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annettebooksofhopeanddreams's review against another edition
3.0
So, yesterday evening I was going through my shelves, looking for a few special editions that were NOT in the right place and all of a sudden I found this one again. I had ordered it a while ago and I forgot about it. Quite literally. I really didn't remember having this book. I actually didn't remember this book at all, but fine. However, it seemed like the perfect book to read today, since I really enjoyed to kill a kingdom.
However, this book had a really different atmosphere and approach and therefore it didn't have the same effect on me. It's hard to explain what was wrong with the book. I wouldn't say there was anything really wrong with it. It just, didn't really excite me either? I was reading it without feeling much. I was taking in the story, without actually being entertained or humored or really invested. I was just reading words and sentences, without them actually doing something with me.
There were however small moments where I saw potential. In between all the action and the fighting, in between the display of magic and its secrets slowly being revealed, there were a few moments where the characters were actually showing more of themselves, were actually going through hard times and were actually showing and sharing their emotions. If the book had contained a few more of those, if the characters hadn't been so secretive towards even the reader, I might have enjoyed it more.
It also didn't help that in a way it felt, at the end of the book, like nothing had happened, apart from the very thing the gang was trying to prevent. I understand this is a duology and that not everything can be resolved and understand that characters failing is one of the ways to show that they are human and vulnerable and not almighty chosen ones. However, it felt a little like they have been on some goose chase all through the book, only ending up in a way worse position than they already were.
I'm a little in doubt if I'm gonna get and read the second book. I'm gonna wait and see when the time comes. I'm a little afraid it's gonna be the same thing all over again, just with a different outcome. Although, the ending hinted towards involving the high politicians and that might be something I'm interested in.
However, this book had a really different atmosphere and approach and therefore it didn't have the same effect on me. It's hard to explain what was wrong with the book. I wouldn't say there was anything really wrong with it. It just, didn't really excite me either? I was reading it without feeling much. I was taking in the story, without actually being entertained or humored or really invested. I was just reading words and sentences, without them actually doing something with me.
There were however small moments where I saw potential. In between all the action and the fighting, in between the display of magic and its secrets slowly being revealed, there were a few moments where the characters were actually showing more of themselves, were actually going through hard times and were actually showing and sharing their emotions. If the book had contained a few more of those, if the characters hadn't been so secretive towards even the reader, I might have enjoyed it more.
It also didn't help that in a way it felt, at the end of the book, like nothing had happened, apart from the very thing the gang was trying to prevent. I understand this is a duology and that not everything can be resolved and understand that characters failing is one of the ways to show that they are human and vulnerable and not almighty chosen ones. However, it felt a little like they have been on some goose chase all through the book, only ending up in a way worse position than they already were.
I'm a little in doubt if I'm gonna get and read the second book. I'm gonna wait and see when the time comes. I'm a little afraid it's gonna be the same thing all over again, just with a different outcome. Although, the ending hinted towards involving the high politicians and that might be something I'm interested in.
sanne6je's review against another edition
2.0
I don’t really know how I feel about this book. It felt really badly executed and try hard to me. At the beginning certain parts were poorly explained and some chapters felt like they came out of nowhere. It seemed like a really bad copy of six of crows. Eventually this changed and the story got better. The idea behind the story is actually pretty good but I was so annoyed by so many things that I wanted to stop reading it almost every chapter. Almost every sentence has someone’s name in it and there are random fake language expressions that add nothing extra. Why is there a map of a city they leave? Why not a map of the world they travel? The world building sucked but the magic system concept was cool.
I like the story it tries to tell, hate the book.
I like the story it tries to tell, hate the book.
swampbooks's review against another edition
2.0
It was sooo hard not to imagine Kaz Brekker as Wesley. They felt incredibly similar, except Wesley was all talk and no game. He was supposed to be some big bad crime lord but all he did was have an attitude and wear nice suits.
The crew was on a high-stakes murder mission, but it didn't manage to convey the emotions that would go along with a task like that. The most intimidating part was literally in the last chapter and was a cliffhanger for the next book.
The ending overall was disappointing. Wesley became weirdly overpowered for reasons I'm assuming will be explained in book 2, Saxony decided to be mad at the wrong person at the worst time, and we still don't know what Zekia's deal is.
The relationships were cute, though.
The crew was on a high-stakes murder mission, but it didn't manage to convey the emotions that would go along with a task like that. The most intimidating part was literally in the last chapter and was a cliffhanger for the next book.
The ending overall was disappointing. Wesley became weirdly overpowered for reasons I'm assuming will be explained in book 2, Saxony decided to be mad at the wrong person at the worst time, and we still don't know what Zekia's deal is.
The relationships were cute, though.
izzys_internet_bookshelf's review against another edition
1.0
1/5
Forced myself to finish, in the end it wasn’t my cup of tea and the group of characters reminded me too much of a beloved gang that it seemed to be trying to replicate.
Forced myself to finish, in the end it wasn’t my cup of tea and the group of characters reminded me too much of a beloved gang that it seemed to be trying to replicate.
willowward's review against another edition
3.0
I wanted to love this because I loved To Kill A Kingdom and this book was well written but it was just a copy of Six of Crows.
I liked that magic had an important presence in this book, and I thought the laws of the world were cool, but the plot towards the end dragged for me and there was nothing I hadn’t seen before.
But seriously can’t get past the similarities, a teenage boy who somehow runs a gang and the fiery girl who works for him pine for each other but are afraid to be together because he needs to remain emotionless and she doesn’t want to settle for his bad ways?? Cmon Kaz and Inej invented that.
I liked that magic had an important presence in this book, and I thought the laws of the world were cool, but the plot towards the end dragged for me and there was nothing I hadn’t seen before.
But seriously can’t get past the similarities, a teenage boy who somehow runs a gang and the fiery girl who works for him pine for each other but are afraid to be together because he needs to remain emotionless and she doesn’t want to settle for his bad ways?? Cmon Kaz and Inej invented that.
aabravanel32's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
relaxing
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
wild and distant seas
ode_to_readers's review against another edition
3.0
2023 review
I can’t believe my thoughts on this book has changed so much in two years. I don’t know why I loved it so much when I struggled to love the characters this time. They just seemed artificial- like a poor copy rather than real life. I wasn’t gripped by the storyline either. But I reread this because I wanted to read the sequel. Less tempted to do so now, but will continue on anyway because I hate not knowing what happens next
~~
2020 review
5 stars
I can’t believe my thoughts on this book has changed so much in two years. I don’t know why I loved it so much when I struggled to love the characters this time. They just seemed artificial- like a poor copy rather than real life. I wasn’t gripped by the storyline either. But I reread this because I wanted to read the sequel. Less tempted to do so now, but will continue on anyway because I hate not knowing what happens next
~~
2020 review
5 stars
ladytiara's review against another edition
3.0
This one was a 3 star read for me. I didn't love it, but I enjoyed it. The magical system is interesting, and it worked well in the context of the story. The story is told at a breakneck pace, and although I usually like fast-paced books, the plot felt a bit rushed at times.
I didn't feel much of a connection to the characters. I was mildly invested in Wesley and Tavia's will they won't they vibe, but I found the other two characters, Karam and Saxony, less interesting (although I appreciated the LGBT+ representation).
Into the Crooked Place falls into the gangster fantasy category, and it's a bit derivative of Six of Crows. It's fairly entertaining, but it doesn't break any new ground.
I didn't feel much of a connection to the characters. I was mildly invested in Wesley and Tavia's will they won't they vibe, but I found the other two characters, Karam and Saxony, less interesting (although I appreciated the LGBT+ representation).
Into the Crooked Place falls into the gangster fantasy category, and it's a bit derivative of Six of Crows. It's fairly entertaining, but it doesn't break any new ground.
lucia_without_j's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-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
2.0
It was rrying to be like a Six Of Crows but failed. The ending was the only good part. Took me over 2 years to finish this book.