Twist: A Fairy Tale Awakening

Spindlewind Trilogy #2

by Genevieve Raas

What is the price of a soul? For the past nineteen years, Rumpelstiltskin has kept his promise. Tristan must never know the dark deal he made with his mother surrounded by straw and gold.

But keeping the truth from a curious Tristan is the least of his troubles. He can't escape the chill of bodiless eyes watching him…

When an Oracle confirms his greatest fear, she also confirms his greatest hope. A hope and desire he believed long dead.

Caught between love and fate, Rumpelstiltskin must decide if he will choose the path to protect his own soul, or save that of the woman he damned.

Genres: Fantasy, Fairy Tales

228 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 10, 2017

About the author

Genevieve Raas is an international bestselling author living in the US with her husband and rather haughty Chihuahua, Mr. Darcy. When she isn't writing dark fairytales or fantasy, you can find her plotting out her next travel destination.

A graduate from Indiana University, Genevieve holds a Master’s Degree in English and a Master’s Certificate in Professional Editing. She has taught university writing courses, and has worked as Lead Transcriber on several published anthologies, including: The Collected Stories of Ray Bradbury, Volume 2 and the New Ray Bradbury Review.

Now, she is venturing out on her own, into the wilds of untamed lands and untold stories.

Genevieve writes fantasy, dark fantasy, horror, and romance.

Reviews

[Nikki Landis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rarely do I find a sequel that outshines the first book in a series but TWIST is so expertly crafted and written that I was engrossed from page one all the way until the end. What a wonderful and unique spin on fairy tales and the story of Rumpelstiltskin. I thought I loved SPIN but this raised the bar to another level and I'm dying to get my hands on book 3 as soon as it releases.

Forget what you think you know of fairy tales. This tale will consume you and nearly drive you mad as you cheer on Laila and Rumple, spurred on by hope as they meet their match in Fate. Such a fantastic read! If you're a fan of romance and fantasy - this is one you simply MUST OWN.

Characters: 5/5
Plot: 5/5
Word Building: 5/5
Story Flow: 5/5

Picky Bitches OVERALL SCORE: 5/5

[D.H. Nevins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the continuation of Rumpelstiltskin’s story in this sequel to Spin. It takes place 19 years after Spin left off, and in that time, Rumpelstiltskin had combed the land and the heavens to try to find Laila. He finally acknowledges he was—and still is—deeply in love with her, and we can feel his pain. I don’t want to give away what had happened to Laila, as that will spoil the ending of the first book! And we can’t have that now, can we?
Okay, so in Twist, we find our weary, heartbroken protagonist living with Laila’s son, Tristan, his charge for the past 19 years.
There is plenty of tension as he tries to avoid the notice and clutches of his old enemy, Fate, and then adventure as he sets out to rescue Laila after learning she could possibly be alive. He can’t be sure if this is another trick of Fate’s, or if Laila truly lives.
There’s character tension too, when we witness R wanting to get closer to Tristan and show the boy that he still cares for him, yet fighting with his desire to simply withdraw. I found it well done and realistic to the nature of his character, even though his aloofness was frustrating at times.
Overall, this was a light, fun read that resolves nicely—all while still allowing for the continuation of the series. If you like books based in fairy tale fantasy with adventure and a love story, then you should give Twist a try!

[Rachael Tamayo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the first book in this series a while back and loved it. Fantasy is outside of my typical genre, but I was unable to resist this retelling of the classic fairytale Rumplestilskin. Twist is the second in a three-book series, and she takes the goblin that can spin straw into gold and make your dreams come true for a price and changes him into the ultimate anti-hero. A bad guy that wants to be good, that hates what he is, and is dead set on vindicating himself for being turned into the monster that he's become. Along the way, he meets Leila and she changes everything. At the end of book one she vanishes leaving Rumplestilskin alone to raise the child she wagered away in exchange to become queen. Twist starts nineteen years later. The boy now a man, and his mother a memory. Turns out she's alive- and this creature this magical man Rumplestilskin has become will be forced to choose what means the most to him. I really enjoyed this book and it was a nice break from some of the dark things that I fall into reading thrillers. Now, don't get me wrong, this isn't a lighthearted book- it's just different. Different in a good way. I recommend it to anyone that loves fairy tales with a twist. Really good read- and I can't wait for book three to come out on audio so I can find out what happens. You do need to read the first book in this series before this one- and you won't be sorry you picked it up.

[Rebecca Halstead · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love what the author has done with Rumpelstiltskin in this series! As I mentioned in my previous review of book one, I've been an avid lover of all things Rumpelstiltskin since I was a little girl (I guess I've always had a soft spot for charming bad boys who just need the right girl to come along and fix them, haha), so I'm on board with anything that involves him. The author has really put a unique twist on his character, and while I enjoyed the steamy, combative romance between him and Laila in the first book, I love that there's more time spent on him growing as a character in the second book.

Watching as this deeply flawed man with vulnerability/intimacy issues struggles to relate to his son and show him love was heartbreaking, especially knowing he's still grieving for the loss of the only person who really loved him, and I was just wanted to be there by his side helping him through his troubles. It was a wonderful character study, and I loved seeing a whole new side to a familiar character!

On the topic of nitpicks, I did feel as though Laila and Rumpelstiltskin jumped back into their relationship a little too quickly and easily, considering they've been separated for 19 years and so much has happened/changed in that time, but it wasn't enough of an issue to lower my rating.

Overall, this was a wonderful follow-up to Spin, and I so look forward to reading the last book in the series!

[M.T. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored book 1, so I couldn’t wait to dive in! The slight hesitations I had with book 2 had to do with starting off 19 years later, with my first reaction being: no, I want to know what happens next! Not to worry, all the twists and turns are beautifully woven in, there is no gap in the storyline, and we are filled in on what really took place in book 1’s ending…Another stunning book. Book 2 starts off with full speed on an intense adventure with our magic-wielding Rumpelstiltskin, un-aged and just as complex and enthralling as before, and in book 2 he goes through a wonderful transformation. Leila has a hard lot, with her own choices to live with. They both come to life on the pages. Powerful, dark, and memorable! Highly recommended.

[SA · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved, loved, loved it! The tale of Rumpelstiltskin continues to enchant as we get ready for his epic confrontation with Fate. I absolutely love how the author takes this very well known tale and makes a completely and utterly different twist on it with unique characters and plot twists. We get to know Tristan, Laila's son who is all grown up, and ready to face the world even as Rumpelstiltskin grieves for the loss of Laina. But, Fate has a destiny involving them all and they will have to bond together to escape his clutches. I can see that the last book in the series will take its spin on another well-known tale and I can't wait to read it.

[Wankumbu Chisale · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. It’s been 19 years and rumpelstilskin is still not a decent person😭😂😂 i feel like he thinks one good deed is enough to erase all the destruction his actions left behind. It doesn’t work that way babe😩😂😂 also, I like Laila in this book. She paid her dues and I can’t stay mad at her anymore. The only decent person here is Tristan. He is just a victim of the choices of these awful people. Fate. Fate is honestly terrifying. They are one of the most terrifying villains I’ve ever read. All this and for what? To control some humans day in day out? That sounds exhausting😭Just rest.

[Brianna York · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful! A must read!

[Saba · Rating 3 out of 5]

2,5 Sterne

[Nadja · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first I was leery that this books picks up 19 years after the first lets off--I mean, the whole hook from the end of book 1 was how Rumple was destroyed by his own actions and his regret over what happened to Laila. The flash forward works to Raas' advantage, however, in that the passion between the two seems like it picks up right where it left off, so we didn't have to go through two decades of unrequited love. I'm particularly looking forward to seeing Tristan's role evolve in the next installment.