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Twisted
My Bloody Valentine
It's Valentine's Day, and everyone at Hamilton High is excited about the big dance. Six girls are competing to be Queen of Hearts. Unfortunately, someone is taking aim at the contestants--and it's not Cupid. Unless Cupid is a deranged killer with a sharp knife and a deadly message. Be mine. . .or else.
The Séance
There's nothing like a killer party on Halloween--especially when it's in a secluded lodge in the woods. But when Jennifer Larkin's friends insist on holding a seance--in spite of the warnings of a local psychic--it's anything but a game. For the spirits are vengeful. The partiers are prisoners. And no one gets out of here alive. . .
Slay Bells
The new Crossroads Mall is the place to shop this Christmas. So when a snowstorm traps Diana Connelly and her friends inside, they don't even mind staying the night. Until the accidents start to happen. And Diana's friends begin to die. One by one. Naughty or nice. ‘Tis the season. . .to be murdered.
It's Valentine's Day, and everyone at Hamilton High is excited about the big dance. Six girls are competing to be Queen of Hearts. Unfortunately, someone is taking aim at the contestants--and it's not Cupid. Unless Cupid is a deranged killer with a sharp knife and a deadly message. Be mine. . .or else.
The Séance
There's nothing like a killer party on Halloween--especially when it's in a secluded lodge in the woods. But when Jennifer Larkin's friends insist on holding a seance--in spite of the warnings of a local psychic--it's anything but a game. For the spirits are vengeful. The partiers are prisoners. And no one gets out of here alive. . .
Slay Bells
The new Crossroads Mall is the place to shop this Christmas. So when a snowstorm traps Diana Connelly and her friends inside, they don't even mind staying the night. Until the accidents start to happen. And Diana's friends begin to die. One by one. Naughty or nice. ‘Tis the season. . .to be murdered.
- GenresYoung AdultThriller
560 pages, Paperback
First published June 24, 2014
11 people are currently reading
189 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
November 4, 2021
Overall I enjoyed these seasonal vintage YA horror novels a lot. I think the negative reviews need to take into consideration the time (1994-1995) when these were written. This was standard fare back then.
My Bloody Valentine: 3.5 stars
Seance: 3 stars
Slay Bells: 5 stars (the first one I read out of the 3)
Individual reviews:
My Bloody Valentine: Actually takes place around Valentine's Day! I liked Slay Bells more but this was fun. The beginning was slow and things didn't start to get going until the first death. Characterization could've been stronger. Also there was some strange moralizing of the girls by the killer.
Seance: This had a lot of random Yiddish words sprinkled throughout for some reason. Very similar plot to Slay Bells. Mentions abortion and teen pregnancy and I can see why this wasn't published back in the 90s for that reason.
Slay Bells: What a wild ride. I loved the idea of being trapped in a mall and being able to use all the stuff in the stores if a bit unrealistic. Also where did they shower? It’s never mentioned. Worth rereading. Would make a great nostalgic movie.
My Bloody Valentine: 3.5 stars
Seance: 3 stars
Slay Bells: 5 stars (the first one I read out of the 3)
Individual reviews:
My Bloody Valentine: Actually takes place around Valentine's Day! I liked Slay Bells more but this was fun. The beginning was slow and things didn't start to get going until the first death. Characterization could've been stronger. Also there was some strange moralizing of the girls by the killer.
Seance: This had a lot of random Yiddish words sprinkled throughout for some reason. Very similar plot to Slay Bells. Mentions abortion and teen pregnancy and I can see why this wasn't published back in the 90s for that reason.
Slay Bells: What a wild ride. I loved the idea of being trapped in a mall and being able to use all the stuff in the stores if a bit unrealistic. Also where did they shower? It’s never mentioned. Worth rereading. Would make a great nostalgic movie.
October 21, 2015
Overall rating - 2.5
My Bloody Valentine - 2.5
I found this one really dull, and it just couldn't keep my interest. Even when people died, I was bored.
Can't say I'm looking forward to the next one in the Twisted bind up.
The Seance - 2.5
This one was just as dull as the last one unfortunately, and again, It didn't interest me even when people died.
Glad I've only got one more book in the bind up to read.
Slay Bells - 2.5
This was again another dull read, but I wasn't expecting much else from it to be honest.
Glad I've finished the bind up now.
My Bloody Valentine - 2.5
I found this one really dull, and it just couldn't keep my interest. Even when people died, I was bored.
Can't say I'm looking forward to the next one in the Twisted bind up.
The Seance - 2.5
This one was just as dull as the last one unfortunately, and again, It didn't interest me even when people died.
Glad I've only got one more book in the bind up to read.
Slay Bells - 2.5
This was again another dull read, but I wasn't expecting much else from it to be honest.
Glad I've finished the bind up now.
June 16, 2017
Twisted is a three-in-one thriller/mystery book.
To be brutishly honest, I was neither thrilled, spooked, or surprised who the killers were.
Predictability isn't a death knoll in a book for me... as long as I'm emotionally invested in the characters. I will give this book the tiniest illusion of the slightest doubt that because it was written for a younger audience is the reason why I found the characters so dull. Buuuut, I doubt it.
To be brutishly honest, I was neither thrilled, spooked, or surprised who the killers were.
Predictability isn't a death knoll in a book for me... as long as I'm emotionally invested in the characters. I will give this book the tiniest illusion of the slightest doubt that because it was written for a younger audience is the reason why I found the characters so dull. Buuuut, I doubt it.
April 4, 2019
Since this is a bind up of three different books, I can be okay with them sharing similar themes, but this was basically the same plot recycled with each story. It was just so repetitive. Each one was a guy killing off a group of friends one by one and making the murders seem like accidents. I’m sorry, but there are only so many times that . Even the dialogue when they discovered the bodies was reused word for word in two of the books. Also, the killer was the author always used.
I was trying to keep a positive mindset throughout this because I’ve read way worse. However, the third book was horrible. No matter how flimsy, the previous books had killers with somewhat believable motives for offing everyone. The person in this one had the dumbest reasons known to man. Like, he’s going to murder someone for ? Plus, the little paragraphs explaining how each infraction affected his grandparents were dramatic as hell. It was just stupid and I mentally checked out for the remainder of my time reading.
I was trying to keep a positive mindset throughout this because I’ve read way worse. However, the third book was horrible. No matter how flimsy, the previous books had killers with somewhat believable motives for offing everyone. The person in this one had the dumbest reasons known to man. Like, he’s going to murder someone for ? Plus, the little paragraphs explaining how each infraction affected his grandparents were dramatic as hell. It was just stupid and I mentally checked out for the remainder of my time reading.
June 15, 2014
ARC from publisher for honest review.
This book was pretty good. The three stories were suspenseful, if not a bit lacking in depth. For instance the first short story was about some teen girls who were vying to be Queen of Hearts for a Valentines Day dance and one by one the girls who were in the lead were dying in unusual ways. I'm pretty sure the other girls in the contest wouldn't just pretend their friend didn't exist and be excited that now they are in the lead. It just seemed shallow. The second story had a bunch of high school kids putting on a haunted house and they had headed up to a remote lodge to set it up where they become trapped by a rock slide blocking the road. Again, the reactions to the deaths of their beloved friends seem a bit... off. "Ohhhh no! So and do is dead??? Well let's store the body and get on with the next skit." Um.... wow. The last story was pretty cool, about some college students who were employees of a new mall that was getting ready to open who got stuck there when a blizzard hit. All in all the mysteries were good, it was just the way she kept the first two going that bugged me personally. All that said I truly believe that someone in their mid teens would enjoy this book.
This book was pretty good. The three stories were suspenseful, if not a bit lacking in depth. For instance the first short story was about some teen girls who were vying to be Queen of Hearts for a Valentines Day dance and one by one the girls who were in the lead were dying in unusual ways. I'm pretty sure the other girls in the contest wouldn't just pretend their friend didn't exist and be excited that now they are in the lead. It just seemed shallow. The second story had a bunch of high school kids putting on a haunted house and they had headed up to a remote lodge to set it up where they become trapped by a rock slide blocking the road. Again, the reactions to the deaths of their beloved friends seem a bit... off. "Ohhhh no! So and do is dead??? Well let's store the body and get on with the next skit." Um.... wow. The last story was pretty cool, about some college students who were employees of a new mall that was getting ready to open who got stuck there when a blizzard hit. All in all the mysteries were good, it was just the way she kept the first two going that bugged me personally. All that said I truly believe that someone in their mid teens would enjoy this book.
May 2, 2018
I am not going to give a ton away in this review. I want the readers to have no spoilers going into this read. Twisted by Jo Gibson is a mystery, horror, YA book that will keep you on the edge of your seat as you read
There are three stories contained in these pages. My Bloody Valentine, The Séance, and Slay Bells. These stories give you Valentine’s Day, Halloween, and Christmas holiday thrills. I was on the edge of my seat reading this one. This might be aimed at teens but as an adult, I can say I loved this anthology if you like to be kept on the edge of your seat not knowing what will happen next, pick this one up. It is a thrilling read.
Five Shooting Stars
There are three stories contained in these pages. My Bloody Valentine, The Séance, and Slay Bells. These stories give you Valentine’s Day, Halloween, and Christmas holiday thrills. I was on the edge of my seat reading this one. This might be aimed at teens but as an adult, I can say I loved this anthology if you like to be kept on the edge of your seat not knowing what will happen next, pick this one up. It is a thrilling read.
Five Shooting Stars
November 24, 2021
I really enjoyed this collection of 3 books in one. Although I did notice each story was written in the same style, just different settings. Each teen gets a note and then they are picked off to die.
The best by far is Slay Bells. The Christmas setting, in a mall, killer santas and over the top cheesy deaths was perfect for me, especially reading in Nov.
I'd read more by this Author.
The best by far is Slay Bells. The Christmas setting, in a mall, killer santas and over the top cheesy deaths was perfect for me, especially reading in Nov.
I'd read more by this Author.
Currently reading
May 24, 2023It's Valentine's Day, and everyone at Hamilton High is excited about the big dance. Six girls are competing to be Queen of Hearts. Unfortunately, someone is taking aim at the contestants--and it's not Cupid. Unless Cupid is a deranged killer with a sharp knife and a deadly message. Be mine. . .or else. It took a bit of a twist it shocked me about one of the girls died.
Read
February 10, 20213 holiday horror books in 1:
Bloody Valentine - 3.5 stars. Valentine's Day.
Seance - Halloween. Have not read yet.
Slay Bells - 5 stars. Christmas.
Bloody Valentine - 3.5 stars. Valentine's Day.
Seance - Halloween. Have not read yet.
Slay Bells - 5 stars. Christmas.
May 6, 2021
Not a fan. Three stories this book and they are all similar. Not sure if I will read any more of her books.
May 17, 2022
Each story follows the same formula more or less but they weren’t inherently bad. I did enjoy guessing who the killer was.
February 11, 2019
All 3 stories in this bind up were the same story but with character and setting changes. The plotline were identical. Just the holiday was changed. And they all sucked. Would not recommend. If you see this book, run. Do not waste your time.
January 23, 2015
I read 2 books in the Twisted compilation (The Seance and My Bloody Valentine) by Jo Gibson in about 4 days (I have NOT read Slay Bells yet). Each short story is really fast paced and easy. Overall I would recommend this book to a friend, as it was enjoyable, however I did have some issues with it.
The stories are SO similar. It seems like between The Seance and My Bloody Valentine the only thing Gibson changed was the holiday, otherwise you basically have the same story (someone wants revenge, starts killing people but makes the deaths look accidental). The Amy and Jennifer characters were exactly the same.... the good girl who is nice to everyone, who initially is in love with the popular boy (Brett/Tommy) but then ends up liking the underdog (Danny/Tim), and has an outspoken best friend who eats a lot and somehow ends up with the popular guy her best friend used to like (Colleen/Lexie).
Another thing is that some of the dialogue, car brands and models, use of tape players, and the description of the fashions seem out of date, that's why I prefer when authors don't mention these things. Also, maybe because it was the 90s and heroin chic was "in," but I really did not like the emphasis on dieting and the "beautiful model face and skinny figure" that was basically every character. Plus both Amy and Jennifer's mothers were obsessed with dieting (another similarity between the 2 characters).
I liked how the books kept me guessing about who the killer could be. I switched my mind multiple times while reading and was satisfied with the killer in MBV, the motive was great. But in The Seance I felt like the killer could have been someone better and I was somewhat letdown. In MBV the character was guessable but in TS the killer could've been multiple people and therefore the reveal felt very anticlimactic and as though the author just closed her eyes and pulled a name out of a hat, which is a shame because I felt the motive was good.
The book was a fast read, however some of it was slow paced, with a lot of the dialogue seeming forced and cheesy. I think Gibson focused too much on making the characters sound like teenagers instead of just writing good dialogue.
The stories are SO similar. It seems like between The Seance and My Bloody Valentine the only thing Gibson changed was the holiday, otherwise you basically have the same story (someone wants revenge, starts killing people but makes the deaths look accidental). The Amy and Jennifer characters were exactly the same.... the good girl who is nice to everyone, who initially is in love with the popular boy (Brett/Tommy) but then ends up liking the underdog (Danny/Tim), and has an outspoken best friend who eats a lot and somehow ends up with the popular guy her best friend used to like (Colleen/Lexie).
Another thing is that some of the dialogue, car brands and models, use of tape players, and the description of the fashions seem out of date, that's why I prefer when authors don't mention these things. Also, maybe because it was the 90s and heroin chic was "in," but I really did not like the emphasis on dieting and the "beautiful model face and skinny figure" that was basically every character. Plus both Amy and Jennifer's mothers were obsessed with dieting (another similarity between the 2 characters).
I liked how the books kept me guessing about who the killer could be. I switched my mind multiple times while reading and was satisfied with the killer in MBV, the motive was great. But in The Seance I felt like the killer could have been someone better and I was somewhat letdown. In MBV the character was guessable but in TS the killer could've been multiple people and therefore the reveal felt very anticlimactic and as though the author just closed her eyes and pulled a name out of a hat, which is a shame because I felt the motive was good.
The book was a fast read, however some of it was slow paced, with a lot of the dialogue seeming forced and cheesy. I think Gibson focused too much on making the characters sound like teenagers instead of just writing good dialogue.
June 15, 2014
Twisted by Jo Gibson was a great Thriller/Horror book. It was three stories in one book: My Bloody Valentine, The Seance, and Slay Bells. It took three holidays, Valentines Day, Halloween and Christmas and put a horror spin on them and I thought each story was good. I really liked the fact that they were all holiday-themed. The stories seemed to me to be full length stories, not short stories. This makes for a great bargain, three books for the price of one.
I thought all three stories were really good. They reminded me of old fashioned horror movies, which I’m a big fan of. They weren’t gory or gruesome but by the descriptive writing the scariness came through. At times the tension was palpable and I found myself having to turn the pages to see what would happen next. The writing style flowed easily and the wording was very descriptive and added greatly to the stories.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Thriller/Horror books and old time horror movies. I think adults and young adults alike would enjoy this book. I will be getting more books by Jo Gibson to read.
I thought all three stories were really good. They reminded me of old fashioned horror movies, which I’m a big fan of. They weren’t gory or gruesome but by the descriptive writing the scariness came through. At times the tension was palpable and I found myself having to turn the pages to see what would happen next. The writing style flowed easily and the wording was very descriptive and added greatly to the stories.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Thriller/Horror books and old time horror movies. I think adults and young adults alike would enjoy this book. I will be getting more books by Jo Gibson to read.
July 5, 2014
This is a 3 in 1 murder/mystery/thriller book. Great read for anyone who enjoys suspense. There are 3 separate stories/books, My Bloody Valentine, The Séance and Slay Bells. I enjoyed the descriptive writing and suspense created. Each book had several “accidental” deaths involved with only the reader & killer knowing these “accidents” weren’t accidental. The killer’s identity was also mysterious until the end of the books. I enjoyed it and will recommend it to others!
NOTE: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion/review.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion/review.
August 25, 2016
spoilers?
All three books are the same story with minor adjustments.
There is a killer that leaves notes and makes the deaths looks accidental. Two stories had the characters stranded because of weather.
there should have been more originality in the books. I liked the first story. The second was too similar to the first for me to enjoy. The third story might as well be the exact same story as the second.
The characters were too superficial to be believable or relatable.
"People are being massacred but oh em gee, Tommy is so cute but maybe I'm in love with Tim."
I wasnt a fan.
All three books are the same story with minor adjustments.
There is a killer that leaves notes and makes the deaths looks accidental. Two stories had the characters stranded because of weather.
there should have been more originality in the books. I liked the first story. The second was too similar to the first for me to enjoy. The third story might as well be the exact same story as the second.
The characters were too superficial to be believable or relatable.
"People are being massacred but oh em gee, Tommy is so cute but maybe I'm in love with Tim."
I wasnt a fan.
October 28, 2014
While the plot was interesting, I found the reality to be stretched too thin to truly enjoy the stories.
December 27, 2015
Another creepy anthology!
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews