Plot Summary
Arrival at Alabaster Penitentiary
Dascha "Dash" Reznikov, a 25-year-old Brooklyn bank robber, is sent to Alabaster Penitentiary, a secret, off-the-books prison for society's most unwanted. Dash is not a killer—at least, he doesn't think so—but he's thrown into a world of monsters, murderers, and the truly lost. The prison is isolated, brutal, and run by guards who are more dangerous than the inmates. Dash's only goal is survival, but from the moment he arrives, it's clear that nothing will be easy. The guards strip him of dignity, his hair, and his hope, and he's left to wonder if he's truly as bad as the company he keeps.
The Warden's Welcome
Dash is brought before Manuel Blanco (The Warden), the enigmatic and terrifying Warden of Alabaster. The Warden's words are cryptic, his presence overwhelming. He makes it clear that Alabaster is a place of no return, where the world believes its inmates are dead. Dash is told he's inmate 101, and that he will never leave. The Warden's officers are his eyes and hands, and Dash is warned that disobedience will be met with severe consequences. The psychological weight of this new reality begins to crush Dash, who is already haunted by the traumas of his past.
New Cell, New Rules
Dash is assigned a cellmate, Luthor (Lexington Deon), who becomes his first tenuous ally. Luthor explains the unspoken rules: the guards run the show, and the only way to get anything—comfort, food, even a toothbrush—is through them, often at a price. The prison is a microcosm of violence, manipulation, and blurred lines. Dash meets other inmates, including the seductive and dangerous Ren (Warren Xavier), and the only female guard, Joy Jameson, who is as tough as any man. The threat of violence and sexual exploitation is constant, and Dash must quickly learn who to trust, and how to keep his head down.
Flashbacks and Family Scars
Dash's mind drifts to his past: a childhood marked by a cold, criminal father and a mentally ill, abusive mother. His father taught him the art of crime and the rule "don't get caught," but abandoned the family, leaving Dash alone with his mother's instability and eventual sexual abuse. These traumas shape Dash's psyche, fueling his need for control, his sexual compulsions, and his inability to form healthy attachments. The prison's isolation amplifies his inner demons, and the line between memory and reality begins to blur.
The Bank Job Unravels
Through flashbacks and nonlinear structure, we learn the truth of Dash's crime: a meticulously planned bank robbery that spiraled out of control. Betrayed by an accomplice, Dash killed the rat in a panic, and in the chaos, a young woman—later revealed as the Governor's niece—was also killed. Dash's memory of the event is fragmented, clouded by trauma and possible psychosis. The world believes Dash is dead, but he is very much alive, trapped in a prison that feeds on his guilt and confusion.
Prison Politics and Power
Life in Alabaster is a constant negotiation of power dynamics and sexuality. Dash navigates the dangerous social web: Luthor's quiet intelligence, Ren's manipulative sexuality, Kang's loyalty, and the ever-present threat of the guards, especially Velle (John Chevelle) and the mysterious, tattooed Kellan "Officer" Kemper. The guards exploit the inmates' needs, trading goods for sexual favors, and Dash is soon caught in their games. His own sexuality becomes a weapon and a vulnerability, as he is both repulsed and aroused by the attention of Officer Kemper, who seems to have a special interest in him.
The Officer's Obsession
Officer Kemper, a massive, tattooed guard, becomes fixated on Dash. Their relationship is a twisted dance of dominance, submission, and mutual need. Kemper alternates between tormenting Dash—forcing him into humiliating sexual acts, punishing him with solitary, and controlling every aspect of his life—and caring for him, providing small comforts and moments of tenderness. Dash is both terrified and drawn to Kemper, and their encounters become the center of his existence. The power dynamic is fraught, and Dash's sense of self begins to fracture under the weight of desire, shame, and dependency.
Solitary and Psychosis
Repeated stints in solitary confinement push Dash to the brink. Starved, sleep-deprived, and deprived of human contact, he begins to hallucinate. His only companion is Felix Darcey ("The Carver"), a notorious serial killer in the next cell, who becomes a strange source of comfort. Dash's grip on reality slips: he is haunted by memories of his mother, the voices in his head, and the increasingly surreal encounters with Officer Kemper. The line between punishment and pleasure blurs, and Dash's psychosis deepens, culminating in a sexual and psychological breaking point.
Hallucinations and Hard Truths
As Dash's relationship with Kemper intensifies, so do the cracks in his reality. He is forced to confront the possibility that much of what he has experienced—especially the most intense, violent, and erotic encounters with Kemper—may not be real. The truth emerges: Dash is suffering from schizophrenia, and his mind has created an elaborate fantasy to cope with the trauma, isolation, and abuse of prison. The real Officer Kemper left Alabaster the day Dash arrived; the Kemper Dash has loved and hated is a hallucination, a manifestation of his deepest needs and fears.
The Great Escape
With the help of Darcey, who orchestrates a bloody distraction, Dash escapes from Alabaster through the sewers. The escape is harrowing, a fever dream of violence, filth, and terror. Dash makes it to the outside world, and, using his hidden stash of money, flees to Tulum, Mexico. He is free, but haunted—by the crimes he committed, the people he left behind, and the uncertain reality of his own mind. The world believes he is dead, and he is determined to start over, but the past is not so easily left behind.
Tulum: A New Reality
In Tulum, Dash tries to build a new life. He dyes his hair, finds a place to live, and attempts to enjoy the paradise he always dreamed of. But he is plagued by loneliness, guilt, and the persistent sense that something is missing. Then, impossibly, he meets Kellan Kemper—alive, real, and as drawn to Dash as Dash is to him. Their connection is immediate and electric, but complicated by Kellan's marriage and his own unresolved past. Dash must confront the possibility that his mind is still playing tricks on him, and that happiness may be as elusive as ever.
Love, Lies, and Recovery
Dash and Kellan's relationship deepens, moving from lust and obsession to genuine love. Kellan leaves his wife, and the two men begin to build a life together. But the ghosts of Alabaster, Dash's crimes, and his mental illness cannot be ignored. With Kellan's support, Dash seeks therapy and is diagnosed with schizophrenia and narcissistic personality disorder. The truth of his past—his mother's abuse, the murders, the hallucinations—comes into focus. Kellan's own traumas and struggles with addiction are revealed, and together they begin the hard work of healing through love and chosen family.
Facing the Past
To move forward, Dash must confront the literal and figurative skeletons in his closet. With Kellan's help, he anonymously reports the location of his mother's remains to the police, finally putting her ghost to rest. The couple faces threats from the Warden, who wants Dash returned to Alabaster, but they refuse to live in fear. Dash reconnects with his friends from prison, maintaining weekly calls with Luthor, Ren, and Joy. The past is not erased, but it is integrated into a new, healthier narrative.
Healing and Homecoming
Dash and Kellan settle into their new home in Tulum, adopting a stray dog and creating a chosen family. Dash finds purpose in his work, and Kellan embraces his identity and their love. Therapy, medication, and mutual support help Dash manage his illness, and the couple learns to navigate the challenges of life together. Their love is unconventional, born of trauma and fantasy, but it is real and sustaining. They are each other's tourniquet, binding up wounds that may never fully heal, but can be lived with.
Forever, Distorted
Dash and Kellan's story is one of survival, resilience, and the transformative power of love. They are not cured, not redeemed in the traditional sense, but they are together—two broken people who have found wholeness in each other. Their life is not easy, and the scars of the past remain, but they choose each other every day. In a world that tried to erase them, they have created a space where they can be seen, loved, and real. Their forever is not perfect, but it is theirs, beautifully distorted.
Characters
Dascha "Dash" Reznikov
Dash is a 25-year-old Russian-American bank robber from Brooklyn, whose life has been shaped by trauma, abuse, and abandonment. His father, a career criminal, taught him the rules of the underworld but left him alone with a mother whose mental illness and sexual abuse left deep scars. Dash is intelligent, resourceful, and fiercely independent, but also deeply damaged—compulsive, sexually fixated, and unable to form healthy attachments. His time in Alabaster Penitentiary pushes him to the brink of madness, and his relationship with Officer Kemper—real and imagined—becomes both his salvation and his undoing. Diagnosed with schizophrenia and narcissistic personality disorder, Dash's journey is one of self-discovery, acceptance, and the search for a love that can hold all his broken pieces.
Kellan "Officer" Kemper
Kellan Kemper is a massive, tattooed former correctional officer at Alabaster Penitentiary. Haunted by his own past—addiction, a violent father, and a marriage built on denial—Kellan is both a figure of authority and a man searching for redemption. His obsession with Dash begins as a fantasy, but becomes real when they meet in Tulum. Kellan is dominant, possessive, and sometimes harsh, but also deeply caring and committed to Dash's well-being. He struggles with his sexuality, his sense of duty, and his need for control, but ultimately chooses love and authenticity over fear. Kellan's journey is one of coming out, letting go of shame, and learning to love without conditions.
Luthor (Lexington Deon)
Luthor is Dash's first friend and cellmate in Alabaster. A tech genius imprisoned for hacking, Luthor is calm, rational, and a source of stability in the chaos of prison life. He is haunted by his own regrets and unrequited love for Ren, but remains a steadfast ally to Dash. Luthor's presence is a reminder that even in the darkest places, connection and kindness are possible.
Ren (Warren Xavier)
Ren is a seductive, enigmatic inmate who uses sex and charm to survive. He is both a source of danger and comfort, embodying the blurred lines of prison life. Ren's relationship with Luthor is fraught with longing and missed opportunities, and his interactions with Dash are a mix of rivalry, attraction, and genuine care. Ren represents the ways trauma can twist desire and the human need for intimacy.
Joy Jameson
Joy is the only female guard at Alabaster, and she is as formidable as any man. She navigates the power dynamics of the prison with intelligence and strength, sometimes offering kindness, sometimes enforcing brutality. Joy is a survivor, and her friendship with Kellan and the inmates is a lifeline in a world designed to crush hope.
Manuel Blanco (The Warden)
The Warden is a shadowy figure, more myth than man. He rules Alabaster with absolute authority, manipulating guards and inmates alike. His motivations are inscrutable, and his presence is a constant reminder of the system's cruelty. Blanco is both a symbol of institutional evil and the embodiment of the world's indifference to suffering.
Velle (John Chevelle)
Velle is the head guard at Alabaster, a man who delights in the suffering of others. He is both a tormentor and a gatekeeper, wielding his authority with calculated cruelty. Velle's rivalry with Kemper and his obsession with control make him a constant threat to Dash and the other inmates.
Felix Darcey ("The Carver")
Darcey is a notorious serial killer, kept in isolation for his crimes. Despite his reputation, he becomes a source of solace for Dash during his time in solitary. Darcey's presence blurs the line between friend and foe, sanity and madness, and his actions are pivotal in Dash's escape.
Kang
Kang is an inmate who, along with Luthor and Ren, forms Dash's core group of friends. He is practical, supportive, and a reminder that even in hell, community can exist.
Nikki Kemper
Kellan's wife, Nikki, is a minor but crucial character. Her acceptance of Kellan's sexuality and her own pursuit of happiness allow both her and Kellan to move forward. She represents the possibility of forgiveness and the importance of living one's truth.
Plot Devices
Unreliable Narration and Psychosis
The novel's most powerful device is its use of unreliable narration, rooted in Dash's schizophrenia. The reader experiences the world as Dash does: fragmented, hallucinatory, and often indistinguishable from reality. The relationship with Officer Kemper is both a lifeline and a delusion, and the eventual revelation that much of it was imagined is both devastating and redemptive. This device forces the reader to question what is real, and to empathize with the terror and confusion of mental illness.
Power Dynamics and Sexuality
The story explores the interplay of power, sex, and survival in a closed system. The guards' control over the inmates' bodies and minds is mirrored in the sexual relationships that develop, especially between Dash and Kemper. The shifting roles of dominance and submission, pleasure and pain, are both a means of coping and a source of further trauma. The novel does not shy away from the darkness of these dynamics, but also finds moments of genuine connection and healing within them.
Flashbacks and Nonlinear Structure
Dash's story is told through a mix of present-tense action and flashbacks, revealing the traumas that shaped him. The nonlinear structure mirrors the fragmentation of his mind, and the gradual uncovering of repressed memories is key to his journey toward self-understanding and forgiveness.
Foreshadowing and Symbolism
Throughout the novel, there are subtle hints that not everything is as it seems: the lack of development in Kemper's character, the inconsistencies in Dash's memories, the recurrence of certain symbols (ice cream, tattoos, the word "Luscious"). These elements foreshadow the eventual revelation of Dash's psychosis and the true nature of his relationship with Kemper.
Healing Through Love and Chosen Family
Despite its darkness, the novel is ultimately a love story. Dash and Kellan's relationship, though born of trauma and fantasy, becomes a source of real healing. The support of friends—Luthor, Ren, Joy—and the creation of a new life in Tulum represent the possibility of redemption, not through erasure of the past, but through acceptance and mutual care.
Analysis
Distorted is a harrowing, deeply psychological exploration of trauma, mental illness, and the search for love in a world designed to destroy hope. Nyla K. uses the prison setting not just as a backdrop for violence and eroticism, but as a metaphor for the prisons we build in our own minds—chains of shame, guilt, and denial. The novel's greatest strength is its unflinching portrayal of schizophrenia, both as a source of terror and as a lens through which the world is made bearable. The unreliable narration and psychosis immerses the reader in Dash's confusion, making the eventual revelation of his psychosis both shocking and inevitable. At its core, Distorted is a love story—not of easy redemption, but of two broken people who find wholeness in each other. The novel challenges the reader to question the boundaries of reality, the nature of forgiveness, and the possibility of healing. It is a dark, erotic, and ultimately hopeful testament to the resilience of the human spirit, and a reminder that even the most distorted lives can contain moments of exquisite beauty.
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FAQ
Synopsis & Basic Details
What is Distorted about?
- A Bank Robber's Descent: Distorted follows Dash, a young Brooklyn bank robber, who is inexplicably sent to Alabaster Penitentiary, a brutal, off-the-books island prison where inmates are meant to disappear from the world.
- Survival in a Twisted System: Stripped of his identity and rights, Dash must navigate a dangerous environment ruled by corrupt guards and violent inmates, where survival often means compromising his sense of self and engaging in transactional relationships.
- Blurring Lines of Reality: As Dash endures isolation and trauma, his grip on reality frays, leading to hallucinatory experiences that intertwine with the harsh truths of his past and present, culminating in a desperate bid for freedom and a search for healing.
Why should I read Distorted?
- Deep Psychological Exploration: The novel offers an intense, first-person dive into the mind of a protagonist grappling with trauma, mental illness, and unreliable narration, providing a unique and challenging reading experience.
- Unconventional & Dark Romance: It presents a complex, often disturbing, love story born from power dynamics and psychological turmoil, pushing the boundaries of traditional romance narratives.
- Intriguing Mystery & World-Building: The secretive Alabaster Penitentiary and its cast of morally ambiguous characters create a compelling, suspenseful backdrop that keeps readers questioning reality and anticipating the next twist.
What is the background of Distorted?
- Secret Island Prison: Alabaster Penitentiary is a fictional, government-funded, last-resort prison located on an island off the coast of New York, operating outside standard legal jurisdiction.
- Focus on Psychological Themes: The narrative is deeply rooted in exploring themes of trauma, mental illness (specifically schizophrenia and NPD), power dynamics, and the subjective nature of reality, influenced by philosophical concepts like Nietzsche's idea of chaos and self-actualization.
- Interconnected Standalone Series: Distorted is the first book in the Alabaster Penitentiary series, featuring interconnected stories and characters, though designed to be read as a standalone with a complete M/M romance and HEA (Happily Ever After).
What are the most memorable quotes in Distorted?
- "Tell me every terrible thing you ever did and let me love you anyway.": This epigraph, attributed to Sade Andria Zabala, sets a central theme of radical acceptance and love despite darkness, foreshadowing the complex relationship dynamics and the eventual acceptance of Dash's past.
- "You can escape from just about anything… Anything but yourself.": From the prologue, this quote immediately establishes the internal struggle Dash faces, highlighting that his greatest prison is his own mind and past trauma, a theme that runs throughout his journey.
- "One must still have chaos in oneself to be able to give birth to a dancing star.": Referenced by the author, this quote from Nietzsche's Thus Spoke Zarathustra encapsulates Dash's journey of finding self-actualization and beauty ("dancing star") amidst his internal turmoil and mental illness ("chaos"), suggesting his brokenness is integral to his unique being.
What writing style, narrative choices, and literary techniques does Nyla K. use?
- First-Person, Present Tense: The story is told exclusively from Dash's perspective, immersing the reader directly in his immediate experiences, thoughts, and emotional state, enhancing the sense of urgency and confusion.
- Unreliable Narration: Dash's perspective is explicitly unreliable due to his developing psychosis, causing the reader to question the reality of events, particularly his interactions with Officer Kemper, creating suspense and psychological depth.
- Nonlinear Structure & Flashbacks: The narrative weaves between Dash's present in prison and fragmented flashbacks to his past, mirroring his fractured mental state and gradually revealing the traumas that shaped him and the true nature of his crimes.
Hidden Details & Subtle Connections
What are some minor details that add significant meaning?
- Kemper's Wintergreen Scent: Kemper's consistent scent of wintergreen mints is a subtle sensory detail that links the real Kellan Kemper (who sucks on mints) to Dash's hallucinated Officer Kemper, providing a subconscious anchor for the delusion.
- The Scar on Kellan's Clavicle: Kellan's scar from his father's homophobic attack, initially just a physical detail, later becomes a symbol of his own trauma and hidden vulnerability, mirroring Dash's internal wounds and connecting their shared experiences of parental abuse.
- The Missing Lotion in the Kit: The travel kit Kemper leaves for Dash in solitary is missing the lotion, a small detail that gains significance when Dash realizes Kemper used it during their non-consensual encounter, highlighting the specific, tactile nature of Dash's hallucinations.
What are some subtle foreshadowing and callbacks?
- Dash's Blackouts and Voices: Early mentions of Dash's mind being "static" or "loud," and moments where he blacks out or hears voices, subtly foreshadow his underlying mental illness and the more severe hallucinations to come.
- The Warden's Cryptic Remarks: The Warden's initial statement that Dash is "exactly where you belong" and his question "Do you understand why you're here, Dascha? Truly?" hint at a deeper reason for Dash's imprisonment beyond the bank robbery, foreshadowing the reveal of his murders.
- Kemper's Tattoo of Dash's Name: The tattoo of "Dash" on Kellan's clavicle, which Dash hallucinates on Officer Kemper, is a powerful callback to their imagined intimacy and Kemper's possessiveness, later becoming a real symbol of their bond when Kellan gets it tattooed in reality.
What are some unexpected character connections?
- Darcey's Role in the Escape: The notorious serial killer, Felix Darcey, unexpectedly becomes Dash's ally and orchestrates his escape, providing keys and shoes, a surprising act of connection in a place devoid of kindness, highlighting the complex humanity even in the most monstrous characters.
- Kellan's Past as an Officer: The reveal that Kellan Kemper was a correctional officer at Alabaster, quitting the day Dash arrived, is a major twist that recontextualizes their entire relationship, showing their connection existed in reality before Dash's mind distorted it.
- Nikki's Acceptance and Own Secret: Kellan's wife, Nikki, is unexpectedly accepting of his sexuality and relationship with Dash, revealing her own secret (an affair and pregnancy) that allows both characters to pursue their authentic lives, subverting the typical "other woman" trope.
Who are the most significant supporting characters?
- Luthor (Lexington Deon): As Dash's cellmate and first friend, Luthor provides crucial information about the prison's dynamics, offers emotional support, and represents the possibility of genuine connection and intellectual resilience amidst despair.
- Ren (Warren Xavier): Ren embodies the blurred lines of sexuality and survival in Alabaster; his manipulative charm and complex relationship with Luthor highlight the psychological toll of the environment, while his unexpected moments of kindness and openness about his own issues (sex addiction, lying) influence Dash's self-perception.
- Felix Darcey ("The Carver"): Despite his horrific reputation, Darcey serves as a strange source of comfort and practical aid (escape plan, shoes, keys) for Dash in solitary, symbolizing the unexpected places connection and help can be found, and blurring the lines between good and evil.
Psychological, Emotional, & Relational Analysis
What are some unspoken motivations of the characters?
- Dash's Need for Control: Dash's meticulous planning of robberies and his attempts to control his environment and emotions in prison stem from the profound lack of control he experienced during his mother's abuse, driving his reactions to dominance and submission.
- Kemper's Desire for Redemption: Kellan Kemper's decision to work at Alabaster and later his intense focus on Dash are subtly motivated by a deep-seated need for redemption after his struggles with addiction and his father's rejection, seeing in Dash a chance to heal himself by helping another.
- Ren's Search for Intimacy: Ren's constant sexual pursuits and manipulative behavior are unspoken attempts to find genuine human connection and feel "human," as he states, masking a deeper loneliness and inability to form lasting emotional bonds due to his own trauma and issues.
What psychological complexities do the characters exhibit?
- Dash's Dissociation and Psychosis: Dash exhibits complex psychological responses to trauma, including dissociation (blackouts, fragmented memories) and psychosis (hallucinations, distorted reality), particularly manifesting as the elaborate, detailed delusion of Officer Kemper and their relationship.
- Kemper's Repressed Sexuality and Trauma: Kellan struggles with deeply repressed homosexuality stemming from his father's violent reaction to his teenage relationship, leading to years of denial, addiction, and a marriage that doesn't fulfill him, until his encounter with Dash forces him to confront his true identity.
- The Impact of the Prison Environment: Alabaster Penitentiary itself acts as a catalyst for psychological breakdown and distorted behavior, exacerbating existing issues and forcing inmates and guards alike into survival modes that blur moral and emotional boundaries.
What are the major emotional turning points?
- The First Solitary Stint: Dash's initial solitary confinement, marked by starvation and isolation, is a major turning point where his psychological state begins to visibly deteriorate, leading to his first interactions with Darcey and the intensification of his internal struggles.
- The Reveal of Dash's Crimes: Velle's brutal revelation of Dash's murders shatters Dash's self-perception as merely a bank robber, forcing him to confront the true extent of his brokenness and the severity of his actions, triggering a severe emotional breakdown.
- Meeting the Real Kellan Kemper: Encountering Kellan in Tulum is a pivotal emotional turning point that forces Dash to question the reality of his prison experiences and confront the possibility of his psychosis, leading to immense confusion, fear, and eventually, the path to diagnosis and healing.
How do relationship dynamics evolve?
- Dash and Luthor's Alliance: Their relationship evolves from a pragmatic cellmate arrangement into a genuine friendship and chosen family bond, providing Dash with crucial emotional support and a sense of loyalty he lacked in his past.
- Dash and Ren's Complex Interactions: Their dynamic shifts from initial wariness and transactional encounters to moments of unexpected camaraderie, mutual understanding of their brokenness, and even a strange form of support (Ren's tattoo, advice), highlighting the fluid nature of relationships in Alabaster.
- Dash and Kemper's Journey: The central relationship transforms dramatically from a perceived abusive power dynamic (prisoner/guard, victim/tormentor) into a real, consensual, and deeply loving partnership (boyfriend/boyfriend, caregiver/partner), demonstrating the potential for healing and authentic connection even after profound trauma and delusion.
Interpretation & Debate
Which parts of the story remain ambiguous or open-ended?
- The Full Extent of O'Malley's Fate: While it's implied O'Malley is being tortured or experimented on in the East Wing, the exact nature of his condition and whether he survives remains ambiguous by the end of the book.
- The Warden's Ultimate Goals: Manuel Blanco's motivations for running Alabaster, his fascination with certain inmates like Darcey, and his long-term plans for the facility and its inhabitants are left open to interpretation, positioning him as a mysterious, ongoing threat.
- The Future of Alabaster Penitentiary: The novel ends with the prison still operational and the main characters maintaining contact with those inside, leaving the future of the institution and the possibility of further stories or changes within its walls open.
What are some debatable, controversial scenes or moments in Distorted?
- The Non-Consensual Encounters with Officer Kemper: The scenes where Dash is forced into sexual acts by the hallucinated Officer Kemper are highly controversial, prompting debate about the portrayal of sexual assault, its role in the narrative, and how Dash's later consensual relationship with the real Kemper is framed in light of these events.
- Dash's Murders and Diagnosis: The revelation that Dash is a murderer and suffers from schizophrenia and NPD can be debated in terms of how these elements impact reader sympathy and the portrayal of mental illness and criminality.
- Darcey's Role in the Escape: The decision to have a notorious serial killer facilitate the protagonist's escape is debatable, challenging conventional morality and raising questions about who is deemed worthy of freedom or redemption.
Distorted Ending Explained: How It Ends & What It Means
- Escape and Revelation: Dash successfully escapes Alabaster Penitentiary with Darcey's help and flees to Tulum, Mexico. The ending reveals that much of his intense relationship with Officer Kemper was a hallucination caused by his schizophrenia; the real Kellan Kemper was an officer who quit the day Dash arrived.
- Finding Real Love and Healing: Dash encounters the real Kellan Kemper in Tulum, and their connection is immediate and profound. Kellan leaves his wife, and they begin a relationship. With Kellan's support, Dash is diagnosed and starts therapy and medication, confronting his past traumas and crimes.
- Chosen Family and Imperfect Happiness: The ending signifies that healing is an ongoing process, not a cure. Dash and Kellan build a life together in Tulum, forming a chosen family (including a dog and maintaining contact with prison friends). Their love is unconventional and born from immense pain and delusion, but it is real, supportive, and allows them to find happiness and acceptance despite their "distorted" pasts and ongoing struggles.
Review Summary
Distorted received mixed reviews, with some readers praising its unique plot twists and steamy content, while others found the ending disappointing. Many appreciated the complex characters and dark themes but felt the book was too long. The prison setting and forbidden romance elements were popular. Some readers found the author's notes off-putting. Overall, the book was described as a mind-bending, intense read that divided opinions, with the first half generally receiving more praise than the second.
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