Crooked Kingdom (Six of Crows #2) by Leigh Bardugo (536 pages)
The Battle For Revenge And Redemption In the Grisha World Continues in Crooked Kingdom
When we last see Kaz Brekker and his crew in Six Of Crows, they had completed one of the biggest and most dangerous heists in Ketterdam history: the kidnapping of Kuwei Yul-Bo. He is the only person alive who knows how to create more Jurda Parem-the drug that’s desperately sought after. Despite their success, the crew is low on resources, weak, and has to fight for their lives once again. Harbouring a wanted man is not an easy task, especially when all the powerful forces from around the world are after the same thing and the crew has been double-crossed more than once. Kaz and his crew will have to figure out a way to keep the secrets of the drug away from the wrong hands while fighting for their lives in a war that is quickly descending upon them.
A Terrific End To A Gripping Series
Leigh Bardugo has done it again-successfully written a brilliant Young Adult (YA) fantasy novel. The plot is well-written, planned out, and executed perfectly. All the plot twists got me, and are woven in seamlessly throughout the story. This book is action-packed from the start, and while it is politically heavy it did not slow the pace down. Instead, it added much needed history and information that tied the series together in a perfect bow.
The characters are morally grey, flawed, and witty and I love it. They are the reason I kept reaching for the book; I would often think about them as real people and wonder what they are going to be up to next. The fact that each chapter is written from a different character’s perspective really helps the readers understand them as individuals, and explains much of their decision-making. While that structure may not be every reader’s cup of tea, I think it worked really well for a book that is part of not just a series (duology) but an entire world-the GrishaVerse. For example, there are a number of references to characters we met in the Shadow and Bone trilogy. You do not have to read those prior to this duology, but if you had, you’d understand some of the references a little better.
My biggest praise for Bardugo is how she is excellent (and consistent!) in character development. That spans her Shadow and Bone characters all the way to the ones we meet in this book.
The Bottom Line: 5/5 stars
I have a love-hate relationship with YA fantasy, but dare I say it? This one won me over. I was also surprised to find that I liked Crooked Kingdom more than Six Of Crows, and I don’t often like a sequel more. There are two other novels that Bardugo has written which are based in the GrishaVerse, and I already have my eyes on them.
Check out my review of Six of Crows, then DM us to let us know what young adult fantasy novel you recommend!
Maiya Alismaili is a 34 year old bookacholic who currently resides in Ottawa. With a background in Human Resources and Psychology, you will often find her people watching. When she doesn’t have her nose in a book, she will likely be exploring the town for new bookstores, rewatching Gilmore Girls, or cleaning to 80s music.
Favorite Book: A Fine Balance By Rohinton Mistry
Favorite Brunch Spot: Cafe Cristal
