Reviewed by Hilary Hawkes for Readers' Favorite

Twisted by Elizabeth Montgomery is an interesting YA fantasy story based on the well-known Wizard of Oz tale. Dee has lost the red shoes that should have returned her to Kansas, and with her pup sets off to find someone who can help. A winged lion called Samuel instructs her to find Aeris. Dee embarks on a strange journey through which she and her pup encounter magic, flying on broomsticks, the prince of Tin City, a glowing key, falling through portals, a mysterious underground Wonderland complete with rabbits, a wicked Queen, and Hatter, with whom she falls in love. Dee’s determination to overcome her fears enables her to discover her own inner power and acquire a prestigious role in the land of her new friends, leading her to realize “home” is something far more than just a place.

Twisted is a beautifully written and very readable story that combines the magic realism of two fantasy worlds: the Land of Oz and the Wonderland from the Alice stories. From this, Elizabeth Montgomery has cleverly created a unique and original storyline. The plot is well-crafted and moves at a good pace – bizarre, magical, and imaginative happenings occurring as the scenes unfold. I loved the vivid and descriptive language and felt quite transported into this extraordinary world where everything everyday and normal is missing and is replaced by happenings and characters that show us something deeper about people or life. The places where Dee finds herself can be seen as extensions of the real world. There is plenty of conflict, danger and scary moments in the story too when it seems all may be lost. The characters are strong and well-defined. Dee herself changes from a young girl in need of help from others to the stronger young woman at the end of the story who has become the one who takes charge. I love the way she discovers her inner strength and realizes that she has a power of her own to use for good.

Twisted is more than a fun and entertaining story for YA readers – it has layers of meaning and messages for us too. “Nothing is more precious than being reminded of the gifts we receive every day by the memories of our past,” Aeris tells Dee. And in the end, Dee finds herself holding on to the moment of happiness, surrounded by those she loves, knowing that the best and most important things have often been with you all along. Recommended.