This was a pretty good YA fantasy. I must say this To Kill A Kingdom was much better. This one was a little more heavy handed and while it was marketed as YA it almost felt over saturated. The world building was bloody brilliant tho.

When YA Fantasy really hit its stride commercially about 10 years ago, I remember thinking that it boasted so many new and fresh concepts and that there wasn’t nearly enough of it.

Now there’s entirely too much of it and most of the standard themes seem overdone. It takes a lot for a book in this genre to distinguish itself these days, and this one unfortunately falls prey to the same problem that plagues so many like it.

Namely, everything we see here, we’ve seen before. And there’s no new twist to it, nor is it simply better executed than all the others of its ilk. There’s nothing wrong with the setting or the characters, but they’re no different from their counterparts in the many similar stories in the genre.

I had slightly higher hopes for this one, mostly because the plot had some heist vibes, but ultimately it didn’t go anywhere we haven’t been many times before, nor did it find a better, prettier, or more entertaining way to get there.

I have elected not to read and review this book due to time constraints. Thank you for the opportunity.

Book was received as a giveaway win, not as a review copy. Thank you so much! Book was received as a giveaway win, not as a review copy. Thank you so much! Book was received as a giveaway win, not as a review copy. Thank you so much!

I loved this book. I saw a lot of resemblance of Six of Crows, maybe a little too much, but it wasn't bad. Although, I prefer Six of Crows.

Unfortunately I have never ever, in all these years, been able to finish this story. I have tried time and again, but it just isn't for me.

I hate sending feedback in like this-which is why it took me so long to review-I didn't want to admit defeat. But, as it is, I think I finally have to give up.

I requested this a while ago, and had also got the author's "To Kill a Kingdom" book. I had a very hard time with that one due to style and tone. I had hopes that this one would be better. However, after reading 15% of the book, I can't say that it's much better (a smidge, perhaps). The tone is very depressive, the characters are not interesting and I have no connection to any of them, the world building is interesting but too slow and a bit confusing in the reveal.

Overall, I just didn't click with this book. Might pick it up again down the road, but might not.

This book was just okay for me. Feels like it's just another YA book with nothing really to set it apart. I do like the characters and for that reason I will be reading the second book.

I loved the authors first book, To Kill a Kingdom so I was super excited to get my hands on this one. Unfortunately, I wasn’t a fan.

I simply couldn’t bring myself to finish it. The magic seemed cool but wasn’t fleshed out much and there was minimal character development even after 120 pages

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy this one at all. I was really bored and struggled to stay focused while reading it. I considered DNF'ing it multiple times but pushed through because it was a review copy. I would not pick up the second book.

Into the Crooked Place invites readers into a gritty underworld through the eyes of four individuals: Wes the underboss of Creije with eyes and ears everywhere; Tavia the busker with a moral code; freedom fighter Saxony who is hiding among crooks; and warrior Karam who serves as Wes's bodyguard. Christo has crafted a bleak world where the only thing you can trust is that the people around you are more than willing to betray you. The authorities, with few exceptions, are just as untrustworthy as the crooks they are meant to police. When Wes enlists Tavia, Saxony, and Karam, to help protect the city he loves, it's unclear whether they can truly trust one another. The book switches between the four main characters, interspersed with chapters told from the point of view of a few minor characters. Through their chapters, we learn about their motivations, their regrets, and their plans. We also get to see the lies, including those of omission, they tell their colleagues. With the book switching between the four, I didn't feel connected to any of them, although I did gravitate toward Tavia as my favorite character. While I enjoyed the first book in the duology, it's very much an introduction from the characters to the world, so it's not as exciting as it could be. It's easy to see that it's the book is building to something possibly bigger. Also, the ending of the book makes up for a lot of this. Christo sure knows how to end a novel! (3.5 stars rounded to 4)

Another brilliant novel by the talented Alexandra! I was a fan of hers from the first page of To Kill A Kingdom and her sophomore novel did not disappoint. This is perfect for anyone who loves a good, twisty ride!

I have been in a reading slump for several months - really, since quarantine started - and I am so grateful for the being given the chance to read this arc, as the day I picked up my kindle and started it is the day that my joy for reading sparked up again.

This is a good old fashioned YA Fantasy adventure story, the kind that reels you into its world and its characters in that childlike way when you used to be able to fall completely into a story and forget the world around you. The characters were well developed and the structuring of the chapters between them was very well developed. I am looking forward to reading the sequel and more from the author, who clearly has a talent for both writing and storytelling.

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.

Great story and loved the romance. Loved the cast of characters and how the story came to be. Great story and I would read this author again.

One reviewer described this book as "passable," and I think that's fair. It makes use of a number of YA tropes without doing something new or interesting. A number of readers might enjoy this a lot.

Now, there's some good stuff in here. In particular, I like that most of the characters have clear motivations. I like that there's some diversity in both race and sexual orientation. There are some exciting elements of the magic system.

That said, the magic felt very hand-wavy, like it didn't have limits that made sense or were explained to the reader. The scene setting was minimal, a shame since the characters spend so much time traveling between locations. The romantic tension between Wesley and Tavia felt weird since he's effectively her boss.

I won't pick up the sequel but won't begrudge anyone who does!

Magic! I love books about magic and this one had some new elements that I found very interesting. The four main characters take turns telling the story. While I liked Tavia's storyline the best, the others were fun as well. There is a lot of information and world-building happening which can be a bit of an overload but if you kind of just read and try not to focus too much on remembering all the details the story unfolds at a good pace. It is the first book in a dualogy so expect a cliffhanger of an ending!

Disclaimer: I received an e-arc of this book from netgalley. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: Into The Crooked Place

Author: Alexandra Christo

Book Series: Into The Crooked Place Book 1

Rating: 1/5

Publication Date: October 8, 2019

Genre: YA Fantasy

Recommended Age: can’t recommend, DNF

Publisher: Feiwel and Friends

Pages: 384

Amazon Link

Synopsis: Into the Crooked Place begins a gritty two-book YA fantasy series from Alexandra Christo, the author of To Kill a Kingdom.

The streets of Creije are for the deadly and the dreamers, and four crooks in particular know just how much magic they need up their sleeve to survive.

Tavia, a busker ready to pack up her dark-magic wares and turn her back on Creije for good. She’ll do anything to put her crimes behind her.

Wesley, the closest thing Creije has to a gangster. After growing up on streets hungry enough to swallow the weak whole, he won’t stop until he has brought the entire realm to kneel before him.

Karam, a warrior who spends her days watching over the city’s worst criminals and her nights in the fighting rings, making a deadly name for herself.

And Saxony, a resistance fighter hiding from the very people who destroyed her family, and willing to do whatever it takes to get her revenge.

Everything in their lives is going to plan, until Tavia makes a crucial mistake: she delivers a vial of dark magic—a weapon she didn’t know she had—to someone she cares about, sparking the greatest conflict in decades. Now these four magical outsiders must come together to save their home and the world, before it’s too late. But with enemies at all sides, they can trust nobody. Least of all each other.

Review: This was yet another book I had to DNF and this one hurt because I really do love Alexandra Christo, but this book wasn’t for me. The book was really clunky and hard to follow, the gangster trope is so overused. The magic wasn’t explained properly and the time skips were confusing. The book is also multiple POV and I don’t know why it is. The book would have been better under just one POV in my opinion. The book is also full of uneventful and painfully slow moments. I made it about 32% through before I tossed it.

Verdict: Not for me.

Loved this book! The author has such a fresh voice. The story is totally original in a sea of ever replicating YA fantasy. I was happy to share it with others as it has something new and exciting for the YA reader crowd.