Twisted Palace by Erin Watt
Series: The Royals, #3
Romance Contemporary/YA
October 17, 2016
Self Published
Reviewed by Tori
Favorite Quote: “Relationship issues are a lot easier to handle when you’re not worrying you boyfriend might go to prison.”
These Royals will ruin you…
From mortal enemies to unexpected allies, two teenagers try to protect everything that matters most.
Ella Harper has met every challenge that life has thrown her way. She’s tough, resilient, and willing to do whatever it takes to defend the people she loves, but the challenge of a long-lost father and a boyfriend whose life is on the line might be too much for even Ella to overcome.
Reed Royal has a quick temper and even faster fists. But his tendency to meet every obstacle with violence has finally caught up with him. If he wants to save himself and the girl he loves, he’ll need to rise above his tortured past and tarnished reputation.
No one believes Ella can survive the Royals. Everyone is sure Reed will destroy them all.
They may be right.
With everything and everyone conspiring to keep them apart, Ella and Reed must find a way to beat the law, save their families, and unravel all the secrets in their Twisted Palace.
Welcome back to the Royal family. Our Cinderella has not only found her Prince Charming but they are now hot, heavy, and in love. Her four selfish step brothers aren’t so bad once you get to know them and one of the wicked witches is dead. Unfortunately, all fingers are pointed to the Prince as the killer. Oh, and Cinderella’s supposed dead father has risen from the grave and wants to lock her up in his castle forever.
Whatever is a princess to do?!
Twisted Palace picks up where Broken Prince left off. Reed has been accused of murdering Brooke and the evidence against him doesn’t look good. While the police are arresting Reed, Steve O’Halloran walked through the Royal’s front door, surprising everyone who thought he was dead. Especially Ella. Now Ella has to find a fake boyfriend, fight to clear her real boyfriend’s name, discover the real murderer, find a dress for the Winter Formal, and try to bond with her father.
Once again Watt tosses us back down the rabbit hole as they up the ante on this story’s outrageous, audacious, and unbelievable drama. Told in first person dual perspectives, alternating between Reed and Ella, we get up close and personal look as this couple’s world is rocked by blow after blow. Stronger because of their love and commitment to one another, Ella believes Reed’s proclamations of innocence but is unsure how to help him. His well documented bad behavior is working against him in the eyes of the law.
While Ella struggles to figure out how to save Reed and the Royal family from this latest fiasco, she is also have to deal with having a father in her life. Steven invokes his parental rights, forcing Ella to leave the Royal household and come live with him and Dinah. Father of the year he is not but neither him nor Ella know exactly how to act. It’s certainly an interesting series of events to watch as this perpetual man-child attempts to parent a nearly grown child who has never really had to answer to anyone. I was dismayed by the slut shaming seen in here but found Ella’s inquiries into how dads are supposed to act humorous.
Reed continues to have his “come to Jesus” moment, acknowledging that his actions before and after his mother’s death have been nothing more than a series of selfish, childish acts that only served to further tearing his family apart. He clings harder to Ella, admitting that she and she alone makes him want to be a better person. It continues to be an enlightening personal moment, especially as we are able to see it happening through his eyes.
Twisted Palace is the result of everything the Royals have ever done-coming back to haunt them. Revelations are made that make the Royals to take off their rose-colored glasses and take a long, hard look at the past and the parts they played in the creation of certain events. Reed’s impending murder trial is the catalyst that pulls the Royals together as a family; something Ella has strived for since the beginning. I did find this installment wasn’t as fast and furious as the last two. The narrative and dialogue kept me hooked but I felt at times we were simply rehashing the same issues over and over. I also had some problems with some of the decisions Ella made concerning Reed. Especially the one that revolved around Jordan.
A heavy inclusion of secondary characters infiltrate the story, expanding and helping to close up the main storylines. Enemies and allies come out in droves; some switching sides while others walk a fine line, committing to nothing. Reed isn’t the only one maturing in here. Ella grows more herself, discovering that her social isolation may be partly her own fault. She makes some new friends and finds a new passion, giving her more stability at school and in her life. We see a secondary romance armed with plenty of humor come to fruition while learning of a mysterious crush Easton may have. I was a little disappointed we didn’t get to see more of Gideon but some of the statements made concerning the Royals makes me think Watt may not be done with this family quite yet.
Watt ties up Twisted Palace with a pretty bow; ending it with our prince and princess in their happy place and the Royal family emerging triumphant from yet another disaster. All in all a fun, The Royals series is a romantic melodrama filled with angsty, emo, campy, steamy, soap opera driven teenagers who excel at being over the top bad. It’s a guilty pleasure that I for one have thoroughly enjoyed.
Grade: B
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