Reviews

Evil Twin by Kati Wilde

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rachtpw's review

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emotional lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? N/A
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.0

jacquelinec's review

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adventurous emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

If you're going to write a book about scheming and palace intrigue and you name the series Villains in Love, I feel like you have to go all the way. And unfortunately, I don't think Wilde got far enough.

I liked that the book wanted to touch on villainy, but without going all the way into dark romance. But, I think there was room for the villainy to be greatly enhanced while staying outside of that sub-genre. The characters are certainly not morally perfect but they're not that evil either? And then I'm left thinking, what's the point about a villainous book if the main couple isn't all that villainous?

I think this compounds into problems for the romance. The carriage scene is very hot but again, if the draw to the book, and the foundation to the relationship, is that the couple is supposed to be 'villains in love' and they're not really villains, then the relationship isn't really that strong either. I think it doesn't help that the MMC is more fleshed out than the FMC.

I also feel like I missed some references about the background of this fantasy world, like what the status is, what the different kingdoms are, and so on. Is there a secret book before this one that wasn't listed in the blurb?

The idea itself was strong (especially with the twist and the possibility of some cool palace intrigue), but I think the idea needed stronger villains and more development to reach its full potential.

There's dub-con at the beginning of the book and mentions of an abusive family. Wilde talks more about the content warning at the beginning of the book. It's a steamy, dual POV read.

lifeand100books's review

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5.0

Dual virgin MCs? Check.
Evil twins? Check.
Carriage sex whilst being paralyzed by poison? Check.
Idiot rulers losing their kingdoms to competent rulers? Check.
A grumpy war general of a man who falls HEAD-OVER-HEELS in love for his wife? Check.

LOVEDDDDDDDDDDD it.

Bane is this MASSIVE general who has fought in wars against an evil and magical scourge, while his twin brother gets to rule a kingdom being lazy, incompetent, and selfish. Bane is who the people need and deserves someone who can keep him on his toes. The woman he falls in love with is all that and WAY more. SUCH a great pairing. And such a good story. (I don't want to say too much more about who Bane falls in love with, as it's a plot twist!)

*Special thanks to Kati Wilde for my copy*

nikkieliz13's review

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3.0

Rating: 3.75 Stars
POV(s): Dual—Third Person
Relationship: M/F
Genre(s): Fantasy Romance, Novella

❥

”He’d had a plan, but now he gladly followed hers. He’d intended to be a king, but now he only cared to be her king.”

Bane and Echo are a power couple, which is why I’m sad that we barely see said dynamic on page. The romance definitely takes precedence over showcasing them teaming up to destroy their enemies—which fair enough, this is a romance—but it’s so difficult to find books with power couples that I’m greedy for the content. I still loved this story, but I want more.

❥

Title:[b: “Evil Twin” by Kati Wilde]
Interconnected Series: Shared Universe w/ Kati Wilde’s The Dead Lands series.
Standalone: Yes
Cliffhanger: No
HEA:

Spoiler

Yes

Triggers: Yes

Spoiler

Author’s CW: “•references to war and battle
•violence against fantasy monsters that were once people
•emotionally abusive family dynamics, including mentions of forcing a character into an environment where a magical, narcotic-like effect dampened her mental faculties.“

Tags/Tropes:
➢ Arranged/Forced-Marriage
➢ Fast-Burn
➢ Magic
➢ Marriage-of-Convenience
➢ Medieval-esque-Setting
➢ MCs-Live-in-Sibling’s-Shadow
➢ Mistaken-Identity
➢ Power-Couple
➢ Royalty
➢ Virgin-FMC
➢ Virgin-MMC
➢ War-General-MMC

madrona's review

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

c4nd1e's review

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4.0

1st read: August 2021
2nd read: August 2023

This is a really cute novella. I like both main characters and how they grew together, even if it was pretty quick.

********************
Original review:
Silly and sweet novella set in Kati Wilde's Dead Lands universe.