There is a very specific kind of reading experience where you tell yourself, “Just one more chapter,” and suddenly it’s 1:30 a.m., your Kindle battery is hanging on for dear life, and you’re emotionally attached to at least one morally questionable man. Crude Games absolutely belongs in that category.

Amanda Allen’s debut romantasy drops readers into a kingdom crawling with political corruption, banned magic, suspiciously attractive enemies, and enough emotional tension to power an entire fleet of dragons. At first glance, it wears the familiar crown-and-florals costume of the romantasy genre, but underneath the glittering surface is a story about vengeance, manipulation, loyalty, and the dangerous ease with which hurt people can excuse terrible behavior.

Come for the royal court drama. Stay for the sharp-tongued heroine, the suspicious prince, and the looming realization that the wrong man might actually be the easiest one to love.

*Spoilers will be hidden and labelled so you can choose to read or skip.

Crude Games cover catches the eye and easily indicates who the book is meant for. The highly symmetrical framing aspects give the first impression that this might be a generic Romantasy or fairytale retelling. It is unclear whether this is a lack of confidence to pursue a more organic layout or a commitment to rigidity.

Color Story

The rich golds and bright blues instantly bring to mind traditional princess stories (i.e. Cinderella), but the high-key lighting and the deep black background indicate that this might be darker.

Typography Notes

The delicate typography seems almost at odds with the title. When I first heard the name, I thought of “crude” in Crude Games as in repulsive and unmannered. But, I came to find it was actually the resource (oil) and the golden/moneyed treatment made a lot more sense.

One small criticism with the typography is that the added drop shadow seems forced. In all likelihood, this was used to make the light colored text more readable, and it does. However, with the other lighting in the scene, the type seems to be an afterthought. This could be tightened up for a more professional appearance.

Genre Signals

Crowns with florals often adorn the covers of fantasy and Romantasy books. This particular cover was easy to identify as belonging to that group. Crowns with florals often adorn the covers of fantasy and Romantasy books. This particular cover was easy to identify as belonging to that group. 

Hidden Details

Once you’ve read Crude Games, the easter eggs jump out at you. Look closely at the crown details, the color, the gems, and the wave details. The beading and forget-me-not flowers are also not coincidental.

Mood Check

The dark ground paired with moody lighting suggests high drama. The imagery – opulence. The flowers – sentimentality.

Beyond the Dust Jacket

I read this as a review copy, so the formatting was not what would be delivered.

There is a map and a table of contents with a link to the last page content warning.

36 chapters. 3 POV. Chapters labeled with POV.

Did the design affect whether I bought the book?

I did not come by Crude Games organically. The author reached out to see if I would be interested in receiving a review copy. (I was).

Audryn, our FMC, comes across as incredibly relatable. She expresses her justified anger with a stream of challenges and taunts. Not afraid to clap back at anyone, even the most brutal guards or the prince himself. She’s not just a ball of fury, though her kill list is giving Aria Stark. Aduryn is a loyal friend and a generous community member. She works hard and has zero pretension. You’ll root for her even when you silently scream at her to see the writing on the wall.

Ryder, the arguably handsome prince, proves that his beauty is skin deep. This asshat is as entitled as they come, but manages enough outward-facing charm to fool most observers. You’ll want to stab him, but you will also see how Audryn gets stuck lowering herself for him.

Grave, the third point in our love triangle, appears dark and dangerous, but clearly shows more respect in his pinkie toe than Ryder has in his whole body.

The remaining cast in Crude Games is lovable and irritating to the required degree. Once you read it, tell me who you like best in the comments!

Allen’s writing is punchy and fast-paced. Crude Games showcases great mix of character-driven and plot-driven action. Enough backstory and worldbuilding to draw the whole picture, but edited to a degree that you don’t have to slog through long pages of descriptions or heritage. Small details, such as elaborate hairstyles or physical tics, build the scenes.

The dialogue in Crude Games proves witty without trying too hard. Each exchange feels realistic (the characters are not portrayed as overly witty or clownish).

Plenty of plot points remain vague to give the second book in the duology, Crude Intentions, some juice. Can’t wait to see how the rest of the story unfolds. Caution – this first book is a cliffhanger!

An oppressive government regime with banned magic and a tyrannical king, opposed by a resistance seeking to overthrow it.

Determined woman seeks to avenge the wrongful death of her family members while remaining on the right side of the law to protect her crippled father.

Domestic abuse and the slippery slope that leads the victim right into the abuser’s arms.

Friendship and loyalty are touchstones that make a hard life worth living.

What Worked:

• Likeable main character that feels realistic.
• Uncomplicated magic structure (so far anyway, still lots of questions)makes the story easy to jump right into.
• Clear reasoning behind character motivations.
  

What Didn’t Fully Click:

• The simplicity skirts the edge of being generic in places.
• Would have liked the characters’ emotions to be a little bit more visceral. I want to feel it with them.
  

Overall:

Overall, a solid Romantasy. Super quick and fun to binge.

I initially added Crude Games to my queue because the author reached out. I read it now because I finished a book prompt early and thought I could squeeze it in. I was in the mood for some fantasy, and this hit the mark. It was a great palate cleanser after a deeper literary read.

It left me salivating for the next book. Like, I stayed up late reading it and got up early to finish it. Then, I immediately started plotting whether to buy the next book on Kindle or in paperback. I was entertained! Will I remember it six months from now? Couldn’t say. May depend on how book two shakes out.

Read if you like:

Romantasy with smart, capable female main characters with an axe to grind.

Skip if you dislike:

Romance forward fantasy.

Spice (there are a couple of open-door scenes).

Cliffhangers. Or if you don’t have the space for a duology.

Gryffons or Wyverns? Debate in the comments.

May your life be as full as your bookshelf and as long as your TBR list.

Happy Reading!