REVIEW: Twisted Souls by Shannon McLellan
Some books pull you in slowly. Others drop you headfirst into magic, danger, and intrigue - and Twisted Souls, a debut romantasy from Shannon McLellan is definitely the latter. Published February 11, 2025, I was able to obtain an e-book copy through NetGalley.
Twisted Souls takes place across two fantasy realms, weaving together magic, politics, and romance in a plot that’s easy to follow but full of surprises. At the center of the story is Zara, a woman who suddenly finds herself with magical abilities she doesn’t fully understand. Throughout her journey in understanding these newfound powers, she encounters two brothers - Xavier and Jaxon. Separated at first, the brothers and Zara come together to help Zara unravel what’s happening to her. As Zara and the brothers begin to understand more about the powers, she learns that she’s meant for a greater purpose in a growing conflict between realms.
What I
Loved
The World Building. The way Shannon builds Nexia and its neighboring realm makes it easy to imagine everything - the landscapes, danger, and magic. As I was reading, I could see the story playing out in my mind like a movie. The fae courts, the tension between brothers, the witches riding their Daka creatures and creating havoc amongst cities, and the fractured magic - the descriptive passages created a sense of urgency and emotion between characters.
The Characters
What really stood out to me was how every character mattered. In many of the books, secondary characters tend to fade out, but in Twisted Souls all the characters mattered, especially in the end. They brought substance, humor, tension, and ultimately shock in the final pages.
I loved the brothers, Jaxon and Xavier. Both had personalities that added dimension which drew me in even more. One has charming, golden retriever type energy and the other is brooding and conflicted. Despite the conflict between the two brothers, they come together to help Zara understand why she has the powers that she does.
As for Zara herself, she’s strong, curious, stubborn at times, but is willing to fight for what matters - even if she doesn’t have all the answers.
Pacing & Plot
The storyline was easy to follow which I greatly appreciated. Even with the back and forth between the two fae realms, multiple characters, and all the twists-and-turns, it was never 100% confusing. After the initial chapters, the plot moved quickly enough to stay engaging but slowed enough so that I was able to see the relationships between the main characters develop.
As far as the ending goes? I won’t spoil it, but I never saw it coming. At all. It left me satisfied, but I am impatient to see what happens in the next book and how it affects the main characters relationships. For a debut romantasy, I was hooked and I can’t wait for the second one.
Final Thoughts
Twisted Souls is a well-written, memorable, and immersive story. Each character has their purpose and the pacing of it was enough that it kept me engaged the entire time. The world-building was descriptive enough that I could picture what was happening in my mind. While there wasn’t anything that caused me to disengage from the story line, I think that the lead-up to the second book was a bit heavy. There was a lot going on that was unexpected and I’m curious to see how book two expands on what occurred and the repercussions of it.
Who Would Love This Book
If you enjoy romantasy and love danger, magic, and how the characters have soul, this book delivers - and then some. There is some mild on-page spice in the book which I rank as 2/5. If you’re looking for a spice-free book, then this would not be for you. I look forward to the next book and will be picking up it up the moment it comes out.
