Twisted Heathens

A Dark Reverse Harem Romance (Blackwood Institute, Book 1)

De: J Rose

Narrado por: Bridget Bordeaux, Grant Armstrong

From the bestselling author of Sabre Security and Briar Valley comes a dark, found family why choose romance featuring a self-destructive heroine and the tortured men determined to save her from herself.

WELCOME TO BLACKWOOD INSTITUTE.

WHERE BAD GIRLS COME TO DIE.

Murderer. Unhinged. Remorseless. Insane.

I’ve been called it all while rotting away in a maximum security psych ward, imprisoned for my crimes. When I’m given a chance to escape this hell, it’s an offer I can’t refuse.

I’m transferred to Blackwood Institute, purgatory for the dangerous and disturbed. The deal is simple. Complete the three-year experimental program and you’re free to leave.

I have no such intentions. People like me; we’re born to die. There’s no life for me out there. I’ll do whatever it takes to end my pitiful existence.

This time, nobody can stop me. Not even the four fellow patients with dark secrets and damage that rivals my own.

A tight lipped cutter.

A manic nymphomaniac.

A possessive control freak.

A shadowy ghost from my past.

The clock is ticking. If I’m not careful, the demons that frequent these blood-stained halls will get to me before I can take my own life.

Game on.

Author's Note: Twisted Heathens is a dark, contemporary reverse harem romance set in an experimental mental health institution. This is book one in the trilogy and it does end on a cliffhanger. Set in the J Rose shared universe.

©2021 Wilted Rose Publishing Limited (P)2025 Wilted Rose Publishing Limited

Twisted and spicy

Duel Narration: Bridget Bordeaux & Grant Armstrong

Male narrator was new to me, Bridget is not both did great as Brooklyn and the main male characters Elijah, Hudson. Kade and Phoenix. All the characters have their own vices and dark past. They all are dealing with something that makes lash out, withdraw and act irrational. Twisted is a good way to describe the things that go on in the Institute they are all in. And this is just the start.

Amazing narration

This story keeps you on the edge of your seat. I love some good jaw dropping moments and this has them.

Grant Armstrong and Bridget Bordeaux did a PHENOMENAL job narrating this audiobook! To maintain all those voices and personalities is tough. Absolutely loved it!!!

What a ride 👀

I went into this audiobook completely blind, and I’m so glad I did. I was captivated from chapter one. I HAD to know more about the characters. The way the author wrote their pain was so raw. Their reasons for being in Blackwood are dark and disturbing, but it was honest and real.

Each character was different in their own way. They were going through their own pain from tortured pasts and the way they dealt with it was a lot to take in.

My heart broke for these characters. The more you learn about their pasts, the more you understand why they react the way they do.

I’ll be honest, I enjoyed that ending to book 1. Good riddance in my opinion 😮‍💨

The narrators did a wonderful job of bringing this story to life. To give these characters a voice. I was so sucked in and felt like the audio really gave me a better understanding of the pain and suffering these characters went through every day, whether it be physical or mental.

Blackwood Institute, Book 1

This is an intensely dark and twisted story. Please check your trigger warning before listening to or reading this book.

The story takes place in Blackwood Institute, an experimental mental health hospital. This is a RH and is in-depth and entrancing with complex characters. Eli, Phoenix, Brooklyn, Hudson, and Kade slowly get to know and rely on each other as the story progresses. Each character has their own issues and traumas that you learn about, little by little, as the story goes.on.

It does end in a cliffhanger and waiting on the next book to come to audio will be a hard wait.

The narrators, Bridget Bordeaux and Grant Armstrong, did an amazing job on this book and all the different voices.

Twisted Heathens

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

~Twisted Heathens~Blackwood Institute #1~J. Rose~

~Narration~Bridget Bordeaux & Grant Armstrong~

"We’re like two broken shards of glass, smashed and scattered beyond repair. As the pieces mingle together, you can’t tell which bit came from where. It doesn’t even matter anymore. You just have a worthless mess, but it’s still irreplaceable."

♡This was my first read by J.Rose & I can't wait to dive into the rest of this series! A dark RH set in a mental health facility what more could a dark romance lover want? Bridget did an amazing job bringing our independent, strong, & mouthy FMC Brooklyn to life! Grant was a perfect narrator fit for our 4 MMC (YES 4!!) & brought them all to life perfectly!

Phoenix, Hudson, Eli, & Kade were all very unique in their own way, with past trauma to haunt them & what is Brooklyn to do when they all want her?? Will Brooklyn let her demons win?

This story was a spicy, raw, twisty dark psychological rollercoaster that I didn't want to get off of! And that ending had me on the edge of my seat! I'm so excited to see what Book 2 has in store!♡

~As Always Happy Reading~

Heavy Hitter

HEAVY READ.

Definitely need to pay attention with this book. Lots of information, details and plot. You could get lost if you dont pay attention. This is not a fluffy read. Heavy with triggers (for those that have some).

I love how she let you see into the minds of the characters, their demons and all.

I am curious to see how this all plays out and the bomb at the end of this book. Im ready for book 2.

Emotional and HOLY CLIFFHANGER!!

Oh this was a great start to this series! I started reading and listening to J Rose this year and I'm just loving all the series I have been getting into. This one is definitely a top one right now. I was drawn in from the beginning and was not ready for this book to end, especially with the CLIFFHANGER!!

The narrators Bridget Bordeaux and Grant Armstrong did an amazing job telling this story. Their voices kept me entertained and held my attention through the entire audiobook.

Each character in this book are so different and make it so easy for you to care about each one of them. They all have so much trauma and have a lot of healing to do. Brooklyn is a give no F's kind of character that has been through a lot. She has a softer side she keeps hidden but shows to some when needed.

I loved the back stories we get and the mystery around the institute. This book will keep you wanting more and wanting to help all these characters. One of the characters I just wanted to give him tons of hugs and give him a little more attention then the others. This is a must read series and I can't wait to continue and see what's gonna happen next. I highly recommend this book.

Traumatic Pasts and excellent narration

I don't know what I just read/listened to, but boy was it intriguing, dark, twisted, and all-consuming.

Twisted Heathens is the first book in the Blackwood Institute series and it is the second series I'm diving into from J. Rose. She has a whole dang universe dedicated to mental institutions and the darkness included within those walls. Easter eggs galore. You can read them in any order, but the Blackwood Institute trilogy is where it all starts.

This story and this world will not be for everyone. You will encounter characters that have dark pasts that have brought them to the institutions, but is there something else at play?
Brooklyn finds herself at Blackwood where unconventional therapy is supposed to lead the members of the institute into a sort of rehabilitation for re-entry into society. There, she encounters 4 men that soon play a huge role in her new life within the institution. She longs to end her life with her dark past and voices in her head, but will Kade, Hudson, Eli and Phoenix change her mind with their newfound relationships?

I wasn't sure what to expect from this first book in the Blackwood Institute besides the Why Choose factor. But after reading the Harrowdean Manor, I knew there was going to be so much more than a physical relationship with the group of characters. The story is slow to build and we get a lot of history to what brought the characters to the institute and the darkness they carry within themselves. Their traumatic pasts could be triggering for many, but had me filled with anger and sorrow.

Twisted Heathens leads us into a world that is gritty, dark and filled with pasts that would break the weak. But even though Brooklyn, Kade, Hudson, Eli and Phoenix may be broken, they find strength in each other and their pain. I found the different personalities all worked to build separate relationships and soon, in essence, a "found family" aspect that turned into so much more. They are complex characters dealing with not only their traumatic pasts, but now something a bit sinister in the mystery surrounding the institution that we only have scraped the surface of.

The story may have lulled in some parts, but with the phenomenal narration from Bridget Bordeaux and Grant Armstrong, I was always fully pulled into the story. The different accents and the pain they brought to their characters made me feel even more invested in the journey of the 5 main characters. Because when they all finally come together as one, it was at the perfect time to get that rush.
I definitely had favorites (my poor Eli) and not so favorites (darn Hudson) that changed over time when they allowed themselves to open up and be vulnerable, but that ending? Holy crap! That ripped my soul out and now has me waiting for the next book.

If you are an audiobook listener that loves a great performance with a story that includes dark and dysfunctional characters with traumatic pasts, then I would definitely say to check this book and this universe out. J. Rose goes THERE with a rawness that is tangible and connections that are vulnerable, yet steamy and messed up in a way that you can't look away from. Just take heed of all the trigger warnings. And I dare you not to be utterly devastated, yet hopeful by the ending and needing the next book like yesterday.

I hope the next book in the series will become available on audible soon

I've read the physical books in this series but listening to this one made the experience more enjoyable.

hauntingly dark and beautifully broken masterpiece

oh my heathens- that was heavy.
i think i have been irrevocably changed by this book. it was so hauntingly dark and broken, yet i continue screaming for them all to push through to the pinpricks of light. this story is not for the faint of heart, but it is one i recommend everyone should experience. the mystery behind this institution is addictive, and the storyline being told through the eyes of unreliable narrators/povs- its so unique and ive never experienced anything quite like it. the mental illness representation is gut wrenching, and and heartbreaking. the deep rooted trauma that these characters have experienced and endured hurts to even imagine- yet all their jagged and broken pieces are starting to fit each other through. the bonds of this found family absolutely wrecked me, but their toxically healing love was truly addictive.

bridgete bordeaux and grant armstrong put their everything into this narration. it was truly and unequivocally a masterpiece. i both equally want to dive into the next book with my eyeballs, yet the narration was so gobsmackingly amazing that i equal parts will be waiting until the audio releases for it.

huge thank you to valentine pr and j rose for allowing the opportunity to receive an ALC of twisted heathens!

tropes: dark romance, reverse harem, why choose, mm in the harem, experimental psych ward, mental health rep, forced proximity, they fall first
vibes: dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced
Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

Content Warnings*

the trigger warnings list for this book is long and explicit. a full and complete list is available on the authors website- be sure to review them prior to reading!

Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Blood, Car accident, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment