BOOK REVIEW: Twisted Pawn by L.J. Shen

Tierney

There’s a bullet with my name on it.

And Achilles Ferrante is the man who’ll pull the trigger.

I’d always known one of us would kill the other. I’d just hoped to do the honor.

Twice I betrayed him.

First, I broke his heart. Then, I sold him out to the Feds.

Even if I hadn’t, I doubt he could spell mercy, much less spare me any.

The Camorra prince promised he’d make a spectacle of my death when he caught me. Let him try.

He could chase me until the end of Earth.

I will always run faster.

Achilles

To love is to destroy, and I’d loved Tierney Callaghan far too long, and far too much.

She’s a fatal weakness, but unlike the Greek mythology warrior—I will remain undefeated.

My little flame can run fast, but my bullet is faster.

Once upon a time, she was the only person who saw my humanity.

She’s about to meet the monster everyone else is scared of.

My Thoughts (No Spoilers)

I was not ready for this book. Not even close.

This wasn’t just a dark romance—it was the kind of story that grips you by the throat, drags you into its world, and refuses to let go until you’re completely consumed. I went in expecting intensity… but what I got was something heavier, darker, and way more addictive than I anticipated.

From the very first chapter, the tension was immediate and suffocating—in the best way. There was no slow build. No easing into the story. It throws you straight into the fire and expects you to keep up.

The chemistry between the main characters? Completely chaotic. The kind of connection that feels volatile, like it could explode at any moment. It’s not soft. It’s not sweet. It’s intense, controlling, and at times… almost uncomfortable—but that’s what makes it so addictive.

L.J. Shen has a way of writing male leads that you know you shouldn’t fall for—and yet somehow, you do. He’s possessive, calculated, and unapologetically dominant. There were moments where I genuinely questioned my sanity for liking him… but then she gives you just enough vulnerability to keep you hooked. Just enough to make you believe there’s something deeper underneath all that darkness.

And the female lead? She’s not weak. She bends, but she doesn’t break—and that dynamic is what really drives the story. There’s a constant push and pull between power and surrender, and watching that unfold was honestly one of my favorite parts.

Emotionally, this book hits harder than you expect. Beneath all the obsession and control, there’s pain, trauma, and this underlying tension that keeps building the entire time. It’s messy. It’s complicated. And it doesn’t try to romanticize everything in a clean, pretty way.

This is the kind of book where you feel everything—tension, frustration, attraction, and that constant “I shouldn’t like this, but I do” energy.

And let’s talk about the pacing—it never drags. Every chapter adds something. Every interaction feels intentional. I kept telling myself “just one more chapter”… and suddenly it was 2am.

The Vibe

Dark. Obsessive. Addictive. Slightly unhinged.

Power-driven relationships. Emotional tension. Possession and control wrapped in undeniable chemistry.

This book feels like:

Late nights. Heavy tension. Quiet chaos.

The kind of romance that isn’t meant to be safe—it’s meant to consume you.

“He didn’t love softly. He consumed, ruined, and called it devotion.”