition to the series. While the romance felt less central and the pacing dipped in places, the world-building, the tension, and Ahnna’s arc more than made up for it. I can’t wait to see where this story goes next.

Content Warnings