The Magic-Filled, Gangster Fantasy I've been waiting for
Into The Crooked Place is set in the fictional city of Creije and revolves around four main characters -
Tavia is a street busker illegally selling dark charms and potions, biding her time until she can escape the city and the life debt she owes to it's evil kingpin, for good.
Wesley is Tavia's underboss, they were childhood best friends but his gangster lifestyle has changed him. Creije is his criminal empire and he does whatever it takes to further his seedy career.
Karam is Wesley's bodyguard amongst other things, who makes a deadly name for herself in the fighting rings.
Saxony, Tavia's best friend is a freedom fighter, both hiding from and plotting revenge on the people who destroyed her family.
After a sinister new magic hits the streets threatening to destroy Creije and possibly their lives, these four criminal misfits find themselves having to work together to save their city before it's too late. With enemies at all sides they can trust nobody...least of all each other.
It's been a few years since I've enjoyed a YA fantasy THIS much, Into The Crooked Place was such a fun read! The book is well paced, I found all of the characters interesting and likeable in their own way (especially Wesley!) and the story is filled with brilliant, witty banter which I absolutely loved. I found myself laughing out loud a few times, the chemistry between the characters is just fantastic; everything I love in a book. Alexandra Christo really brings the city of Creije to life and it makes me happy that there's a map at the start of the book that I could keep referring to. I really enjoyed the diversity of the characters, it makes a change to read a book that isn't focused on white characters and the queer aspects came naturally to the story without feeling forced. After the big cliffhanger at the end of this, I can't wait for book two. A solid five stars for an excellent story well told.
Thank you to Readers First and Hot Key Books for Into The Crooked Place.
Tavia is a street busker illegally selling dark charms and potions, biding her time until she can escape the city and the life debt she owes to it's evil kingpin, for good.
Wesley is Tavia's underboss, they were childhood best friends but his gangster lifestyle has changed him. Creije is his criminal empire and he does whatever it takes to further his seedy career.
Karam is Wesley's bodyguard amongst other things, who makes a deadly name for herself in the fighting rings.
Saxony, Tavia's best friend is a freedom fighter, both hiding from and plotting revenge on the people who destroyed her family.
After a sinister new magic hits the streets threatening to destroy Creije and possibly their lives, these four criminal misfits find themselves having to work together to save their city before it's too late. With enemies at all sides they can trust nobody...least of all each other.
It's been a few years since I've enjoyed a YA fantasy THIS much, Into The Crooked Place was such a fun read! The book is well paced, I found all of the characters interesting and likeable in their own way (especially Wesley!) and the story is filled with brilliant, witty banter which I absolutely loved. I found myself laughing out loud a few times, the chemistry between the characters is just fantastic; everything I love in a book. Alexandra Christo really brings the city of Creije to life and it makes me happy that there's a map at the start of the book that I could keep referring to. I really enjoyed the diversity of the characters, it makes a change to read a book that isn't focused on white characters and the queer aspects came naturally to the story without feeling forced. After the big cliffhanger at the end of this, I can't wait for book two. A solid five stars for an excellent story well told.
Thank you to Readers First and Hot Key Books for Into The Crooked Place.