Into the Crooked Place - Alexandra Christo

I can't believe how lucky I was to receive this proof copy! I loved Alexandra Christo's previous book, To Kill A Kingdom so much and was on the edge of my seat waiting for this one. The book came with a beautiful silvery map of the city. I can't seem to do it justice in the photo but it is lovely.

Tavia is the best magic busker in Creije, working for Wesley, who used to be her friend but is now the Kingpin's golden boy. Karam and Saxony also work for Wesley, but in the Crook, his underground fighting club. The four crooks now need to team up if they are to save their city, but they all have their own secrets and none can ever truly trust the others. This is the first half of a duology so there was bound to be a cliffhanger but the book is also quite self contained apart from this.

As the four main characters are introduced, they mostly seem almost like strangers. However, as the story progresses you learn a lot more about the relationships and history between them all. I felt like this changed how I thought and felt about each of them.

This was such an immersive world, I had to surface now and then just to find out where I was and what was going on. There was plenty of magic but the distinctive thing about this world is that while anyone can buy and use magic, only crafters can create new magic. Once again the author has created complex characters and actually managed to make me care about the bad guys. 

To make a Black Magic cocktail, muddle 12 red grapes in a shaker, add 1/2 shot of triple sec and ice and shake well. Strain into a flute and top with champagne.

City of Wishes Serial - Rachel Morgan

This is a different take on the Cinderella story, where Elle is not just an unwanted stepdaughter, but a human slave to her fae step-family. However, unlike most humans Elle does have one gift. She is determined to use it to buy her own freedom and that of her younger step-sister. 

Elle's stepmother really is a horrible piece of work, the way she so casually hurts her own daughter as punishment to Elle and also the other way round. I was very interested in finding out what Dex's true motives were, and the clues about Elle's mother were intriguing. The Godmother is one of my favourite characters. She's kind of evil but in a cool way, I would love a book or even just a short story about her. To be honest all the characters are pretty cool, even the side characters seem interesting, I would like more about Cress too.

The series was written in six parts and I really enjoyed the serialisation aspect of the book. It was almost like watching a TV series though I found it so hard to wait for the next instalment each time. My only complaint is that the books are so short. They are supposed to be, but I felt like just as I was getting immersed in the story, it finished. And Rachel Morgan really knows how to leave you hanging and desperate for more! 

Essence Cocktail

Stir together 1 shot of orange vodka, 1/4 shot of lemon juice and a dash of sugar with some ice. Strain into a cocktail glass and stir in some edible glitter. Top with prosecco, the bubbles will help keep the drink shimmering. I used pink & gold glitter which turned the drink a pretty peach colour, but to be more faithful to the book you could use pure gold like the faeries' essence.