"Irresistible debut novel. We can assure you reading the surprising adventures of their richly drawn heroines, Miranda Prospero and Skye Kingston, in the Twisted Lit series is nothing short of thrilling."
Children's Book Review "Fun-filled escapades into Shakespeare's The Tempest and Macbeth . . . they're an absolute riot! You don't have to be a Shakespeare fan (I'm not) ... Read moreor even have read these plays (I haven't) to fall in love with these books. I can't wait for the next Twisted Lit adventure. It's the best new young adult series of the year!"
Jack and Jill Magazine "This is a clever, light read with the kind of mystery solving that is reminiscent of Scooby Doo and the gang. The characters are believable, the plot moves at an entertaining pace, and, though the conclusion is predictable, it does not lack substance. Readers unfamiliar with The Tempest will have no problem enjoying this outrageous night at the mall."
School Library Journal "An exciting adventure . . . and a dangerous mystery. The characters in Tempestuous are relatable and the reader can easily become attached to them, thanks to the comedy and coming-of-age tone that the authors provide. Fun and light . . . Askew and Helmes take a classic comedy and successfully translate it to a younger and more modern audience."
SeattlePI.com/Blogcritics.org "This first book in the new Twisted Lit series takes Shakespeare's tale and moves it to a modern day setting. The twists and turns of the subplots are easily relatable to today's teen readers. The overall intrigue of the plot keeps readers salivating. Can absolutely be read and enjoyed with no prior knowledge of its predecessor."
YALSA Hub blog "With this twisted take on Shakespeare's The Tempest, authors Kim Askew and Amy Helmes prove again that, from Juliet's grief to Cordelia's rage, no one knew about teen angst better than the Bard. His wisdom holds up nearly half a millennium later. Really good book, pick it up and read it."
Just Books blog "Askew and Helmes do a . . . masterful job of bringing [Shakespeare's] characters . . . into the 21st century. Tempestuous is a fun modern fairy tale . . . and . . . there are plentiful moments of sarcastic hilarity . . . If you love a twisted tale, this one's for you!"
USA Today "Shakespeare is hot again. Merit Press . . . is basing two of its first five debut releases on Shakespeare retellings. Tempestuous [is] a humorous reimagining of The Tempest. The Twisted Lit novels hope to . . . make Shakespeare more appealing to today's teens. Expect to see Shakespeare throughout all forms of media in 2013 as a new generation of media consumer rediscovers the timeless literary treasures of William Shakespeare."
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