Crooked Kingdom

“Has anyone noticed this whole city is looking for us, mad at us, or wants to kill us?""So?" said Kaz."Well, usually it's just half the city.”

Excuse my language, but...

Oh. My. Fucking. God.

This book.

THIS BOOK.

I'm still not over it. It deserves all the stars in the stars. Every single on in the night sky. I've been trying to write this review for two weeks, and espcially since I'm the worst reviewer ever, I'm at the point where I want to hire Leigh to do it for me, because obviously she knows how to write masterpieces.

I had the unfortunate experience of having to travel 6ish hours on a cramped bus a few days after Christmas. I was dreading my decision to travel with this book, considering how massive it is, but if I hadn't, I may very well be dead right now. I don't do go with crowds and strangers, but I got so wrapped into the gang's adventures that the six hours flew by so quickly. I like to credit Leigh Bardugo for saving my life. Thank you, Leigh. I owe you one.

When I read Six of Crows, there was something missing for me. I wasn't sure what that was, as I loved the plot, the characters, the world, but I just couldn't bring myself to give it the five star rating it deserved. Yet, whatever it was found its way into Crooked Kingdom and made this book one of the best things I have ever read. Ever.

I'm pretty sure I'm gonna get “No Mourners, No Funerals” tattooed on my forehead so everyone knows how much of a Six of Crows trash I am.

If you haven't read this duology, abandon whatever book you are reading right now, because chances are that it's not anywhere as perfect, and pick this up. Right now. Stop freaking reading this review and start Six of Crows. Or Crooked Kingdom.

“Have any of you wondered what I did with all the cash Pekka Rollins gave us?”“Guns?” asked Jesper.“Ships?” queried Inej.“Bombs?” suggested Wylan. “Political bribes?” offered Nina. They all looked at Matthias. “This is where you tell us how awful we are,” she whispered.He shrugged. “They all seem like practical choices.”

Kaz.

Jesper.

Inej.

Wylan.

Also can we talk about when he got his face back, he made his appearce slightly more attractive because same.

Nina.

Matthias.

And then died after everything was over and HE DIDN"T DESERVE TO DIE (His death very much reminded me of John Laurens in Hamilton which made me even more sada). Like what Wylan said, none of them were suppose to die. I really didn't expect it and I'm still resentful.

“I would have come for you. And if I couldn't walk, I'd crawl to you, and no matter how broken we were, we'd fight our way out together-knives drawn, pistols blazing. Because that's what we do. We never stop fighting.”

Kax

Jesper

Nina

Conclusion.

So Crooked Kingdom! Where do I even start? I've been psyched about this book since I read and loved [b:Six of Crows|23437156|Six of Crows (Six of Crows, #1)|Leigh Bardugo|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1459349344s/23437156.jpg|42077459] last year and I'm happy to report the duology is going on my hall of fame perma-favorites list because wow, did this sequel deliver.

So here's what I was expecting from Crooked Kingdom after reading Six of Crows:

-Respectful portrayal of disability (Kaz's bad leg and PTSD)
-Really clever con/thief-like plots
-A look at addiction
-All the twists
-Action
-Tons of wit and snark
-More detailed and layered world building
-A realistic and satisfying end to an awesome duology

With Crooked Kingdom, I got all of that and more.

There are so many things I loved about this book. You learn a whole lot more about each of the main characters (Kaz, Inej, Matthias, Nina, Jesper, and Wylan), you get an even better sense of not just Ketterdam but how the Grisha world fits together, and there are soooooo many twists throughout the book. And of course the humor and wit I loved in Six of Crows was back in Crooked Kingdom, plus the relationships from the first book were really fleshed out in the sequel. My only nitpick was sometimes it felt like we had a little too much background for some of the characters? But I honestly didn't mind because I loved the book so much I didn't want it to end, so really it was an added bonus.

Plus! One thing I really admired was over clever the plot was in Six of Crows and I didn't think it was possible to one-up that but wow, Crooked Kingdom's plot was like three clever plots in one and it was so incredibly gratifying to read. I loved watching Kaz and his crew go from plan to plan and build on both their successes and failures to create one truly epic conclusion to the duology.

It's also good to note Bardugo delved more into racial dynamics, which was really great to see. Multiple characters dealt with racial microaggressions throughout the novel and it was clear those elements were more well thought out in this sequel. Then of course, there was one scene that really made me pause and nod. I don't want to spoil anything, so I'll just say Kaz is offered a “miracle cure” for his disability and not only did he not take it, he was appropriately pissed about it. I was really glad to see this handled so aptly and it made me respect and love the series even more.

The Six of Crows duology is a masterpiece. From its diverse cast to perfect dialogue to incredibly clever plots, I'll be passionately recommending this duology for-freaking-ever. If you're even remotely interested in fantasy, make sure you pick this one up for sure.

Diversity note: Kaz, one of the main protagonists, has chronic pain and a limp from an old injury and uses a cane to help him get around. He also deals with sometimes-debilitating PTSD. Another POV character, Jesper, is black and bisexual and Wylan also likes boys. A minor character is queer, too.

I legit nuzzled this book when I finished. I adore this series, I adore these characters, and Crooked Kingdom is a phenomenal second part and a great finale.

I had a bit of anxiety throughout much of this book. Kaz Brekker is my son, he's literally pulling me out of this incoming dystopian-fueled depression, and is currently the lock screen image on my phone. What I mean by that is that no harm may come to child or I'll have to fight somebody. Wishing for something like that is a fruitless endeavor, of course, for my adopted son is pretty into his game of risk, and his creator is a master at creating puzzles and then tearing them down. Bardugo will often set the gun on the mantle just so, so that if you're looking for it you'll know when something is about to go off, but you still will always be surprised. This book is complicated. If Six of Crows was a ride on a swift roller coaster, Crooked Kingdom is a full-tilt run through an entire amusement park. I'm not gonna lie, I got a little lost a few times, but I trust Bardugo, so I was more than happy to just go with it and see how things landed.

The character moments are beautiful – the big ones and the small ones. The way these idiots flirt with each other is un-freaking-real. One of the things that I mentioned in my Six of Crows review is that even though this is a young adult book and the characters are all teenagers, they don't act like it. This book however, takes a few poignant moments to remind us that they are in fact kids. It does this by putting them in contrast to actual adults, ones that genuinely care about them and look at them like people that need to be protected. I love my flashy, brilliant criminal masterminds, but I also love when Kaz and Jesper are just teenage boys (even when that means they're punching each other), or when Nina teases Matthias with stories of Ravka's version of 50 Shades of Gray, or when Kuwei shamelessly tries to steal Jesper's attention away from Wylan. The dialogue, the banter is infinitely clever. I could read about these kids snipping at each other all day long.

Can I tell you that Kaz and Inej are like my fantasy romance brought to life? The idea of a woman out sailing her ship, hunting slavers and then every couple of weeks or even months coming back home to her wicked but faithful man? Kaz waiting at the docks for her like the crow he is? Love it. I'm so about it. I want a whole series about Inej and her crew. Bardugo writes Kaz and Inej beautifully, she's careful and loving with the way she portrays their reservations, their failings and their desire for each other. Even when Kaz reaches out and fails because his trauma is just too great to overcome in that moment, I was achingly proud of him. I feel like there's something very important about a character like Kaz, even with all his moral ambiguity. As Bardugo has said, he's the cripple she wished she could be. Even with his limp, he keeps moving. Even with his paralyzing trigger, he keeps trying. If he can cultivate every nasty piece of himself in order to thrive in the Barrel, he can take that energy and shake this monkey off his back. Or keep it at bay when he needs to, at least. He can love a woman he doesn't deserve. He can be something more than just Dirtyhands.

Kaz is an anti-capitalist dreamboat, even though he may claim to be otherwise. Not to make everything about everything right now, but to me, that's kind of what this duology seems to be about. Kerch's religion is literally money, and Kaz is its Shadow, as Inej calls it. He dresses like a merch, he does business like a merch, but calls himself what he is – a thief. And as such he calls them what they are. Unlike Jan Van Eck and Pekka Rollins, Kaz has no interest in legacy (I mean, he's seventeen, so that might just a matter of time). He literally says it when he's asked what he'll do with his winnings. “Build something new. Burn it down.” He's smart enough to know that money means something, but also knows that the bigger reward is the game itself. He's Heath Ledger's Joker, just dressed a little nicer. The Magician and The Trickster all at once.

The more books I've read in my life the more I've seen good endings, even to trilogies. Great endings, however, are still rare. Crooked Kingdom is an extraordinarily on point ending for this two-part series, and even if Bardugo adds to the canon of these characters like she hopes to, this is a complete story. The two books build on each other, reflect each other, and the conclusions she gives each of these characters is so right, even when they're complicated and occasionally tragic. You might be surprised to know how upbeat this book actually is – its exceptionally funny, far more than Six of Crows. You could not design a more perfect escape.

Not as good or tightly paced as Six of Crows, but the gang's back together for one last heist. And it's cute. I liked the resolution and the character growth. I'm still not a huge fan of the Grishaverse, but I thought Bardugo introduced some interesting new concepts in this one. I was also not a huge fan of all of the female characters being damaged and needing emotional support/rescue.

But it reads fun, they pull off hijinks, the characters are mostly nuanced and well-written, so pretty enjoyable reading experience. Overall, 3.5 stars

“What is wrong with him?” Nina grumbled as they went back to the sitting room to drill Colm on his cover story. “Same thing that's always wrong with him,” said Jesper. “He's Kaz Brekker.”

Why did this have to be a duology? Why did this story already end? How am I supposed to go on without knowing what happens next in the lives of my favorite band of thieves?

“She smiled then, her eyes red, her cheeks scattered with some kind of dust. It was a smile he thought he might die to earn again.”

This book takes us deep into the minds of the characters. We get to know more about their past, the choices they have made, they guilt and uncertainty they have to live with everyday. We also see immense growth in all of them where they fight to overcome their personal demons and try to be better versions of themselves. We see the little glimpse of hope each of them have for a better future. But first, they need to get Inej back, take down Van Eck and Pekka, and get back the money they are owed. However, this time, everyone is against them – merchant council, the city watch, the gangs, foreign governments – but Kaz is not your run of the mill thief, he is a criminal mastermind.

“That's where you're wrong,” said Kaz. “I don't hold a grudge. I cradle it. I coddle it. I feed it fine cuts of meat and send it to the best schools. I nurture my grudges, Rollins.”

The con that he plans this time is so outrageous that even his crew thinks he is out of his mind. But his confidence is so disarming, and his thinking being ten steps ahead of everybody, his plan just works. At least most of the time. The elaborate ruse to destroy the reputation of Pekka and take down Van Eck is so impeccable, I can't say enough about it. You just have to watch it unfold. Leigh Bardugo has such wild imagination and a way with words that everything seems plausible. I became a part of the gang, and even for one moment, I never doubted that they would fail. So, when the death occurred, it was a blow to my heart that I am yet to recover from.

“You're not weak because you can't read. You're weak because you're afraid of people seeing your weakness. You're letting shame decide who you are.”

The book is more darker and violent and vindictive than Six of Crows but it is still filled with sarcastic one-liners, witty banter and memorable quotes that we have come to expect from Bardugo. We also see the characters suffer from the effects of disabilities (physical and mental), addiction (drugs and gambling), sex slavery and prostitution, but these themes are so intricately woven into the plot that it never comes across as preachy but lingers on in our minds long after we are done reading.

Jesper leaned in and said, quietly enough that no one else could hear, “I can read to him.” “He has a very soothing baritone,” added Wylan, and then the guards were hauling his father down the aisle.

And what can I say about the ships in this book. I never thought I will root for so many couples in a single book, but this is not your usual book either. The relationship between Wylan and Jesper is so cute and grows by leaps and bounds in this book, but no one even bats an eyelid because in this world, diversity is just the norm. There is not even a single moment of awkwardness when Jes's father tells Wylan that he is good for his son.

“You look very beautiful.” “You mean I look like the enemy.” “Both of those things have always been true.”

The flirting between Nina and Matthias is so adorable and probably the most funniest part of the book. I laughed out loud so many times, which made it especially gruesome to handle the shock of this death. But it still felt right somehow, though I can't figure out why.

“I would come for you,” he said, and when he saw the wary look she shot him, he said it again. “I would come for you. And if I couldn't walk, I'd crawl to you, and no matter how broken we were, we'd fight our way out together—knives drawn, pistols blazing. Because that's what we do. We never stop fighting.”

Last but not the least, the best OTP ever – Kaz and Inej. I never thought I would shriek with joy when a couple will hold their hands for the first time, but I did. They both have overcome so much trauma to even reach this step in their relationship, that I think this scene was better than any other romantic scene I have read in recent times. I just hope that Bardugo decides to revisit them in the future because I would love to see the boss of the Barrel and the captain of the Wraith take on the big bad guys hurting and exploiting the innocents.

“He didn't deserve peace and he didn't deserve forgiveness, but if he was going to die today, maybe the one thing he'd earned was the memory of her—brighter than anything he would ever have a right to—to take with him to the other side.”

A very special mention of the most badass scene in the duology – Kaz taking on the Dregs and Per Haskell was a violent and brutal scene but it showed what Kaz truly is – someone who will go to any lengths to get what he wants, will never leave those behind who depend on him, but will never spare anyone who betrays him.

“In the Barrel, we don't trade in safety,” Kaz said, the abraded burn of his voice carrying over the crowd. “There's only strength and weakness. You don't ask for respect. You earn it.”

And this review can't be complete without mentioning that I was giddy with happiness like a teenage girl when my favorite Grisha and the irresistible charmer Nikolai showed up. Kaz and Stormhund in the same scene is something that I didn't expect and will cherish for a long time to come.

“So hypothetically,” Kaz said, “you might be addressed as Your Highness.” “And a variety of more colorful names. Hypothetically.” The privateer cast him an assessing glance. “Just how did you know I wasn't who I claimed to be, Mister Brekker?” Kaz shrugged. “You speak Kerch like a native—a rich native. You don't talk like someone who came up with sailors and street thugs.”

“I Would have come for you. And if I couldn't walk, I'd crawl to you, and no matter how broken we were, we'd fight our way out together-knives drawn, pistols blazing. Because that's what we do. We never stop fighting.”

If I could talk about the Crows all day I would, like this is the best book I've ever read. All I really have to say is that you have to read this book for yourself to experience it.

“Crows remember human faces. They remember the people who feed them, who are kind too them. and the people who wrong them too. They don't forget. They tell each other who watch after and who too watch out for.”

Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom are a duology set in Leigh Bardugo's Grishaverse. Grisha being the magic users in her world. I haven't read the rest of the Grishaverse (Shadow and Bone, Siege and Storm, and Ruin and Rising) - but I will definitely be doing so, because Crows and Crooked Kingdom are AMAZING.

I was pretty surprised - normally books rotating between several viewpoints are confusing, but Bardugo handles the transitions seamlessly and unmistakably. I was never unsure of what character I was reading - each one really had their own unique voice. I also loved that she worked in an LGBT romance without it being in any way odd. No one in the novel found non-heterosexuality weird at all. It was treated just as matter of factly as opposite-sex romances, and I loved that.

Six of Crows opens on a gang being blackmailed into a job they don't want to do. I can totally see the gang has a D&D group - and the books definitely feel a bit like a D&D campaign, albeit one with a mostly experienced group and a very experienced DM. 

You've got Kaz, the ringleader, who's an all-around great thief but a superb tactician.

Inej, the acrobat assassin.

Jesper, the marksman hiding his magic ability.

Wylan, the rich merchant's son on the outs with his father and fallen in with a bad crowd, and talented with demolitions.

Nina, the sexpot who wields magic, and has a love/hate relationship with Mathias, the barbarian who's spent his life hunting magic users but is irresistibly attracted to Nina. (I can see the DM telling these two to hash out a background that will let them co-exist, which they obviously did.)

Each character has a complex back story that influences most of their actions, and different relationships with other members of the gang that also affects how they react. Their back stories don't just explain their actions in the books, people and events from their backgrounds also show up to complicate matters in the present. The wheels-within-wheels of the plotline is EXACTLY what I love about good political fantasies. The world-building is superb, and Bardugo has given just as much thought to the seedy underbelly of her world as she has the magic and politics.

I really, really loved this duology, and I see now why people rave about this universe. It is VERY well deserved.

You can find all my reviews at Goddess in the Stacks.

better than the first book and the characters felt more real, a great cast of characters but i do wish i felt more connected to them

not really a memorable series for me honestly but my feelings might change in the future idk, it seems like a fun book to re-read so i might visit it again in the future :))

As much as I HATED THAT THE AUTHOR DECIDED TO KILL MATTHIAS (I shipped him and Nina so hard. And he was still young. IT WAS UNFAIR. I think the death was unnecessary since HE HAS SUFFERED ENOUGH IN HELLGATE), I enjoyed this book. Even more so than the first book. It was also well-written just like the first one. The plot was gripping (especially the ending!); it was filled with action and great dialogues throughout the story. Some of my favorite parts were Wylan's chapters; his What am I doing here? lines, that genius plan of theirs, and that scene where Jesper accidentally kissed Kuwei. I was laughing so hard. Let's not forget when Jeslan actually kissed (marry each other already you two.)

You wouldn't regret reading the series; I would reread it sometime. Looking forward to the third book; I miss the characters already.

Took a loooooong time to read, especially now, but was a very satisfying ending. Had more heists and action than Six of Crows because the characters and world were already so well established. Everytime I felt it was too long I also found myself enjoying reading about the characters you know and care for, so I'm not even sure what she would have cut here.

it's been a while since i've read such a good duology that i can't shut up about the crows and the journey i've just lived with them.

it's quite literally my comfort group of people, the way they're contrasting personalities fit each other so well; they're so complementary. the humor that jesper brings, the fierce teasing nina brings, the crazy skill that i just can't stop admiring kaz for, the determination of mattias. the way wylan develops as a character and his love for chemistry resonates with my love for the subject as well. it's just, i love this book and the crows so so much. it feels like a family to me, i care about them so much that they're so real to me and i can't let them go and it's such a bummer this is where it ends.

the way leigh set me through high ups and downs throughout the book. i cried with them as much as i laughed with them. truly a masterpiece and it couldn't have been executed better. i loved seeing how each character opened up and their development. it was so perfect holy shit, they adapted and survived like one would in the barrel.

mattias surprised himself by doing things he never would've. i don't think my words are enough to appreciate what this book has made me feel. i'll carry the mark of this duology throughout. i've been made to protect this series

The characters are well developed and continue to dominate the show in this second book of the series. The plot is well crafted, and the book ends cleanly.

I recommend these two books - Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom. The combination of characters, backstory, and action in the ever moving plot will keep you interested. This was a perfect escape story.

Between 3 and 4 for this book so I leaned towards 3. Certainly a better book than the first, perhaps because I knew the characters so it felt like grueling to start. Loved the introduction of old characters that I knew and loved, but I felt myself waiting for a bit more development of key aspects of the story and they never came.

Sometimes, a book comes along that ends up making me cry when it's over. I cry because I'm sad there's no more of the story to read, or sometimes because I loved the characters. Sometimes I'm just crying because I'm happy that the book found its way into my hands. This was one of those books.

No Mourners
No funerals

This was a fun and satisfying ending to the story begun in [b:Six of Crows 23437156 Six of Crows (Six of Crows, #1) Leigh Bardugo https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1459349344s/23437156.jpg 42077459]. The characters are so vivid, I felt like I knew them as real people. There was a good balance of camaraderie and humor, action, drama, and romance. And a skosh of tragedy, but not too much. I was really impressed with Bardugo's crafting of characters with trauma that continues to impact them. These people have Stuff that goes far beyond a Mary Sue's “tragic backstory” and that causes them practical and interpersonal difficulty. And things don't get tied up with a “they won/fell in love and then everything was All Better!” bow. The places everyone ends up are mostly optimistic, but not Pollyanna-level.A specific shout-out should go to the plotting, with plenty of fun and surprising (but mostly earned) reveals. Kaz pulls off gambits that seem improbable unless you're a genius who's spent their entire life learning the workings of a whole city to serve an obsessive need for reven– oh, yeah. Kaz believably pulls of amazing gambits.Another area that stands out is LGBTQ+ representation. I'm an Old so maybe I'm easy to impress, but it's lovely to see a queer romance get equal billing (including kissing scenes) with the straight ‘shipping. Overall, it was fun, I feel like the Dregs are my friends, and I am going to check out more of Bardugo's work!

Usually sequels are very picky for me, more often than not, I would pick up the first book, like it and then not be even remotely interested in the sequel (even in a duology) but this one has got to be one of the most fascinating, fast paced, plot twist after plot twist book sequel I've ever read. I really enjoyed Six of Crows for them traveling and having a heist not in Ketterdam but I really enjoyed this one because it was rooted in Ketterdam and was less confusing in terms of visualization.
Love love love it!
Perhaps even more than Six of Crows but only time will tell :)