Twisted Magic, Volume 1: Twisted, Books 1-11

By: Jo Ho

Narrated by: Allyson Voller

Length: 29 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's Summary

"I just wanted to be normal, but the day college started a supernatural world opened up. Now I don't know who to trust...or even if I'll survive the night."

A new urban fantasy series from the award-winning screenwriter of ground-breaking BBC TV series Spirit Warriors.

Marley Gray is just an ordinary girl when she moves to a new city to start college. She doesn't know that magic even exists, much less that she is the descendant of one of the most powerful witches to have ever walked the earth. As far as she knows, she has classes to sign up for, parties to attend, and an overprotective father to avoid.

Along the way, Marley discovers roommate Cassie might just be the oddest - if richest - girl she's ever met. Then there's Eve, the older girl with a mysterious past who hides her true face under layers of makeup and a bitchy attitude. Thank God for Tyler, who seems nice even though she's just suffered the worse kind of loss that anyone can.

When a night out ends with them all thrown together for the first time, something happens that no one expected. Something magical. And suddenly, they discover they each have been gifted with strange new powers - but why? And who is the mysterious, good-looking stranger who seems to know far more than he is telling them?

In no time, the girls find themselves in a desperate race against a powerful enemy who - in his centuries-old quest for revenge - could destroy not only the city of Boston, but quite possibly the world.

Can they work together to overcome their demons before all hell breaks loose?

Written like your favorite CW or Netflix show, expect thrills, heart-racing romance, as well as epic twists and turns that will keep you guessing!

Saving the world has never been this twisted!

©2018 Jo Ho (P)2019 Jo Ho

Excellent Paranormal Series!

This outstanding book series is written in a TV series format. Each book represents a week's episode. I'm a huge fan of the old "Charmed" TV series and "Vampire Diaries". I"m delighted to find a new series that I enjoy so much. I absolutely loved everything about this series.

The narration was well done and brought the story to life.

The story is about four girls, Marley, Cassie, Taylor, and Eve. There are multiple points of view being shown so we get a good idea of what is going on and how each character feels about multiple situations. There is usually cliffhangers at the end of each book and a major cliffhanger in the last book as well. I'm hoping this book will become a TV series, because I know I would absolutely love it! I was hooked from book 1 and I'm so looking forward to volume number two!

The author does an excellent job developing the characters and describing situations where you feel like you are part of the story. This is a new author for me, but I'm definitely going to look up more of her books. I really enjoyed her writing style.

"I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review."

2 people found this helpful

Good - but for those cliffhangers...

First of all, it's a good story, with characters that feel real, all of them being rather ambiguous, showing both the good and the bad in them, the four girls especially so... One moment you like them a lot, the next you start wondering why they seem so self-centered, uncaring, sometimes downright foolish, and at yet another moment you feel compassion for them.... The tale is as twisted as the title suggests, nothing is obvious, nothing and nobody stays totally good or totally evil. And that's what makes you listen on to the story.

The biggest drawback? CLIFFHANGERS! Right from the start the books in the box set feel like episodes of a TV series - each book ending abruptly, forcing you to jump to the next to find out what happens then... At the end of the box set the author herself explains that it's a series intended for TV, and I can easily imagine it on screen, as both the plot and the world created are indeed very filmy, very cinematic... I do hope one day it will be put on screen as it would definitely make a good show. BUT when I read my books I like to have a complete story, or at least each book in a series to have a smaller plot completed in that one individual book, with a larger plot continuing throughout the series... Otherwise I feel cheated somehow... And this set is just season one - you get to the middle of the story and that's it - another cliffhanger waiting for you there...

That's why it's only 4 and not 5 stars for the story.

As for the narration, I generally like it a lot ; the voices are well done, the emotions ring true. The only thing that makes me again give it 4 not 5 stars is the speed of Ms Voller's reading - it's definitely too slow, I sped it up quite a bit (after all, it's over 29 hours of listening material....).

DISCLAIMER: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

1 person found this helpful

More One Long Book

I was excited to start listening to Twisted Magic, obviously for the story line, but I liked that each of the 11 stories were little story nuggets. I thought I could sit down and knock one out in a short sitting. However, I found that each story lead me right into the next story. There was maybe a slight conclusion at the end of the "book," but really I found it to be more the end of a section or part. I adjusted to that format after the end of the third book. The story itself is great. It combines magic and religious hints. The first book is a huge intro to characters, and at first I had a hard time keeping everyone straight, but that ironed itself the further I listened. I found the characters were very unique and not stereotypes that are often portrayed in books. The stories were exciting, and the cliffhangers at the end of each book immediately strung me into the next book. The 11 "books" though made listening to 30 hours of story much more manageable.

Allyson Voller did a great job with the narration. With all the characters, she manages the various voices well.

I received a copy of this audiobook at my request, and I have voluntarily left this review.

1 person found this helpful

This NEEDS to be made into a TV show!

This book, this story, the entire adventure was absolutely AMAZING!

From the first chapter, I was absolutely engulfed by the captivating narrative and incredible storyline.

I felt like I was watching the story play out as if I was just laying on my couch binging it on Netflix! (Which absolutely needs to happen, btw.)

If you’ve looked at this book and been on the fence about it, take the leap... it’s well worth it!

1 person found this helpful

Way to go!

This set starts out with 4 girls going off to college, nothing else strange going on in their lives. Things don't stay that way for long though. A seemingly normal night at a college party changes the girls forever. As the story continues, real world problems are addressed in a relatable way. I personally connected with the girls through these issues and was rooting for them. I can't wait to hear more from them!!

*I requested this book and am voluntarily leaving this review

1 person found this helpful

Fantastic series

I was very pleasantly surprised at how good this series was. It reminded me of a few tv series but in a good way. The characters were very well done and it kept you involved and wanting to hear more. The narrator did a great job of bringing the world and characters to life. Well worth a credit. I was given a free copy of this audio in return for an unbiased review.

1 person found this helpful

LOVED IT!

I loved it! The narration was great and kept me entertained. If you like tv programs like the vampire diaries then you'll enjoy this series. The author does a great job with the character builds and plot. Each episode ends with a cliffhanger that will keep you wanting more. This was not my first book by this author and definitely not my last. I look forward to reading more of her books. I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

1 person found this helpful

can't wait for book 12!!

The suspense is killing me! Love this book set!Can't wait for book 12!!!I Wish all book series came in book sets like this!

Awesome series!

I listened to this night after night until I finished all 11 books and I cannot wait for the next book in the series! The narrator does a fantastic job with all the voices and emotions. The books are well-written with diverse, fully-developed characters. There's a ton of action and supernatural elements. I'd actually love to see this made into a TV series. Jo Ho is a new author to me. I first read/listened to her Chase Ryder series and moved on to this one fairly quickly. I'll definitely be purchasing more of her work.

Twisted Magic

Pretty good. I wasn't desperate to listen, but when it was on I wasn't desperate to turn it off. It was good to have running in the background, but didn't require much focus to follow the story. The powers were interesting but I feel like maybe this would appeal more to teen girls. Not a bad book, to be sure, but not epic. Entertaining.

I was given this book for free and I give this unbiased review of my own accord.