Twisted Love vs King of Wrath: Which Ana Huang Book Should You Read First?
Twisted Love gives you raw emotional devastation and grumpy sunshine tension. King of Wrath gives you high-society elegance and arranged-marriage slow burn. Here is the complete breakdown of which to read based on what you are chasing.
Twisted Love vs King of Wrath: Which Should You Read First?
This is the exact question every new Ana Huang reader faces. You have heard about both, you cannot buy both at the same time (or maybe you can and still do not know where to start), and you want the one that will hit the hardest.
Here is the honest head-to-head.
At a Glance: The Key Differences
| Category | Twisted Love | King of Wrath |
|---|---|---|
| Series | Twisted Series (Book 1) | Kings of Sin Series (Book 1) |
| Hero | Alex Volkov — cold, traumatised financial genius | Dante Russo — aristocratic Italian billionaire CEO |
| Heroine | Ava Chen — free-spirited photographer | Vivian Lau — poised jewellery heiress |
| Primary Tropes | Grumpy x Sunshine, Brother's Best Friend | Arranged Marriage, Enemies to Lovers |
| Spice Level | 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ (4/5) | 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ (4/5) |
| Heat Arrives | ~55–65% into the novel | ~55–65% into the novel |
| Emotional Tone | Raw, angsty, revenge-fuelled | Sophisticated, combative, controlled |
| Setting | Washington D.C., college-adjacent | New York high society, European luxury |
| Best For | Readers who want emotional devastation | Readers who want glamour and sharp banter |
The Heroes: Alex Volkov vs Dante Russo
Alex Volkov (Twisted Love)
Alex is defined by his suppressed grief and cold fury. His entire personality is a constructed shell — the ruthless financial genius who feels nothing — built around a devastating childhood loss and a long-running revenge mission. When that shell cracks open for Ava, it cracks completely.
He is the hero for readers who want:
- A man who is terrifying to everyone except her
- Protective instincts that border on obsessive
- An emotional breakdown as satisfying as a thunderstorm breaking
Dante Russo (King of Wrath)
Dante is defined by his aristocratic control and sharp intelligence. He is old-money Italian, meticulous, and genuinely formidable — both in business and in the verbal sparring matches that define his courtship of Vivian. His emotional journey is about dismantling pride, not grief.
He is the hero for readers who want:
- Cutting wit and mature, sophisticated banter
- A billionaire who is frightening because he is brilliant, not because he is broken
- Slow-burn reluctant respect evolving into obsession
The Tropes: Which Hits Harder?
Grumpy x Sunshine + Brother's Best Friend (Twisted Love): The forbidden element of the brother's best friend rule gives the early tension an external constraint that feels genuine. Ava's optimism specifically needles Alex in a way that feels targeted and personal. This combination is extremely satisfying for readers who want to watch walls come down.
Arranged Marriage + Enemies to Lovers (King of Wrath): The arranged marriage setup in King of Wrath is executed with rare sophistication. Because Dante genuinely intends to discard Vivian once the blackmail is resolved, every moment of softening carries real stakes. The enemies-to-lovers arc is long and beautifully paced.
Which to Read First?
Read Twisted Love First If:
- You are brand new to Ana Huang and want to understand her core friend group
- You prefer emotionally raw, angsty heroes with visible trauma
- The brother's best friend trope does something to you
- You want to eventually read the full four-book Twisted quartet in order
Read King of Wrath First If:
- You prefer mature, high-society settings over college-adjacent D.C.
- Arranged marriages and verbal sparring are your primary interests
- You have no interest in the Twisted friend group characters (though you miss fun Easter eggs)
- Someone specifically recommended Dante Russo to you
The Official Recommendation:
Start with Twisted Love. It is the natural entry point to Ana Huang's universe, establishes the friend group that reappears across both series, and introduces you to her writing voice at its most emotionally intense. King of Wrath rewards you more once you understand the extended universe.
Is King of Wrath Connected to the Twisted Series?
Yes — but loosely. Dante Russo makes an appearance in Twisted Lies (Twisted Book 4) before getting his own novel. You do not need to have read the Twisted series to understand King of Wrath, but reading it first means you will recognise the Easter egg when it appears. See our full guide: Is King of Wrath Connected to Twisted Series?
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Twisted Love and King of Wrath in the same universe? Yes. Ana Huang's books all exist in the same loose universe. Characters cameo across series.
Do I have to read Twisted Love before King of Wrath? No. Both are designed to be read as standalone entry points. Reading Twisted Love first gives you Easter eggs but is not required.
Which series is better: Twisted or Kings of Sin? Most readers prefer the Twisted series for emotional intensity and the Kings of Sin series for mature sophistication. Neither is objectively better — they scratch different itches.
Which is higher spice: Twisted Love or King of Wrath? Both are rated 4/5. The tone of intimacy differs — Twisted Love is rawer and more desperate; King of Wrath is more controlled and dominant.
Read Next
"Twisted Love gives you raw emotional devastation and grumpy sunshine tension. King of Wrath gives you high-society elegance and arranged-marriage slow burn. Here is the complete breakdown of which to read based on what you are chasing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the spice level of Twisted Love?+
Twisted Love by Ana Huang features a 4/5 to 5/5 (High Heat / Explicit) spice rating on the BookPyramid Spice Scale, featuring detailed intimate scenes and intense emotional tension.
What romance tropes are in Twisted Love?+
Key narrative tropes in Twisted Love include Romance dynamics, high emotional stakes, protective hero energy, and rich relationship progression. See the in-depth breakdown above for full character analysis.
Is Twisted Love a standalone novel?+
Twisted Love delivers a complete, satisfying romantic arc with a guaranteed Happily Ever After (HEA) or Happy For Now (HFN), while also connecting to Ana Huang's broader universe of interconnected companion novels.
What should I read after Twisted Love?+
If you enjoyed Twisted Love, explore our curated reading guides for Ana Huang, or browse related Romance reviews and trope recommendations linked at the bottom of this page.
Ana Huang →
Ana Huang is a #1 *New York Times*, *USA Today*, and international bestselling author of contemporary romance and romantic suspense. Renowned worldwide for her viral BookTok sensations—including the *Twisted* series (*Twisted Love*, *Twisted Games*, *Twisted Hate*, *Twisted Lies*) and the *Kings of Sin* series (*King of Wrath*, *King of Pride*, *King of Greed*, *King of Sloth*)—her novels feature billionaire possessive alpha heroes, fierce heroines, delicious banter, and unapologetic high-heat romance.
