Format: Hardcover, 432 pages
Release Date: August 25, 2015
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Source: Library
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
True evil is rarely obvious. It is quiet, patient. Insidious. Awaiting the perfect moment to strike.Joy Malone finally knows who she is, where she comes from and how to live in two worlds at once. And now she can introduce her family and friends to her mysterious boyfriend, Indelible Ink. But when Ink's twin sister, Invisible Inq, calls in a favor, Joy must accept a dangerous mission to find a forgotten door between worlds—a door hiding a secret that some will kill to keep.
Unseen enemies, treasonous magic and an unthinkable betrayal threaten both the Twixt and human worlds as Joy races to expose an ancient conspiracy and unleash the unalterable truth—some secrets cannot remain secret forever.
Insidious is the third installment in author Dawn Metcalf's The Twixt series. Protagonist Joy Malone started this journey into the world of the Twixt 6 months ago after being stabbed in the eye by her paramour Indelible Ink. Why you ask? Because she has the ability to see the folk like him. Since then, Joy has learned a whole lot of things including that she isn't totally human. She may either be a changeling, or a halfling.
She is able to do things that scares the Twixt to their core, and due to her antics over the past 2 novels, she is now being forced to the forefront of the Twixt world. Joy has been labeled as the most dangerous humans in the world because she has both the sight, has claimed her own signatura, and true name, and can wield power over the Twixt True Names.If you haven't read the first two books recently, you will most likely have issues remembering how Metcalf got to this point.
In an effort to keep all spoilers from this review, I'll just summarize certain events that happened in the story. Joy owes Invisible Inq a favor, and that favor is being called in. But, before then, Joy, Inq, Ink, and the Cabana boys have to celebrate the passing of of one of their group. If you remember, the Cabana Boys are a group of men, and women, that belong to Inq. Joy is also being groomed by the 6 legged amphibian known as Graus Claude (Bailiwack) to make her appearance in front of the entire Twixt world. The Twixt hope that she falls on her face, and Joy will face enough challenges to keep the reader entertained.
Joy is also starting to notice a few changes happening to her. Changes that will play out in this installment, and the next one as well. Yes, I did already read the next installment. Joy is considered to be the Third Scribe after Ink, and Inq who were created, not born. But, she is able to do things that the other two can't even imagine which has put her directly in the spotlight, and created a whole lot of enemies like Ladybird, Briarhook, Aniseed, and Sol Leander. Joy's best friend Monica wears Sol's signatura on her face to keep her from harm which makes things rather interesting.
Joy and Ink's relationship has really moved forward to the point where Ink finally gets a chance to meet Joy's father, and his new girlfriend. I think it's kind of cute to see Ink try to become more human in order to not only be with Joy, but be a presence in her life so that her once distracted father knows that she hasn't fallen down the rabbit hole permanently after the year of depression and anger. One of the more curious questions I have had is why hasn't the father said anything about the Twixt world to Joy or her wizard brother Stefan who I still have not warmed up to? Does he really not know, or is it something that has to be dragged out of him?
Insidious ends on a really curios cliffhanger. It is something that will DEFINITELY carry over into the final novel of the series. This is one of those times where I don't think anyone wants to be Joy. She has so much on her shoulders, and there is so much at stake right now, that it only takes one single match to start a forest fire. But, give the girl a chance. Yes, she has made mistakes. Yes, she is unaware of a whole lot of things, but she is a quick study and I do believe that she will get to the point where readers will give her credit when all is said and done.
Ooh nice! I STILL need to read this one! And since you mentioned one might be confused if it's been awhile since reading the previous books, I am very much worried for myself! LOL! Hopefully I'll be able to manage, I have in the past, so I guess we shall see! Nice review!
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