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A review by megsbookishtwins
Into The Crooked Place by Alexandra Christo
3.0
disclaimer: I received this free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Tavia Syn knows how to survive on the magical streets of Creije. She sells dark magic on the streets for the kingpin, keeps to herself, and counts the days until her debt is paid and she can leave that life behind. However, when new magic is introduced to the streets, she uncovers a sinister plot that threatens the whole realm. In a desperate attempt to stop her kingpin’s plan, she makes an unlikely alliance with criminals even more dangerous than her.
Into the Crooked Place is an intriguing fantasy full of crime magic and fighting to protect what is yours. I know a few people are comparing it to Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows but I would actually say that this will probably appeal to fans of Ace of Shades by Amanda Foody more. It has a similar atmosphere, a unique magic system, and a city full of crooks. Unforutnately, Into the Crooked Place just didn’t really… grab me. I’m a huge fan of Christo’s other novel To Kill a Kingdom so I am super dissapointed I didn’t enjoy this one more!
One of the best things about Into the Crooked Place was the characters and the group dynamics. I loved Tavia and Wesley’s complex relationship and I loved their questionable morality. That is one thing that Alexandra Christo does really well – morally grey characters. So if that is something you love in a fantasy, then this is a book you need.
Into the Crooked Place isn’t a romance heavy novel, but it was enough for me. It features a f/f romance between Saxony and Karam, a complicated romance with a complicated history. I liked it. Then there was a m/f sort-of-romance between Wesley and Tavia who also share a strong connection and a complicated past. I also really liked that romance too.
Unfortunately, it was the worldbuilding and plot that really let this book down. There was so much room and opportunity for more detail to go into the worldbuiding but it just didn’t feel as developed or well done as it could have been.
Overall, Into the Crooked Place hooked me with it’s characters and group dynamics but lost me a little with it’s worldbuilding and plot which was lacking.
Tavia Syn knows how to survive on the magical streets of Creije. She sells dark magic on the streets for the kingpin, keeps to herself, and counts the days until her debt is paid and she can leave that life behind. However, when new magic is introduced to the streets, she uncovers a sinister plot that threatens the whole realm. In a desperate attempt to stop her kingpin’s plan, she makes an unlikely alliance with criminals even more dangerous than her.
Into the Crooked Place is an intriguing fantasy full of crime magic and fighting to protect what is yours. I know a few people are comparing it to Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows but I would actually say that this will probably appeal to fans of Ace of Shades by Amanda Foody more. It has a similar atmosphere, a unique magic system, and a city full of crooks. Unforutnately, Into the Crooked Place just didn’t really… grab me. I’m a huge fan of Christo’s other novel To Kill a Kingdom so I am super dissapointed I didn’t enjoy this one more!
One of the best things about Into the Crooked Place was the characters and the group dynamics. I loved Tavia and Wesley’s complex relationship and I loved their questionable morality. That is one thing that Alexandra Christo does really well – morally grey characters. So if that is something you love in a fantasy, then this is a book you need.
Into the Crooked Place isn’t a romance heavy novel, but it was enough for me. It features a f/f romance between Saxony and Karam, a complicated romance with a complicated history. I liked it. Then there was a m/f sort-of-romance between Wesley and Tavia who also share a strong connection and a complicated past. I also really liked that romance too.
Unfortunately, it was the worldbuilding and plot that really let this book down. There was so much room and opportunity for more detail to go into the worldbuiding but it just didn’t feel as developed or well done as it could have been.
Overall, Into the Crooked Place hooked me with it’s characters and group dynamics but lost me a little with it’s worldbuilding and plot which was lacking.