Without Giving Spoilers, Here Are 8 Plot Twists We Did Not See Coming
There are few things I like more than being genuinely gagged by a well-finessed plot twist. A long-lost sibling appears to claim the throne? Sign me up. The best friend was scamming the MC from the start? Love it. They were all actually dead the whole freaking time? Here. For. That. In order to best appreciate a masterful plot twist, however, one must go into it completely blind to what’s about to go down. With that in mind, here are some of our favorite plot twists with 100% NO SPOILERS WHATSOEVER.
The Cruel Prince
by Holly Black
WHICH PLOT TWIST TO PICK?? There are just so many unexpected narrative swerves to choose from here. However, the part that truly gave me whiplash was the bit at the very end when multiple characters have been told one sequence of events is going to happen, and they were all lied to! Should have seen that last-minute switcheroo coming, but absolutely did not.
Warcross
by Marie Lu
Marie Lu is no stranger to serving up a good twist on a platter. And here she pulls off the exquisite double whammy of a villain reveal combined with the “return” of a character who was supposedly out of the picture. The best part is… well I guess I can’t actually tell you. Oops.
The Diviners
by Libba Bray
You know that thing where people spend a whole book (and presumably a not insignificant amount of time beforehand) keeping something secret and then one character just comes right out and says it. To everyone. In public. Yeah, that thing has nothing to do with The Diviners. Nope, not a thing.
Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda
by Becky Albertalli
Two points in this threw me for a loop, but ultimately the reveal of Blue’s identity takes the cake. Mad props to Becky Albertalli for simultaneously making my jaw hit the floor and making me squeal with delight. A good twist doesn’t always have to shock in a bad way, sometimes it can be beautiful and feel so right you wonder how you didn’t see it there all along.
Strange the Dreamer
by Laini Taylor
You know who did that? Minya did that. And quite frankly, I am still shook. Granted, there are plenty of other twists and turns leading up to Minya doing that. But, the doing of that by Minya really puts the other twists to shame. So cruel. So perfect. So genius.
More Happy Than Not
by Adam Silvera
Man, Adam Silvera really loves to dole out characters’ backstories in emotionally devastating helpings. I was so convinced I knew where this book was going. Then halfway through: WHAM. It should be illegal to spring that nonsense on a reader (but I’m glad it isn’t, because I don’t think I’ve ever read the second half of a book so quickly).
The Thief
by Megan Whalen Turner
This whole series has plot twists on top of plot twists, all braided together into one giant friendship bracelet of goopery. The one I’m still in awe of comes at the finale of this first book. Megan Whalen Turner had the AUDACITY to wait until the very last chapter to rearrange everything you thought had happened, and then calmly lay out all the breadcrumbs you should have picked up. Then she did it again.
City of Bones
by Cassandra Clare
This twist is such a classic it’s almost a cliché at this point. In fact, other books have attempted this twist only to be met with a seismic eyeroll from me. And yet, when Valentine drops that truth bomb at the end of the book, I actually screamed. Then I had to wait a whole miserable year for City of Ashes. The struggle was and continues to be so very real.
