Twisted Shadows

October 1, 2024

Therin's urban fantasy series returns to empath Reece and secret agent Evan Grayson as they continue to investigate several murders that seem to be connected to empathy. Reece's abilities are changing and becoming potentially dangerous, making it more important than ever that Agent Grayson maintain his impartiality and his ability to stop Reece if he becomes too much of a threat. Grumpy Reece and outwardly impassive Agent Grayson maintain close quarters as they investigate a series of empath murders, testing their boundaries even as their romantic attraction grows. The safety of not only the nation's empaths but every American depends on Reece's ability to control his new abilities or, if he fails, on Agent Grayson's will to stop him at any cost. VERDICT Will satisfy those looking for more momentum in the series' central romance as well as fans compelled by the investigation. Second-act revelations will have readers clamoring for the next installment; those new to the series should begin with book one, Liar City.--Meagan Day

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October 15, 2024
Known as the Dead Man, Evan Grayson is devoid of human emotions. This makes Evan a valuable member of the Empath Initiative, which has a sole purpose, to keep empaths, who by touching another human feel and manipulate their emotions, from becoming corrupt and therefore dangerous. Evan, however, has discovered that not all empaths are the same after he crossed paths with Reece Davies, since Reece can evoke at least one emotion in Evan, desire. Now the murder of another empath in Vermont brings Reece back into Evan's orbit, and Evan experiences yet another emotion, the feeling that he must protect Reece at all costs. With the second vividly imagined installment in her Sugar & Vice series, Therin picks things up right where she left them in Liar City (2023), immersing readers in an intriguing, paranormal-shaded version of the U.S. while, at the same time, significantly heating things up between Evan and Reece as they move from being flirting friends to having sizzling sexual contact.

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October 21, 2024
In the spellbinding second Sugar and Vice fantasy romance, Therin builds on both the slow-burning tension between empath Reece Davis and empath-hunter Evan Grayson and the governmental corruption at the heart of their dystopian world. After the events of Liar City, Reece is now in a precarious and unprecedented position, hovering between remaining a pacifist—an empath’s natural state—and becoming fully corrupted, a dangerous state in which empaths become violent and take others in their “thrall.” Meanwhile, Grayson, also known as the “Dead Man” due to his unique immunity to empathic powers, tracks empath murders across the country while trying to ensure Reece’s safety. Therin keeps the romance at a tantalizing simmer, continuing to heighten anticipation for when the dam breaks between these two. Though the numerous abbreviated governmental organizations involved in the surveillance and control of empaths can become a bit difficult to track, the worldbuilding is laudably intricate and fascinating and returning readers should get back up to speed quickly. The result is an exciting, action-packed sequel that entirely lives up to the promise of the original. Agent: Laura Zats, Headwater Literary.