joareads's review against another edition
adventurous
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.5
Four crooks band together to save their city which is threatened with a new type of deadly magic. It's a book about criminals on a quest to save a city from falling and magic is also there. This is a hard book to review because it wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either. It's a bit meh, but also some things happen that did irritate me.
It started off promising with Tavia working as a busker showing off some magic tricks but as we get to meet more of the four main characters, it soon became evident that this is very similar to Six of Crows. Wesley is the head of a criminal empire and is proud of what he has achieved at a young age - very much like Kaz. He also has a friend whom he has known for years and they bicker as they work together, and there is a hint of romance there - Tavia is Inej. Saxony and Karam were okay characters, giving off Wylan/Nina and Jesper vibes but they didn't really add a whole lot to the book and could have done with more development to warm the reader to them more - there was something lacking with these two for me.
It was just hard to see past how similar the plot and characters were to Six of Crows. But the plot soon became quite sluggish as they spent the majority of the book on a train to go and kill the antagonist of the story, of which we only see a glimpse of at the beginning, and then a brief bit at the end. (Ashwood didn't feel like a great villain and I think more work needed to be done on his character to really bring the threat to life.)
The group of crooks are all on a train together, training in combat and magic. On a train. This just felt a bit exasperating like, did they really manage to successfully fight each other on a train? Did they really train up in time to fight the Kingpin despite only having days to prepare themselves? Oh, and Wesley just easily gets given magic and somehow manages to be great at it? Even though the book had quite a languid pace, it also somehow felt rushed - it felt like the lead up to the end of the story completely but there is still another book to go. A lot of the middle wasn't necessary and I wonder if the two books would have been better condensed down into one stand alone.
I don't really care enough to find out what happens, despite ending on a bit of a cliffhanger, because I just don't want to read through the same thing again of gathering an army and going to defeat the Kingpin. I feel like the second book will just be the same as the first but Wesley isn't with his gang.ßl
I was close to DNFing half way through - sadly not a great read for me.
It started off promising with Tavia working as a busker showing off some magic tricks but as we get to meet more of the four main characters, it soon became evident that this is very similar to Six of Crows. Wesley is the head of a criminal empire and is proud of what he has achieved at a young age - very much like Kaz. He also has a friend whom he has known for years and they bicker as they work together, and there is a hint of romance there - Tavia is Inej. Saxony and Karam were okay characters, giving off Wylan/Nina and Jesper vibes but they didn't really add a whole lot to the book and could have done with more development to warm the reader to them more - there was something lacking with these two for me.
It was just hard to see past how similar the plot and characters were to Six of Crows. But the plot soon became quite sluggish as they spent the majority of the book on a train to go and kill the antagonist of the story, of which we only see a glimpse of at the beginning, and then a brief bit at the end. (Ashwood didn't feel like a great villain and I think more work needed to be done on his character to really bring the threat to life.)
The group of crooks are all on a train together, training in combat and magic. On a train. This just felt a bit exasperating like, did they really manage to successfully fight each other on a train? Did they really train up in time to fight the Kingpin despite only having days to prepare themselves? Oh, and Wesley just easily gets given magic and somehow manages to be great at it? Even though the book had quite a languid pace, it also somehow felt rushed - it felt like the lead up to the end of the story completely but there is still another book to go. A lot of the middle wasn't necessary and I wonder if the two books would have been better condensed down into one stand alone.
I don't really care enough to find out what happens, despite ending on a bit of a cliffhanger, because I just don't want to read through the same thing again of gathering an army and going to defeat the Kingpin. I feel like the second book will just be the same as the first but Wesley isn't with his gang.ßl
I was close to DNFing half way through - sadly not a great read for me.
erinarkin20's review
4.0
Into the Crooked Place by Alexandra Christo is the first book in the series of the same name and if you like magic and interesting characters, you will want to pick this one up. I can see why some people have said the story has a Six of Crows vibe, but I wouldn’t completely agree. I won’t give away any spoilers as I don’t want to ruin this story for anyone.
The world created by Christo is so interesting. Uskhanyan is run by the Kingpin, Dante Ashwood, who has been biding his time to put his plans into action. Unfortunately for Ashwood, he underestimates the crew at the center of this story.
Wesley Thornton Walcott is the Underboss of Creije, one of the cities of Uskhanyan, and the Kingpin has pushed him to get a new magic out on the streets. When he finds out that the Kingpin is willing to destroy Creije to get what he wants, Wesley knows it is time to take him down. In order to do that, he has to rely on the cast of characters around him.
Tavia is Wesley’s best busker. She and Wesley grew up in Creije and there is some definite tension between them. Their relationship changed when Wesley became Underboss and all she wants now is to survive long enough to make it to her 18th birthday so she can leave Creije forever. As the best busker, Wesley asks her to push the new magic (at first) and when she sells the first bottle, things go terribly wrong.
Saxony is one of Tavia’s friends and she came to Creije in search of her lost sister. She has ended up staying because she is looking to get revenge and spy on Wesley and find out what she can about Ashwood. I had mixed feelings about Saxony as she was keeping some secrets from the group and at times, put them in danger.
Karam is the final main character and as a trained warrior, has been serving as Wesley’s personal guard. She and Saxony have a relationship, but it ebbs and flows with whatever is going on around them. Karam isn’t a fan of Tavia’s and the back and forth between them was one of my favorite things.
I wouldn’t necessarily say that this group worked well together as they all seemed to have their own agendas but, in the end, they all pulled together when it was most important. Before they face off with Ashwood, they have to face their own decisions and choices without regret, and it is definitely a difficult task. When they do come face to face with Ashwood, there is a fairly large twist that forces them all to scramble and make adjustments. I will admit I never saw it coming and the way this book ended made me want the next one immediately.
I think one of the things I loved most about this book was the relationship between Tavia and Wesley. There are so many layers to them as characters and getting the opportunity to see them try to figure out what they mean to each other was great. Another thing I enjoyed was how much action there was. It kept the story moving and helped with the pacing. There were also some lines in this book that just made me laugh. I’ve included just two of my favorites as they really help to give you some insight to some of the characters and their personalities.
“Wesley didn’t like people, on account of them always trying to kill him.”
Karam to Tavia: “Just so you know, you ruin your face when you talk.”
Overall, I enjoyed this book. The beginning was a little slow as it was setting up the characters and the story but as things picked up, I found myself turning the pages to see what was going to happen next. If you are looking for a new fantasy to pick up that has magic, plenty of action, and an interesting story, add this one to your list. Personally, I can’t wait to see what the next book brings to the pages for these characters.
Thank you to the publisher for the early copy in exchange for an honest review.
The world created by Christo is so interesting. Uskhanyan is run by the Kingpin, Dante Ashwood, who has been biding his time to put his plans into action. Unfortunately for Ashwood, he underestimates the crew at the center of this story.
Wesley Thornton Walcott is the Underboss of Creije, one of the cities of Uskhanyan, and the Kingpin has pushed him to get a new magic out on the streets. When he finds out that the Kingpin is willing to destroy Creije to get what he wants, Wesley knows it is time to take him down. In order to do that, he has to rely on the cast of characters around him.
Tavia is Wesley’s best busker. She and Wesley grew up in Creije and there is some definite tension between them. Their relationship changed when Wesley became Underboss and all she wants now is to survive long enough to make it to her 18th birthday so she can leave Creije forever. As the best busker, Wesley asks her to push the new magic (at first) and when she sells the first bottle, things go terribly wrong.
Saxony is one of Tavia’s friends and she came to Creije in search of her lost sister. She has ended up staying because she is looking to get revenge and spy on Wesley and find out what she can about Ashwood. I had mixed feelings about Saxony as she was keeping some secrets from the group and at times, put them in danger.
Karam is the final main character and as a trained warrior, has been serving as Wesley’s personal guard. She and Saxony have a relationship, but it ebbs and flows with whatever is going on around them. Karam isn’t a fan of Tavia’s and the back and forth between them was one of my favorite things.
I wouldn’t necessarily say that this group worked well together as they all seemed to have their own agendas but, in the end, they all pulled together when it was most important. Before they face off with Ashwood, they have to face their own decisions and choices without regret, and it is definitely a difficult task. When they do come face to face with Ashwood, there is a fairly large twist that forces them all to scramble and make adjustments. I will admit I never saw it coming and the way this book ended made me want the next one immediately.
I think one of the things I loved most about this book was the relationship between Tavia and Wesley. There are so many layers to them as characters and getting the opportunity to see them try to figure out what they mean to each other was great. Another thing I enjoyed was how much action there was. It kept the story moving and helped with the pacing. There were also some lines in this book that just made me laugh. I’ve included just two of my favorites as they really help to give you some insight to some of the characters and their personalities.
“Wesley didn’t like people, on account of them always trying to kill him.”
Karam to Tavia: “Just so you know, you ruin your face when you talk.”
Overall, I enjoyed this book. The beginning was a little slow as it was setting up the characters and the story but as things picked up, I found myself turning the pages to see what was going to happen next. If you are looking for a new fantasy to pick up that has magic, plenty of action, and an interesting story, add this one to your list. Personally, I can’t wait to see what the next book brings to the pages for these characters.
Thank you to the publisher for the early copy in exchange for an honest review.
courtsbooknook's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
I liked what was happening here, but I don't think I was fully invested. Sometimes the events of the story felt a bit all over the place and it was difficult to keep up with the end goal. I did like the alternating POV's and I thought each character's skill set brought something unique to the table. I also thought the different types of magic were really cool. Wesley was probably my favorite, as he falls into the anti-hero category which I love. The end of this book definitely got intense as certain betrayals and twists were revealed. I just couldn't get into it like I hoped, but I'm still excited to read the sequel.
vsrkive's review
hello crooks, quest, criminal leader and magic. I am here for this
scrollsofdragons's review against another edition
4.0
Rating: Relationships -3.5 The bonds were there as a friendship but the romances, there was just something lacking there although I liked one of the couplings.
Plot-4.5
Originality - 3 The modern take on fantasy was refreshing and well crafted.
Writing - 4
Characters - 3.5 As much as I liked the characters and following their story, I couldn't fully connect to them, there was just something missing. Wesley is the better developed out of all of them and as a result I liked him the most.
Enjoyability -5
World Building- 2.5 I feel we're still scraping the bare bones of it here.
For a total of 3.71 rounded up to 4.
I think my problem most with this book was that I wanted to care more and feel but just couldn't. That said it's a highly enjoyable fantasy read.
Plot-4.5
Originality - 3 The modern take on fantasy was refreshing and well crafted.
Writing - 4
Characters - 3.5 As much as I liked the characters and following their story, I couldn't fully connect to them, there was just something missing. Wesley is the better developed out of all of them and as a result I liked him the most.
Enjoyability -5
World Building- 2.5 I feel we're still scraping the bare bones of it here.
For a total of 3.71 rounded up to 4.
I think my problem most with this book was that I wanted to care more and feel but just couldn't. That said it's a highly enjoyable fantasy read.
anna_333's review
challenging
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
luweebayy's review against another edition
3.0
I feel like this started okay, got slightly more interesting then just spiralled down until the last few chapters but it ended such a way I still want to read the sequel!
beatriz_pinto's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
this book has been calling me for so long but at the same time keeping me at a distance…. I think there is a lot of potential in this book but the tools used to bring it to life weren't the best (for me). Would this have been for an older audience and with higher stakes I would've been obsessed… I'm also scared of how the characters will move on from what happened but curious enough to keep reading
louha's review
2.0
the only thing preventing me to put one star and DNF the second book is Tavia. i’ll read book two for her and her only, and i hope there won’t be that much of saxony POV in book two.
it’s a shame that i loved the first book of this writer so much, just to hate the second that much too…
it’s a shame that i loved the first book of this writer so much, just to hate the second that much too…