Title: Twin Flames: Untapped Series (Volume 2)
Author: Tanja Kobasic
Publisher: 2014, Stone Series Publishing
ISBN: 9780988155443
Pages: 604, Paperback
Genre: Urban-Fantasy- Romance
Reviewed by: Anita Lock, Pacific Book Review
Pacific Book Review
Twin Flames, the second book in Kobasic’s Untapped Series, is the next chapter in the love saga between Scarlett Jennings and Sebastian Cole, the famous Las Vegas illusionist. Their love affair is a strange ménage à trois since Scarlett is not only a conjoined twin, but also her sister Jade continues to exhibit erratic and violent behavior. Succumbing to lengthy blackouts that appear to draw her into an ancient realm, Jade thinks nothing of spewing out cynical and sinister verbiage that is not necessarily earmarked toward her twin and her lover. Besides Scarlett and Sebastian, Jade launches a tirade against her family and friends when Sebastian publicly displays his affection for Scarlett by magically painting the two of them in as the featured dancers of his enchanted fairy-tale-based love story production. This is just the beginning, though, and their consanguineous clash is but a small symptom of Scarlett and Jade’s baffling history and their otherworldly connection with Sebastian that unfolds amid a war between good and evil.
Author Tanja Kobasic is a mistress extraordinaire of character and plot development. Kobasic’s modern-day Romeo and Juliet tale raises her disfigured and blemished principal dramatis personae to a level that is far from unsightly. Conjoined twins Scarlett and Jade, and Sebastian, survivor of Vanishing Twin Syndrome, are exquisitely portrayed and carry powerful celebrity status. Irrespective of their seemingly pristine persona, Scarlett, Jade, and Sebastian are underdogs. Paradoxically riddled with flaws that go beyond their physical conditions, they are the unfortunate victims of a diabolical plan, which they have to fight against. Yet Kobasic keeps readers wondering whether the trio will follow on the side of God or Lucifer until the final chapters. But then again, are their choices just mere illusions?
Kobasic includes a full supporting cast who are equally illusive, throwing readers into emotional confusion since both protagonists and antagonists carry both elements of good and evil as well as deeply compassionate human aspects. Excellent examples comprise of Jade, who is under the influence of Dedi, Sebastian’s vanishing twin; and Ebony, who exemplifies a consummate diabolical role yet reflects motherly compassion toward Leon. Exhibiting dual natures, Kobasic’s characters are just as twisted as her plot. Although, the first person point of view of Kobasic’s narrative is told through the eyes of Scarlett, Kobasic sets the rest of her story in third person and constantly vacillates character scenes within as well as from chapter to chapter that all slowly but deliberately build to an unexpected ending.
Obviously, Kobasic’s main theme zeroes in on the tight bond between Scarlett and Sebastian. But in the thick of romantic and salacious interludes, Kobasic deftly incorporates a slew of factual and fictional paranormal, ancient Roman, and theological themes with an eschatological bent since the Apocalypse is just around the corner. As the war between good and evil ensues and there is word of an impending meteor disaster, Sebastian plays a key role in the celestial battle since there are those who are madly vying for him to join Lucifer’s Chosen. And while Twin Flames is clearly a work of fiction, Kobasic’s inclusion of history doesn’t stop with all things spiritual. If one looks closely, Kobasic drives thought-provoking humanity issues regarding the value of life, particularly with children by utilizing true-life situations, such as burying children alive to rid diseases and ritualistic female genital mutilation.
Kobasic closes with an unnerving cliffhanger in preparation for Entwined, the third installment of her Untapped Series. Twin Flames is not only exhilarating and mind boggling, but also it is truly the most unique and undoubtedly twisted love story ever told!
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