Ana Huang’s Twisted Games invites readers into a seductive and sovereign storm—an enemies-to-lovers tale between a stoic bodyguard and a rebellious princess. Where the first book, Twisted Love, teetered between trauma and second chances, Twisted Games ups the stakes with duty-bound restraint and forbidden desires. It is a love story that could doom a kingdom—and ruin two souls in the process. But it’s also a layered character drama, exploring identity, legacy, and the cost of emotional armor.
Plot Review: Passion Meets Protocol
Twisted Games by Ana Huang spans across four years, broken into two distinct parts: the years before Bridget becomes heir to the throne, and the years after. The plot centers on Princess Bridget von Ascheberg, a strong-willed royal who unexpectedly becomes first in line to the throne after her brother abdicates. She’s suddenly shackled by tradition, public scrutiny, and expectations she never asked for.
Enter Rhys Larsen, her new elite bodyguard—stoic, emotionally closed-off, and intimidatingly hot. He operates by two rules: protect the client and never get emotionally involved. And he breaks both. Their chemistry is magnetic from the start, with verbal sparring giving way to undeniable tension and eventual surrender.
What begins as a reluctant professional relationship soon veers into a dangerous and deeply emotional entanglement. Huang plays with tropes—forced proximity, forbidden love, grumpy/sunshine—but rather than simply indulging in fantasy, she explores how power, trauma, and isolation shape people and the choices they make.
Their romance is electric, but it is also emotionally rich. Rhys and Bridget are not simply fighting for each other—they are fighting themselves, and it’s this internal conflict that elevates the novel beyond a typical royal romance.
Main Characters: Fire & Ice
Bridget von Ascheberg: The Crowned Rebel
Bridget is perhaps the most complex of all Huang’s heroines. While she begins the story as a playful, animal-loving student volunteering at a pet shelter, her evolution into a queen-in-training is written with nuance and grace. She is not simply a “princess” trope—she is layered with fear, longing, and strength. Her craving for freedom, contrasted with her eventual acceptance of duty, makes her journey both moving and mature.
Her dialogues are sharp; her vulnerabilities, raw. She is refreshingly aware of her privilege, yet refuses to be reduced by it.
Rhys Larsen: The Iron Wall with a Heart
Rhys is a classic Ana Huang hero: brooding, hot as sin, and armed with a tragic backstory. As a former Navy SEAL turned elite bodyguard, he’s used to discipline, loss, and emotional detachment. But Bridget breaks through his walls with grace and grit.
While his dominance (and the possessiveness that comes with it) is a central part of the dark romance vibe, Huang ensures that Rhys never strays into irredeemable territory. His trauma is never romanticized, and his growth—especially his confrontation with emotional vulnerability—is one of the most satisfying aspects of the novel.
Their dynamic is steamy, yes, but it’s the emotional unraveling that makes their connection powerful.
Writing Style: Evocative, Snarky, and Sharp
Ana Huang writes with fluidity and flair. Her voice leans heavily into emotionally charged internal monologues, crisp dialogue, and vivid scene-setting. She peppers in enough tension to keep the pages flying, especially in the second half when the stakes—both political and romantic—heighten.
- The banter between Bridget and Rhys is whip-smart and often hilarious.
- Her prose has matured since Twisted Love, with better pacing and more complex character layering.
- The steamy scenes are unapologetically bold, but what’s notable is how each one advances the emotional arc.
Where Twisted Love occasionally felt trope-heavy, Twisted Games by Ana Huang feels more grounded despite the royal fantasy setup.
Themes: Power, Control, and Emotional Freedom
At its heart, Twisted Games by Ana Huang is a novel about freedom versus duty. Both protagonists are bound by oaths—Rhys to protect, Bridget to serve—and their love becomes the rebellion.
Key Themes Explored:
- Duty vs. Desire – The push-pull between professional obligations and personal emotions adds moral complexity.
- Isolation and Trust – Both Bridget and Rhys navigate lives where vulnerability is dangerous, and trust comes slow.
- Class and Power Dynamics – The royalty-bodyguard relationship is rife with power imbalances. Huang leans into this, examining both the privileges and prisons of class.
- Healing from Trauma – Rhys’s military past and Bridget’s childhood loss are sensitively handled, making their eventual emotional connection even more cathartic.
This is not just a sexy romance. It’s a story of breaking cycles, confronting inner demons, and learning how to want without shame.
Series Context: Twisted but Tethered
As the second installment in the Twisted series by Ana Huang, Twisted Games works both as a standalone and a series bridge.
Series Overview:
- Twisted Love introduced us to Ava and Alex, whose icy and intense romance set the tone.
- Twisted Games shifts settings—from academia to royalty—and raises the emotional stakes.
- Twisted Hate (Book 3) will delve into Jules and Josh, delivering the enemies-to-lovers dynamic at its rawest.
- Twisted Lies (Book 4) closes out the quartet with Stella and Christian’s haunting, high-stakes romance.
While Twisted Love laid the groundwork, Twisted Games cements Ana Huang’s talent for writing character-driven, emotionally dense love stories that don’t shy away from trauma, power, or passion.
Praise-Worthy Elements
- Bridget’s character arc: Watching her go from a reluctant princess to a woman embracing her destiny is truly satisfying.
- The slow-burn romance: It simmers with restraint before it explodes—truly a masterclass in tension.
- Dialogue: Whether snarky, seductive, or soul-baring, the conversations are always meaningful.
- Emotional vulnerability in a dark romance: Rhys’s trauma and eventual surrender to love is heart-wrenching and genuine.
Critique: What Could Have Been Better
Though Twisted Games by Ana Huang scores high, it’s not without its flaws.
- Pacing: The first half has a lot of time jumps that, while necessary for timeline alignment, occasionally disrupt narrative flow.
- Predictability: Some plot turns—like the forbidden aspect and royal drama—play out as expected, without the surprising punch that could elevate them.
- Rhys’s Dominance: At times, his overprotectiveness crosses into frustrating territory. Readers sensitive to power imbalance might find it a bit much.
- Supporting Characters: Ava, Jules, and Stella make cameos, but beyond those brief appearances, the novel largely sidelines others for the central duo. A touch more interaction with Bridget’s royal circle could’ve enriched the palace drama angle.
Comparable Reads: If You Liked This…
If Twisted Games by Ana Huang left you wanting more forbidden fire and royal angst, you might also enjoy:
- Royally Screwed by Emma Chase
- The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas (for the slow burn)
- The Royal Elite series by Rina Kent (for darker power dynamics)
- Dirty Letters by Vi Keeland & Penelope Ward (if you liked the emotional vulnerability)
Final Verdict: Worth the Crown or Just Another Romance?
Ana Huang’s Twisted Games earns its place on the dark romance shelf with a compelling balance of emotional intelligence, raw sensuality, and character development. It’s less about fantasy and more about earning love despite fear—a theme that resonates deeply in the undercurrent of every scene.
This book succeeds not only because of its high-stakes drama or heated chemistry but because it captures what it means to want someone you shouldn’t—and love them anyway.
If you’re looking for a love story with bite, burn, and bruised hearts, Twisted Games delivers.
Would I Recommend It?
Absolutely—for fans of emotional slow burns, dark romantic tension, and character-driven plots. Just be ready to fall in love with a princess who doesn’t need saving—and a bodyguard who’s already lost too much.