Thanks for stopping at my blog! Today I;m sharing my review on Twisted Sisters by Kimber Leigh Wheaton. There is also an excerpt, music playlist, character interview and giveaway at the end as well. I highly encourage everyone to read The Orion Circle because it's a great YA Paranormal series.
Author: Kimber Leigh Wheaton
Series: The Orion Circle #2
Age: Young Adult
Genres: Paranormal
Publication Date: October 27, 2015
Publisher: Sea Dragon Press
Source: Received an e-book from the author
Purchase: Amazon |
Synopsis:
It’s a child’s toy—what could go wrong?
While playing with a spirit board, two sorority sisters summon the vindictive spirits of three women brutally murdered by a psychopath. Join Logan, Kacie, and the rest of the Orion Circle as they delve into the disturbing events of the past to find the key to freeing the spirits.
But this isn’t any ordinary haunting. These ghosts were banished before, and now they have returned more powerful than anyone could have imagined. Anger breeds hatred and hatred leads to darkness—these phantoms are on the verge of losing their last spark of humanity and becoming completely lost to the shadows.
Can Logan and Kacie convince the tortured souls to embrace the light and move on, or will the spirits succumb to the hypnotic pull of evil, leading to an eternity of torment and suffering?
My Rating:
Excerpt
PrologueA Child’s Toy
Sunlight filtered through the sliding glass door, shining on the brown spirit board spread out on the antique oak table. A bright blue box emblazoned with the words Fun for all Ages sat beside it, along with an instruction sheet. One girl twirled the planchette with her fingers while watching her friend read the instructions aloud. A child’s game bought at a toy store. What harm could it do? These two girls were about to find out that sometimes evil existed in the most innocent of packages.
“Okay, so it says to rest your fingers on that piece,” Melissa said as she tossed the instruction sheet aside.
“If we put our fingers on it, then how do we know that we didn’t move the thing?” Kendra asked, placing the planchette in the middle of the board.
“I don’t know,” Melissa said, rolling her dark eyes. “Did you want to try it or not?”
“Sure, why not.” Kendra released a bored sigh that turned into a yawn. “Why are we up so damn early?”
“I wanted to get an early start.” Melissa’s shoulders scrunched up into a sheepish shrug. “Lots of time until dark, you know, in case…”
“It’s a toy, Melissa,” Kendra said with a snort of laughter.
“Maybe, maybe not.”
“You’re totally kidding, right?” Kendra stared at her friend from the corner of her eye.
Melissa kept a straight face for a few more seconds, then burst into laughter. “Fooled you!”
“Childish much?”
“Okay, just put your fingertips on this thingy.” Melissa placed her fingers on the planchette before giving a pointed look to her friend.
“I feel kinda stupid,” Kendra said as she placed her fingers on the opposite side of the planchette. “So, ah, if there are any spirits who want to communicate, we’re here.”
“Wow, that was dull.” Melissa took a deep breath. “Spirits across the hazy veil. We call to you from beyond the pale.”
“What was that?” Kendra asked, raising her brow.
“Just a little drama.” Both girls stared at their hands which stayed unmoving. “I call to thee spirits for we are here. Any spirit nearby is welcome to appear.”
The planchette began to vibrate and wiggle.
“Are you doing that?” Kendra asked in a shaky voice.
“No,” Melissa whispered back. “Shh! It’s starting to move.”
“Is a spirit here with us?” Kendra called out to the empty room.
The planchette jumped a bit before sliding to the word, yes. But it didn’t stop there. Before either girl could think to ask another question, it shot across the board, flying from letter to letter. Both Kendra and Melissa snatched their hands away from the shuddering, plastic pointer.
Kill, kill, kill. Over and over again.
“Who are you?” Melissa shrieked the question as an invisible wind blew her long hair around her body.
Amy.
“Amy?” The whipping air died with Kendra’s question. Both girls trembled as the planchette moved to yes.
Tracy.
“There are two of you?” Melissa’s face paled. Cabinet doors opened and slammed closed in rapid succession.
Renee, kill…
The planchette paused. Kendra took a breath to ask another question, but before the words reached her lips, the planchette spelled out a new word.
M…u…r…d…e…r.
“Murder?”
Goosebumps spread up Kendra’s arms after she spoke. She hugged her arms around her body, trying to chase away the bitter chill. Dishes flew from the cabinets, smashing to the floor one after the other. Kendra pushed her chair from the table and fled the room. Drinking glasses from the cupboards flew across the room, hitting the wall where Kendra’s head had been just moments before.
Us.
“You were murdered?” Melissa asked through a gasped breath. She clutched the edge of the table with white knuckles, too scared to move. Pieces of shattered pottery lifted from the floor on an invisible whirlwind, blowing around the terrified girl.
Yes, murder. Free, free, free.
Kacie Ramsey's Interview of Logan Finley
Hi! My name is Kacie Ramsey. Kimber Leigh told my story in Tortured Souls. Since I was kind of the star in that book, I'd like to introduce you to my boyfriend, Logan Finley. He's my rock in Tortured Souls and in life (lately anyway). As I become more involved with the Orion Circle, he keeps me from becoming completely lost. He's also responsible for my training. See, the Orion Circle is more than just ghost hunts. I'm learning Tae Kwon Do on a rather intense schedule—one year to black belt. Crazy, huh! Weapons training is also a must. Wooden stakes are so 1700s. I chose silver daggers. They work on vampires and werewolves. Yep the myths are true, werewolves are weak against silver. With vampires, destroy the heart and they're toast. A sharp dagger works better than a wooden stake—though I've only practiced on a dummy.K: Thanks for agreeing to the interview, Logan.
L: Anything for you, Kacie.
K: You're a physical medium like me. Tell our audience what that is, exactly?
L: On the most basic level, I can see, hear, and communicate with ghosts.
K: What do the ghosts look like?
L: Well that depends on how powerful the spirit is, and how they wish to be perceived. The newly dead tend to appear in their death state, as a translucent image. I think it takes a while for a ghost to realize that they're capable of changing their appearance. Residual spirit energy normally appears as wispy, silver images. Every once in a while I come across a spirit powerful enough to manifest so thoroughly that they appear human.
K: How old were you when you saw your first ghost?
L: I don't remember, but my mom said I was babbling at the spirits when I was still a baby.
K: Your mom and dad are both clairvoyant as well. What are their abilities?
L: My mom is a sensitive, which means she can feel energy and emotions around her. Even if she can't see a spirit, she can feel its presence through the energy. She's also a Wiccan high-priestess descended from a long line of witches. Mom has a natural affinity with plants. They speak to her, and she instinctively knows how to mix the most amazing potions. My dad is a physical medium and prolific author.
K: You have another psychic ability you tend to keep a secret. Will you share?
L: As you know, I'm nowhere near as strong a physical medium as you are, Kacie. I believe it's because I possess a second ability that pulls on my energy. I have little control over this ability, which I find infinitely annoying.
K: It's nothing to be ashamed of. I think it's really cool!
L: Fine… I'm a diviner. I have visions of the future, sometimes just by brushing up against someone. I never know when it's going to happen. Not to mention, the visions aren't always clear. Remember when I had that one about you when we were at The King's Ransom Inn. I knew you were in trouble but had no clue why or how to help. I hate feeling helpless.
K: You have an awesome car— a Mustang Shelby GT500 that sports an equally impressive price sticker. Tell us how you managed to snag that car.
L: I tell fortunes…
K: What was that? I couldn't hear you.
L: I read Tarot cards for the rich and famous. My client list is secret, so don't bother asking.
Twisted Sisters Playlist
“We’re Not Gonna Take It” by Twisted Sister“Indestructible” by Disturbed
“Cirice” by Ghost
“Stardust” by Gemini Syndrome
“Monster” by Skillet
“Untraveled Road” by Thousand Foot Krutch
“If I Die Young” by The Band Perry
“Eyes of a Stranger” by Queensryche
“Failure” by Breaking Benjamin
“Finally Free” by Stitched Up Heart
“The Otherside” by Red Sun Rising
“In Ruins” by Theory of a Dead Man
“My Demons” by Starset
“Afterlife” by Avenged Sevenfold
My Thoughts
Oh my this was really good! I loved this book. Kimber Leigh Wheaton has a way with words for sure. Her characters and the paranormal aspects are written so extremely well that you can't put the book down. Twisted Sisters is the 2nd book in The Orion Circle series, with Tortured Souls being the first book in the series.This follows Kacie, Logan and the whole Orion Circle after the Foxblood Demon. Kacie is still the shy, yet bold girl from book 1. I enjoyed seeing her grow and come into her powers. Logan is still hot headed, but I totally loved seeing a vulnerable side of him throughout the book. He was knocked down many times, both emotionally and physically. I also love that Logan got himself his own familiars. I enjoyed every single character in the Orion Circle because they all were able to feel defeated a few times in this book, but never gave up.
The spirits in this book were unlike the Foxblood Demon. They were three sorority sisters: Tracy, Amy and Renee, who were tortured and killed in their sorority house by their beloved professor. Their story has unbelievably insane! I couldn't believe how these girls were killed. Once more, I couldn't believe that Tracy had so much hatred. The girls came back through a spirit board and decided to wreck havoc on the girls in their sorority house.
I love how Kacie was determined to help these women cross over. Thankfully two of them did cross over. Tracy seemed to be the worst of them all, but after learning about her journal and finding out her relationship with the crazy professor I can see why she'd be so angry with everyone. I enjoyed Angela as well, being that she was the only person alive during the time of the sorority sisters murder.
There was so much action, love and drama within this book that it kept me on my toes. It wasn't as creepy and scary as Tortured Souls (the first book), but it was just as good. It was a great quick read and thoroughly enjoyed it! If you're into YA paranormal, supernatural or mystery books I definitely recommend this and the whole series.
Author Bio
Kimber Leigh Wheaton is a bestselling YA author with a soft spot for sweet romance. In addition to writing, she works as an editor for two publishers, as well as select indie authors. She is married to her soul mate, has a teenage son, and shares her home with three dogs and lots of dragons. Kimber Leigh is addicted to romance, video games, superheroes, villains, and chocolate—not necessarily in that order. (If she has to choose, she’ll take a chocolate covered superhero!) Winner of the 2014 Rising Star Award at the BTS Red Carpet Awards in NOLA & a Silver Medal for YA Mystery/Horror in the 2015 Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards.
Giveaway
Have you read this book?