Crooked

<p><strong>In a world where truth is merely another weapon those who lie best rule best.</strong><br><br>Deep in the shadows of Shadowvale's capital master confidence artist Alorian and his band of deceivers known as the Crooked have made an art of betrayal. When they steal six mysterious gems during a ship heist they discover too late the terrible curse they bear - each gem forces its owner to lie twisting every truth into deception. What begins as an inconvenience soon becomes their greatest weapon.<br><br>As the Crooked journey through scorching deserts and illusory cities in search of a legendary artifact - the Crown of Twilight Whispers - their path is strewn with the bodies of those foolish enough to trust them. Nomad tribes royal knights and even their own companions fall victim to their calculated betrayals. But beneath their web of lies a darker truth emerges: the Crown they seek is no mere treasure but a gateway to an eldritch realm of pure deceit.<br><br>Crooked is a dark fantasy tale that explores the corrosive power of deception and the terrible price of ambition. Perfect for readers who relished the moral ambiguity of Joe Abercrombie's First Law series the political intrigue of Game of Thrones and the cosmic horror elements of Tamsyn Muir's Locked Tomb series. In this tale of cursed artifacts and corrupted souls the greatest danger isn't the lie you're told - it's the lie you tell yourself.<br><br><em><strong>An enthralling saga of ambition and duplicity that defies conventions. The characters' descent into ethical obscurity is as captivating as it is harrowing. - Epic Enchantment Monthly</strong></em></p>