will agree with the majority when I say that Into the Crooked Plae isn’t overly original; there are some strong similarities to ‘A Darker Shade of Magic’ the strongest one being that they both have a dark magic that causes a person to become a fantasy resemblance of a zombie but I also believe that there are some unique aspects that are being overlooked. For example, the magic system: the idea of Crafters and their various Kins being the only ones able to create new magic and all the magic being used by the buskers in Creji is just old, recycled magic that is unable to die, hasn’t been in any other gangster fantasy (that I know of). Throughout the book, we see this recycled magic powers a variety of things including the magical train that our group travels on during their journey to stop the Kingpin. But unlike most trains, this train flies through the air - which is pretty different if you ask me!
"Never create more than one enemy, because then he’d have to turn his back on one to keep an eye on the other”
Personally, the characters didn’t do anything for me. I think Wesley is supposed to embody the self-made businessman who doubles as a gangster but just came off as an arrogant teenager whose trying a little too hard to be a ‘gangster’. I think I would have enjoyed Wesley’s character more if we saw more of his past besides the nonchalant comments about his family and his internal thought process over his new magic. Why didn’t he question how strong his powers were instantly after he gained them? This background into his character would’ve helped build complexity and lessen the amount of arrogance in his character.b
"Never create more than one enemy, because then he’d have to turn his back on one to keep an eye on the other”
Personally, the characters didn’t do anything for me. I think Wesley is supposed to embody the self-made businessman who doubles as a gangster but just came off as an arrogant teenager whose trying a little too hard to be a ‘gangster’. I think I would have enjoyed Wesley’s character more if we saw more of his past besides the nonchalant comments about his family and his internal thought process over his new magic. Why didn’t he question how strong his powers were instantly after he gained them? This background into his character would’ve helped build complexity and lessen the amount of arrogance in his character.b