Lola Smirnova
Publisher: Quickfox Publishing
Publication Date: January 26, 2014
Book Description
Back in the 90’s, the corrupt post-Soviet Ukraine with its
faltering economy, is thrown into a devastating depression. Times are hard.
Three naïve young sisters – Natalia, Lena and Julia - dream of a better life, and weigh their options: do they stay and struggle like their parents, or join scores of their compatriots in the sex trade in glittering western European cities, who earn in a night what they’d take several months to earn at home?
For sensible, resilient and calculating Lena and Natalia, the transition to the underworld of Luxembourg’s deceptive champagne bars is eye-opening, but smooth. But for fragile, brittle Julia, haunted by a childhood assault, the change is more than just vocational. Struggling to adapt, she turns to alcohol and drugs, exposing herself to increasing danger and depravity; and, ultimately, betrayal, when a deceitful client, who claims to love her, drugs her and cleans her out.
Despite her sisters’ best efforts to intervene, she finds herself in Istanbul – culturally a world apart – in an attempt to make back the money and self-respect she’s lost. Vulnerable without the protection of Luxembourg’s champagne bars, she descends into a hell of drugs and high-risk sex until, at the novel’s terrible climax, a kidnapping, brutal assault and one-sided justice system lead to her imprisonment and a threat of deportation.
How will Natalia and Lena save Julia?
Based on factual events, Twisted is a pacy and gritty story of vulnerability, courage and the art of making a living in the sex trade.
Three naïve young sisters – Natalia, Lena and Julia - dream of a better life, and weigh their options: do they stay and struggle like their parents, or join scores of their compatriots in the sex trade in glittering western European cities, who earn in a night what they’d take several months to earn at home?
For sensible, resilient and calculating Lena and Natalia, the transition to the underworld of Luxembourg’s deceptive champagne bars is eye-opening, but smooth. But for fragile, brittle Julia, haunted by a childhood assault, the change is more than just vocational. Struggling to adapt, she turns to alcohol and drugs, exposing herself to increasing danger and depravity; and, ultimately, betrayal, when a deceitful client, who claims to love her, drugs her and cleans her out.
Despite her sisters’ best efforts to intervene, she finds herself in Istanbul – culturally a world apart – in an attempt to make back the money and self-respect she’s lost. Vulnerable without the protection of Luxembourg’s champagne bars, she descends into a hell of drugs and high-risk sex until, at the novel’s terrible climax, a kidnapping, brutal assault and one-sided justice system lead to her imprisonment and a threat of deportation.
How will Natalia and Lena save Julia?
Based on factual events, Twisted is a pacy and gritty story of vulnerability, courage and the art of making a living in the sex trade.
My Thoughts
‘Twisted’ was definitely a fitting title for this book. ‘Twisted’
is also based on real life events. To begin my review I wasn’t to say I am
terribly sorry that anyone has to go through these twisted events. I am glad
that someone decided to share their story.
I think ‘Twisted’ was well written, it gave a lot of information in
a short period of time so for me it was a fast read. I think the dialogue could
use some polishing and just a tad bit more character development was needed.
However that didn’t ruin anything in the book for me.
I will say this book is not for the faint of heart. There are
explicit sex scenes and drug use. So if you cannot handle that, then this book
is not for you. I believe this book was done very well and I found it very
interesting. It’s definitely a book out of the norm; that might be why I liked
it even more. ‘Twisted’ is a fast paced, captivating read. It is an interesting
read and an eye opener. I hope to see more work from Lola, I am most definitely
a fan.
* I received this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. I did not receive compensation for this review.
