Crooked Kingdom (The Six of Crows Trilogy #2)

They say no mourners, but I’m mourning. I’m mourning that this duology is over. I adored the first book, but the with the addition of the second, the two paired go up in my list of ABSOLUTE PERFECT BOOKS EVAR (which, Ima be honest with you, is kind of hard to get into. The Raven Boys is in there. Harry Potter is in there. You know what’s not? The Hunger Games trilogy or even the author’s first set of work, the Grisha Trilogy. SCANDALOUS)

This was so delicious. It was. Fulfilling, never disappointing, it whetted my appetite for a last job/heist story and satisfied with the level of a Shawshank Redemption-style smack down. It gave me spine-shiveringly-fingers-grazing-slightly-hungrily romantic moments, sweet first love moments, hungry lip-devouring moments. It gave me moments where I wanted to fist pump the hell out of every character, and then clutch them to my chest.and make soothing crooning moments.I read the entire thing in 6 hours. Then I re-read the ending. Multiple times. Tears and shivers and laughing and crying all at the same time. Every time.

I CANNOT ENUNCIATE ENOUGH MY APPRECIATION FOR THIS BOOK. I literally gasped at the presentation of one character who I didn’t see coming (literally or figuratively) but was so delighted at the brilliance of the author’s move. Everything fit. A perfect puzzle of a story that comes to the most resounding satisfying snap at the ending. I AM NOT KIDDING. BUY THIS BOOK. Actually, buy Six of Crows first, devour that (if you have’t) and then BUY THIS BOOK. And if you’re like me, voraciously devour it. Then as soon as you hit the ending, immediately go back and start re-reading, because you know you’ve missed details the first time around because the pacing of the story wouldn’t allow you to slow down and appreciate the nuances. That’s what 2nd readings are for. And 3rd. AND CAN I GET A HALLELUJAH FOR NO LOVE TRIANGLES?!!!?!!?! (THAT didn’t count. IT doesn’t count. I’m not counting IT.)

Thank you Leigh Bardugo, for this duology. Thank you for adding to my miserly BEST READS EVAR pile. Thank you for Kaz, Inej, Jesper, Wylan, Nina, Matthias, Sprecht, Rotty and every other brilliant character you’ve made so readable and loveable/hateable.

Although, could someone please help me out? Most of the lands are pretty obviously references to real life places. Can I get an assist on Novyi Zem? I know I should be able to figure it out – I feel like it staring at me RIGHT IN THE FACE, not mad, just….disappointed.

This review does not reflect the story*

I am so upset, I received a book with a Netflix add thing PRINTED INTO THE COVER OF THE BOOK… I am a little obsessed with how my books look, the cover being one of the biggest parts. I dont want a book with some Netflix add printed into the cover… if it where a sticker i’d still be upset but atheist a sticker would be removable. I am returning these immediately and as for the story I can not comment because I have not read it yet.

Well, I’m sad to say that this was not what I expected. When Six of Crows came out, I read the descriptions and the reviews and I knew I had to have it. When I finally got my hands on it, I burned through page after page, practically devouring these diverse, interesting characters and gorgeous settings. Everything was gritty but oh-so-suspenseful, and the characters’ personalities were flawed but lovable. However, the sequel seems to have lost the spark that drew me in.

First of all, the characters. They were the ones who captivated me in the first place–each one was uniquely talented and capable. Of course none of them were squeaky clean (with the exception of Wylan, and even he has a secretive past) because its a book about the dregs of society, but I fell in love with them all the same. In Crooked Kingdom, I didn’t click with them like I did before. One in particular was very irksome (warning, minor rant ahead). Nina’s dialogue is filled with unapologetic self-admiration and supposed female-empowerment, which was ok at first but it got old very quickly. There’s a line in the book about her being “all talk but no action” which I must agree with. Her relationship with Matthias consisted of her being all sass and boldness, with Matthias as her faithful dog, readily agreeing with everything. It seems to me that in recent YA books with “strong” heroines, they have similar characteristics: lots of attitude, sass, and arrogance, and their romantic partner is very deferent (example: Aelin Galanthius from ToG series). I wish authors would empower women without feeling the need to obnoxiously portray them as egotistical with a love interest who fawns over them.
Inej was my favorite character because she is so talented, yet she doesn’t heap praise on herself all the time–rather, she’s dignified and is just plain awesome being herself. Kaz is a close second because he is NOT all talk, no action. He has earned his reputation, everyone could rely on his deviousness and ability to get out of any situation. Sometimes his schemes fit together too perfectly, as in there were spots where it wasn’t believable or realistic. But they were certainly elaborate and exciting.

I also had an issue with how Bardugo used a painfully obvious tactic over and over again. The character would be doing their assigned task, something would go wrong at the last second, and then the chapter ends grimly with a cliffhanger. Now, lots of authors do this–first one to come to mind is George RR Martin in GoT–but I found myself getting irritated with this repetitive ploy. I understand that these books are about heists, but I wish that the suspense had been built up in a more subtle or sophisticated way.

Looking back, I see a lot of similarities to the Game of Thrones series, like the multiple perspectives, gritty environment, and dark characters. I can’t say that Bardugo pulls it off as well. Martin’s world is truly unapologetic–no fancy tricks to save his characters. This world is reminiscent of that, especially with (*****MAJOR SPOILER******) Matthias’s death. Which, by the way, dropped out of nowhere within the last 100 pages and was given very little depth and discussion. What was the point? Even Nina, his lover, doesn’t treat his death with very much gravity.

Overall, I kept reading to see the relationships develop and the heists go on. It’s not as bad as I might have made it seem–I’m just sort of disappointed. The hard copy is beautiful; great cover art and the edges of the pages are tinted red. It’s very striking–sometimes, however, I got bored with the story and my attention wandered to the prettiness of the book.

I love the book, but page 431 is missing; they’ve printed an extra ‘part 6’ title page where it should be – literally mid-sentence. Returning for a replacement, and if the next copy is okay I’ll come back and up it to five stars, but I feel like I can’t give a collector’s edition five stars if it’s faulty (and I’m wondering how many people haven’t spotted the fault because they’ve already read the non-collector’s editions and bought this as an extra).

Other than that the edition is beautiful.

EDIT: Yeah, the second copy sent had the same misprint. Be sure to check your copy.

After my reread of Six of Crows I just had to read Crooked Kingdom and even though I knew what happens I was still not ready for that ending. This duology is one of my all time favourite books!

Its no secret that I adore everything that Leigh Bardugo writes and of course this book did not disappoint. This was a reread via audiobook and I highly recommend listening as its a full cast and amazing!

This book starts where Six of Crows ends and its set entirely in Ketterdam unlike Six of Crows where they travel to Fjerda and back. So this story is a little different but no less enthralling and action packed. As usual the characters are absolutely wonderful and I love seeing their character development. I also loved seeing cameos by some of my favourite characters from the Grisha trilogy!

Once again I was completely enthralled by the story and the characters. The banter between the characters is my favourite thing ever! They always seem so much older because of what theyve been through but then they squabble and fight and sass each other just like your regular teen and it would just remind you how young they really are.

The development of my ships was another thing I absolutely loved! The angst and the slow burn between them and how each couple is so different from the others and each go through their own journey and together as a couple and then on another growth in their gang together. Leigh had their character developments in all different areas of their life and did it so well.

My favourite ship is of course Kaz and Inej. The slow burn between them and their own hardships and barriers theyve built that makes it hard for them to even admit their feelings for each other. It just killed me! But I really love how Leigh handles Kazs PTSD. He cannot touch people and I loved that he wasnt magically cured because he wanted to be with Inej. He struggled with it, it prevented him from being able to be close to Inej and it felt so much more real.
This story is quite different from Six of Crows as it isnt just one quest that they go on throughout the book. They have to make multiple plans and deal with lots of different groups of people. It was absolutely amazing to see how their plans came together. This book will take you on a wild ride!

The ending of this book is so satisfying in so many ways but will also break your heart and drag it through the mud and run it over with a truck. I first read this book in 2016 and I have never gotten over a particular thing that happens at the end. They had so much potential and it was ripped away from them. BRB going to go cry.

Anyways I highly recommend you go read this duology and all the Grishaverse books because they are amazing! I absolutely love all the grisha books but this duology will forever be my favourite!

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