Crooked Kingdom: A Sequel to Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo Review

Hello all, 

Welcome back and we are diving into the world of Kaz Bekker and his crew. I wonder what your going to think of this. 

Crooked Kingdom  by Leigh Bardugo

The #1 New York Times-bestselling sequel to Leigh Bardugo's thrilling Six of Crows.

When you can’t beat the odds, change the game.

Kaz Brekker and his crew have just pulled off a heist so daring even they didn't think they'd survive. But instead of divvying up a fat reward, they're right back to fighting for their lives. Double-crossed and badly weakened, the crew is low on resources, allies, and hope. As powerful forces from around the world descend on Ketterdam to root out the secrets of the dangerous drug known as jurda parem, old rivals and new enemies emerge to challenge Kaz's cunning and test the team's fragile loyalties. A war will be waged on the city's dark and twisting streets―a battle for revenge and redemption that will decide the fate of the Grisha world.

Praise for the Grishaverse
“A master of fantasy.” ―The Huffington Post

“Utterly, extremely bewitching.” ―The Guardian

“The best magic universe since Harry Potter.” ―Bustle

“This is what fantasy is for.” ―The New York Times Book Review

“[A] world that feels real enough to have its own passport stamp.” ―NPR

“The darker it gets for the good guys, the better.” ―Entertainment Weekly

“Sultry, sweeping and picturesque. . . . Impossible to put down.” ―USA Today

“There’s a level of emotional and historical sophistication within Bardugo’s original epic fantasy that sets it apart.” ―Vanity Fair

“Unlike anything I’ve ever read.” ―Veronica Roth, bestselling author of Divergent

“Bardugo crafts a first-rate adventure, a poignant romance, and an intriguing mystery!” ―Rick Riordan, bestselling author of the Percy Jackson series

“This is a great choice for teenage fans of George R.R. Martin and J.R.R. Tolkien.” ―RT Book Reviews

Read all the books in the Grishaverse!

The Shadow and Bone Trilogy 
(previously published as The Grisha Trilogy)
Shadow and Bone
Siege and Storm
Ruin and Rising

The Six of Crows Duology
Six of Crows
Crooked Kingdom

The Language of Thorns: Midnight Tales and Dangerous Magic

#1 New York Times bestseller, October 16, 2016

4/5 Stars

What I Expected: I expected a punch filled story that made me want to stay up all night. I was hoping for a better story than the first one. I hoped to see more schemes, learn more about the characters and their world. To understand the elements that made this crew hang onto each other.

What I Got:  I wasn't sure at first what I had gotten so I let myself be dragged deeper into the world of magic, heists, crime and evening the odds. I was hoping that this book would be snappier than the last one. I just didn't get the love from this one that I got in her first book Six of Crows. To me this book felt like it should be two. There was two high points that would be great for two books, but I was sad that they didn't do that with this book. That is just my thoughts.

Review: The book had a slow start however I liked the opening scheme. The hide out was well chosen in my mind. Kaz has an emotional start to this book that I liked. Inej's realistic fears and reactions, even the impending doom are done very well. Seeing the Wraith shaken to her core got the story running and it gave the book legs.

Nina's struggle was put together really well and it does have the feel of an addict. It starts to tie up the the loose ends of the first book. The trade however was predictable and still just managed to be done well. I like how Van Eck's wife's singing becomes torturous for the group. The mass unplanned attack was interesting. It added some danger however I thought it was forgotten in the rest of the book.

Flying Shu is really exciting for me.

Seeing Inej attempts to fit back into the life she was ripped from was put together as seamless as lego bricks. I think this is what makes her role in the book stand out more than the others.

Kaz hints at his feelings for Inej and I found myself wanting to see them develop. The author manages to move the book quickly into a scheme with Pek Haskell. This seemed unwise to me. You are left feeling helpless but to watch it unfold before your eyes.

Nina demands they save the Grisha, this could have been another book in my opinion. She discovers more about her new powers and having to deal with not being who she has always known. Her story slots into Wylan mulling over his past and it was a good way to put his backstory into the book.

At the embassy Nina meets with refugees, her new power grows. Learning more about Kaz's plan like a bread crumb. Understanding that the crew are now wanted and have high rewards on their heads.

Jesper shares more of his history with us, how goodbyes are not goodbyes to him. There is much more to this gunslinger than people think.

Jesper, Mathias and Kweui are ambushed at the tomb, where they use Grisha magic to get away. They relay on each other to be safe. Matthias leads Kweui and Jesper to safety. They have a realization about who, what he is.

Inej and Nina's mission doesn't go to plan. Inej contemplates her own history that seems to be haunting her. she gets caught dealing damage to the silos and almost is thrown into a silo. Inej meets Ketterdam's newest assassin. She is out smarted and finds herself being out done. Meanwhile Nina is summoning zombie's to her aid.

Kaz with Wylan to get the seal of his father so they can carry out the next part of their plan. The great advice that they give each other. Only they find themselves ambushed by Per Haskell and his people. Kaz's escape with Wylan, first thoughts Kaz has is for Inej.

Kaz, Wylan, Nina, Rooty and Inej meet up. They move to a hotel suite to hide out. The gang turns on Kaz. He and Jesper get into a fist fight. Jesper is then forced to talk to his father. When he thinks that things can't get any worse. He kisses Kweui thinking he's Wylan. He's caught by Wylan.

The group form a new plan. That is when Jesper's father gets involved. The plan's complete with his help. Kaz hints more about his feelings towards Inej. He has a chat with her. He allows himself to show concern even guilt. That is when we learn more about Wraith 2.0.

Kaz tries to overcome his fear of touching people by changing Inej's bandages. The touch of his skin against hers changes the pair of them forever. Kaz kisses her neck and becomes unglued with his own past. After feeling this he finds him coming up with a suicide mission to take back the Dreggs or die trying.

In the gang's house he endures a bad battle. Kaz endures all they can throw at him as he retakes the gang.

Meanwhile Wylan is tailored back to his old self. When he's finally alone with Jesper he kisses him and tells him how much he cares for him. The Grisha makes a point to heal some of Kaz's worst injuries.

They start a new scheme with Jesper's dad at the heart of it. Nina helps him force the Merchant Council into a corner. Kaz fights with his "help" and injuries as things start to go the way he planned. Kaz makes  deal with the Rakva king. He continues to find his mind unable to let got of his past. Part of the reason he wears gloves and can't take them off. Its a big repeat if you have read book one. Its repeated a lot in this book too.

Wylan does this mission for his mother who he's found and believes is worthy. He receives Jesper's blessing to be with his son. That gives him a lot of strength and makes him feel worthwhile. He's kidnapped by his father where he is tortured and gives up Kaz's plans.

Inej lays out the escape route for the crew. She watches the Auction start. How the tide council gets involved. Kaz is cleared out. Pekka Rollins and Jan Van Eck in tatters. Inej bearly survives the attack by the other assassin. She just makes it in time to meet Jesper but he's not where he is meant to be.

Jesper fights off his own ambush by the Shu. He takes a ounce in a lifetime shot which is helped by Inej. Kaz takes down Pekk Rollins once and for all.

Nina uses dead flesh to create mayhem in the barrel. She misses her old powers. What her peers might think of her now.

Matthias returns to Nina and dies. They give Matthias barrel respect.

Nina pledges to take him to the North and lay him to rest there.

They all go their own ways.

Kaz gets a visit from the Tide Council three weeks later when on his way to see Inej. She and Kaz meet up where he reveals her family. He's got her a boat, his love for her. She kills Pekka Rollins.

Those are my honest thoughts and I am grateful for the chance to share them with all of you.

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Thank you again for stopping by.

Kristal McKerrington