Crooked Kingdom

Oh boy oh boy oh boy oh boy
If I had a wishlist for the perfect YA book, this book would meet all the criteria.

I'm going to structure this review in a series of dot praises for the book. Because nothing is bad about it. This is mandatory reading for anyone that likes YA, fantasy or has eyeballs.

-For once I can't find a character, group or nation that has a one-dimensional portrayal. Except Van Eck, but I don't hate him, just pity him for his deluded self-righteousness; and d̶e̶m̶o̶u̶s̶d̶s̶d̶b̶j̶d̶ White Blade but its nice to see the arrogant teenager who thinks they're hot shit because they're better than every one else at everything (seriously though, Celaena Sardothein is humble compared to d̶e̶m̶o̶u̶s̶d̶s̶d̶b̶j̶d̶ White Blade).

- Meaningful relationships that aren't either
a) Driven by lust and not love
b) Instantaneous and superfluous

- People overcoming their internal problems, with excellent character development driven by each protagonists internal problems/choices: Kaz's fear of personal attachment and overcoming/accepting the need to change all the things caused by the impact of his backstory; Wylan's fear of inferiority; Jesper's gambling addiction; Inej's problems with her past choices, fear of being in the wrong morally and fear of captivity; and Matthias' prejudice and fear of being a traitor.

- Diversity. Not forceful or driving an agenda, just simply there and good.

- The interplay. Heist books always bring have the best dialogue.

- Telling a meaningful story where the stakes aren't saving the world. I'm always ready to read a book that focuses on the personal stories of people who aren't picked by destiny to for greatness. A story where the final outcome doesn't benefit everyone, or save anyone, except the protagonists. This is why Dragon Age 2 is my favorite Dragon Age game, despite its shortfalls in everything that isn't its story-line. Its a hard thing to do; to be entertaining without raising the stakes.

- I can't really say anything more without descending in barely legible drivel and happiness for the greatness that is this duology.

More to come when I inevitably think of another great thing about this book.