Audiobook Sample
Listen to the sample to experience the story.
Please wait while we verify your browser...
The story unfolds like a forbidden palace garden I once stumbled upon in Portugal – all gilded gates and hidden pathways, where every turn reveals both danger and breathtaking beauty. Ana Huang’s “Twisted Games” is that rare contemporary romance that makes you forget you’re listening to fiction, so completely do narrators Aiden Snow and Cindy Kay embody their characters.
It reminds me of a time when I found myself in a tiny Sicilian village during a festival, watching two star-crossed lovers from feuding families exchange glances across the piazza. That electric tension, that sense of rules being both weapon and obstacle – Huang captures this dynamic perfectly between bodyguard Rhys Larsen and Princess Bridget. Snow’s narration is all controlled restraint in the early chapters, his voice like the polished marble floors of government buildings I’ve wandered through – smooth, cool, and deceptively simple. Then comes the gradual thaw, like watching Mediterranean sunlight slowly warm ancient stone.
Cindy Kay’s performance as Bridget is a masterclass in royal complexity. She gives the princess a voice that carries both the weight of duty (reminding me of the dignified matriarchs I’ve met in Kyoto tea houses) and the spark of rebellion (like the young activists I interviewed in Buenos Aires). The way Kay subtly shifts Bridget’s tone when she’s in public versus private moments creates such rich intimacy – you feel you’re hearing state dinners through palace walls, then being whispered secrets in the royal bedchamber.
Huang’s writing shines in audio format, particularly in how she builds atmosphere. You can almost feel the tension in Rhys’s shoulders during protection details, hear the rustle of Bridget’s gowns as she navigates court politics. The forbidden romance unfolds with the slow burn of Spanish guitar music drifting through an open window – familiar tropes made fresh through exquisite execution. Snow’s growling delivery of Rhys’s internal monologues (“His princess. His forbidden fruit.”) had me pausing my hike through Chilean vineyards just to catch my breath.
The story’s exploration of duty versus desire resonates deeply with my travels through monarchies and republics alike. I’ve seen how tradition cages modern souls from Bangkok to Brussels, and Huang articulates this universal struggle with remarkable nuance. Some plot points follow romance conventions a bit too faithfully – the third-act conflict relies on a miscommunication trope that feels incongruent with these otherwise intelligent characters. Yet the narrators sell even these moments with such emotional authenticity that I found myself forgiving the formulaic beats.
Compared to similar royal romances like Emma Chase’s “Royally Screwed”, “Twisted Games” distinguishes itself through its sophisticated treatment of political realities. The audiobook’s production quality matches its premium price point – no tinny echoes or uneven volume that plague cheaper productions. At nearly 13 hours, it’s a substantial listen perfect for long train journeys or sleepless nights in foreign hotels.
For listeners who enjoyed “The Spanish Love Deception” but crave more emotional depth, or “The Kiss Quotient” fans seeking steamier scenes, this audiobook delivers. The dual narration creates a delicious push-pull dynamic, particularly in intimate scenes where Snow’s rugged intensity plays against Kay’s breathy vulnerability. I caught myself blushing during one particularly charged balcony scene while waiting for a ferry in Greece – the narrators make every whispered confession feel devastatingly personal.
Until our next literary adventure, keep your passport and headphones close.
Marcus Rivera
