Into the Crooked Place – Alexandra Christo*

Into the Crooked Place Synopsis

Note: This review is spoiler-free!

Magic rules the city of Creije Capital and Tavia Syn knows just how many tricks she needs up her sleeve to survive. Selling dark magic on the streets for her kingpin, she keeps clear of other crooks, counting the days until her debt is paid and she can flee her criminal life.

But then, one day, with her freedom in sight, Tavia uncovers a sinister plot that threatens to destroy the realm she calls home. Desperate to put an end to her kingpin’s plan, Tavia forms an unlikely alliance with three crooks even more deadly than her:

Wesley, the kingpin’s prodigy and most renewed criminal in the realm

Karam, an underground fighter with a penchant for killing first and forgetting to ask questions

And Saxony, a Crafter in hiding who will stop at nothing to avenge her family

With the reluctant saviours assembled, they embark on a quest to put an end to the dark magic before it’s too late. But even if they can take down the kingpin and save the realm, the one thing they can’t do is trust each other.

Why did I pick it?

I’ve read Alexandra Cristo’s previous novel and enjoyed it so when I saw there was a new duology coming I couldn’t wait

What I loved about it

As with her previous novel I loved the dialogue, it’s sarcastic and playful and that was just perfect for the characters.

What I loathed about it

There’s nothing really to hate here, it was just a bit, well bland. I think the big problem here was I’ve read it before. The characters and storyline were VERY similar to six of crows for me and there was nothing really new to make it stand out.

Now I’ve read a few books recently that fit on the “read it before” shelf and I’ve loved them. I think the key difference here was it was all just a little whitewashed and vague when compared to the “originals” it’s trying to emulate rather than “as good as”.

Cristo’s previous novel was new, different and like nothing I’ve read previously so this made this one all the more disappointing.

Thoughts

I still love Alexandra Cristo and would pickup anything else she wrote, including the sequel, but this one missed the mark for me.

When and where can you can get it

You can purchase Into the Crooked Place on Amazon today