Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Square Fish (2018), Edition: Reprint, 576 pages
Description
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. --
User reviews
LibraryThing member Narilka
"Where do think the money went?" he repeated.
"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."
CrookedOne of the team has been kidnapped and the lure of jurda parem has drawn many enemies to the city. Old rivals and new will test the bounds of Kaz's scheming mind if he and his crew are to survive.
I admit I hadn't really warmed up to Kaz in the first installment but that's no longer an issue. All the character backgrounds we received in the first book are given even more depth and by half way through I was fully invested in each character. I love the the relationships Bardugo has created, both platonic and romantic. The characters bond and build true camaraderie, using the strengths of each to balance out flaws, turning them into one highly effective team.
The main story line is very twisty! Gone was the annoyance of the constant reminder of character ages. The action scenes are intense and almost cinematic. Kaz Brekker's scheming knows no bounds, which is a good thing considering how many setbacks the team encounters. I was kept on the edge of my seat wondering how everyone was going to pull through. The payoff is very satisfying. Very.
I laughed, I cried, sometimes both at the same time. This duology completely swept me away and I was more than happy to go along for the ride. I can definitely see a reread in the future.
"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."
Crooked
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Kingdom picks up just days after where Six of Crows leaves off. Kaz and the gang have just finished pulling off the heist of the century and now their backs are against the wall as they've been double (triple, quadruple?) crossed by just about everyone. I admit I hadn't really warmed up to Kaz in the first installment but that's no longer an issue. All the character backgrounds we received in the first book are given even more depth and by half way through I was fully invested in each character. I love the the relationships Bardugo has created, both platonic and romantic. The characters bond and build true camaraderie, using the strengths of each to balance out flaws, turning them into one highly effective team.
The main story line is very twisty! Gone was the annoyance of the constant reminder of character ages. The action scenes are intense and almost cinematic. Kaz Brekker's scheming knows no bounds, which is a good thing considering how many setbacks the team encounters. I was kept on the edge of my seat wondering how everyone was going to pull through. The payoff is very satisfying. Very.
I laughed, I cried, sometimes both at the same time. This duology completely swept me away and I was more than happy to go along for the ride. I can definitely see a reread in the future.
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LibraryThing member cathishaw
Leigh Bardugo is solid in this sequel to the Six of Crows. Interestingly, even though I didn’t read the first book (my only Bardugo novel was Shadow and Bone, which I loved), I was completely engaged with Kaz’s story.
For me, Bardugo writes the kinds of books I love: strong characters, fast
For me, Bardugo writes the kinds of books I love: strong characters, fast
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paced action, and plot lines that are intriguing. Both books I’ve read by her have fallen into the “can’t put down” category. Looking for an entertaining and engaging read? Crooked Kingdom will definitely meet your needs. Show Less
LibraryThing member rivkat
This sequel to Six of Crows delivers all the intrigue, treachery, heists, and related scams one could want, melding with the politics of the new drug that threatens to make magic-users’ situation even worse in terms of their exploitation/attempted extermination. The ringleader Kaz has to struggle
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with his PTSD that prevents him from even admitting that he cares about anyone, while the young woman who loves him back has her own damage from years as a sex slave—I liked that they were very, very angry about what had happened to them and that there were no easy solutions, but they also stayed committed to the larger task (even when that was getting revenge on the people who betrayed them). Show Less
LibraryThing member krau0098
This was a very well done continuation of this series. I love the world, the characters, and the beautifully twisty turny plot. This is the second, and final, book in the Six of Crows duology. I enjoyed it a lot.
I listened to this on audiobook. I actually wasn’t a huge fan of the audiobook (I
This story continues to be very much of an Ocean’s 11 type of fantasy book. There is a lot of intrigue and scheming. Kaz is your completely invulnerable planner who has back-up plans for his back-up plans and always seems to come out ahead even when it looks like he’s been had.
I love all the characters in here; they all have a lot of depth to them and are each intriguing in their own right. I also loved how the story was told from so many POVs and still told such a beautifully cohesive story. Many times too many POVs fractures the story, but for this book it works incredibly well. All the characters’ stories weave together beautifully to form the main story.
This book does an okay job of wrapping up the main story. As I said, I am pretty sure that this is a duology. The last couple chapters had me a bit confused because it almost seemed like Bardugo was setting up for another story. Additionally there were quite a few loose ends that weren’t wrapped up at all. I am wondering if those will be addressed in a spin-off series or if they are just meant to drive home the fact that life goes on.
Overall I really enjoyed this book a lot. It’s well written, has some amazing characters, and the world-building is wonderful too. The story is woven together through a number of points of view (POVs) and it works beautifully for this book. My only complaint is that I wish some aspects of the story had been tied up better. Hopefully some of these characters will feature in a spin-off story at some point. This duology is definitely recommended to fantasy fans who enjoy an Ocean’s 11 style storyline.
I listened to this on audiobook. I actually wasn’t a huge fan of the audiobook (I
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read the first book in Hardcover). There are different narrators for each POV which is a good idea but doesn’t work all that well in this case. You end up having very different voices for the different characters depending on which POV you are listening to. Some of them are very jarring; for example the narrator of Wylan’s POV did Kaz’s voice very scratchy and squeaky which was annoying and much different than the other narrators. I personally would recommend reading a paper copy of this one and skipping the audio version.This story continues to be very much of an Ocean’s 11 type of fantasy book. There is a lot of intrigue and scheming. Kaz is your completely invulnerable planner who has back-up plans for his back-up plans and always seems to come out ahead even when it looks like he’s been had.
I love all the characters in here; they all have a lot of depth to them and are each intriguing in their own right. I also loved how the story was told from so many POVs and still told such a beautifully cohesive story. Many times too many POVs fractures the story, but for this book it works incredibly well. All the characters’ stories weave together beautifully to form the main story.
This book does an okay job of wrapping up the main story. As I said, I am pretty sure that this is a duology. The last couple chapters had me a bit confused because it almost seemed like Bardugo was setting up for another story. Additionally there were quite a few loose ends that weren’t wrapped up at all. I am wondering if those will be addressed in a spin-off series or if they are just meant to drive home the fact that life goes on.
Overall I really enjoyed this book a lot. It’s well written, has some amazing characters, and the world-building is wonderful too. The story is woven together through a number of points of view (POVs) and it works beautifully for this book. My only complaint is that I wish some aspects of the story had been tied up better. Hopefully some of these characters will feature in a spin-off story at some point. This duology is definitely recommended to fantasy fans who enjoy an Ocean’s 11 style storyline.
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LibraryThing member acargile
This book follows Six of Crows, so read that book first before this one! It’s the second of the duology, so that makes it the final book!
Kaz and the other have returned to Ketterdam after being swindled out of the payoff for pulling off an impossible heist. The first order of business is to
In this novel, the gang have to outwit the most evil, but they are hampered by Kaz’s past. It’s an intense novel with a powerful ending. There’s room for another novel, but it also ends. It’s supposed to only be a duology, but the Leigh Bardugo has left room for more if she wants to return to it. I really like these two books, which means I need to read the earlier books that explain the society!
Kaz and the other have returned to Ketterdam after being swindled out of the payoff for pulling off an impossible heist. The first order of business is to
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rescue Inej who was taken. Inej isn’t waiting around for rescue, but her options are very limited. Kaz is haunted by his past, giving him trouble seeing past the lies and making clever plans. Matthias worries about Nina, but they are able to get closer and rely on each other as Nina continues to ween herself off jurda parem. Jasper and Wylan continue to dance around each other as they each learn about the others’ lives. Jasper’s life gets more interesting when his father arrives. Kaz sees this visit as fortuitous. In this novel, the gang have to outwit the most evil, but they are hampered by Kaz’s past. It’s an intense novel with a powerful ending. There’s room for another novel, but it also ends. It’s supposed to only be a duology, but the Leigh Bardugo has left room for more if she wants to return to it. I really like these two books, which means I need to read the earlier books that explain the society!
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LibraryThing member bookappeal
The second and final book picks up right after Kaz and his crew pulled off an impossible heist in Six of Crows, only to be double-crossed and now in hiding for their lives. Once again, Kaz must craft a scheme with a ton of moving parts - much of which go wrong - in order to save himself and his
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friends but without losing sight of his ultimate goals. Bardugo occasionally indulges in some unbelievable details but the plot is only hard to believe because of its amazing scope and complication. With fully fledged characters, nonstop tension, and extremely compelling writing, this duo-logy concludes brilliantly. Show Less
LibraryThing member wagner.sarah35
A fun, thrilling continuation of Six of Crows, picking right where the earlier book left off and building on the character development commenced there. Deception plays a key role and I enjoyed watching the characters interact, challenge, and surprise each other. I would highly recommend this book
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to YA fans, but only after reading Six of Crows. Show Less
LibraryThing member FairestEve
Anyone who knows me well knows that even when I was going through my teens, I found YA novels annoying and have avoided the genre almost altogether. Instead, I'd either be reading children/tweens books or adult fiction. It's overall a mix of being tired of the same stories and stereotypes being
When I stumbled across the first book Six of Crows, I was simply looking at my library's recommendations for me and I thought it looked interesting. However, they didn't mark it as YA on the site so I was a little put off when a beautiful hardcover book with "YA" slapped on the spine was handed to me by the librarian. I contemplated not taking it out as I had been let down by the genre too many times to count. But, I checked it out anyways. What greeted me was a flawed story, but a very good one with characters I really enjoyed and an ending that left me angry that I'd have to wait a year to get my proper conclusion.
And that year went by slowly, but it finally passed.
Crooked Kingdom is a fitting ending to Six of Crows. The pacing can be slow at times, but overall this was a very satisfying read. I felt every emotion that each character felt, I teared up as I saw my favorite characters in pain, I laughed at all the new one-liners that will be on my favorite quotes list, I was invested in nearly every moment, and I enjoyed a YA series for the first time in years. It made me feel alive to a degree.
I could gush about the book for hours (and already have to my boyfriend who is just as shocked as I am that I've loved a series as this so much), but I would risk spoiling everything. Please, if you enjoyed the first book, grab this one and get your ending.
My only main complaint is that the characters, to me, do not act their age. They feel so much older and I suppose you could say what they went through forced them to grow up faster, but I almost feel it is a cop-out excuse. They are their age because of the target demographic. That isn't necessarily a bad thing, it just throws me off some moments to have their ages retold to me and it has to register just how young these characters are.
Get the book.
No Mourners.
No Funerals.
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retold in bland ways, the constant coming of age stories that, due to how I grew up, didn't leave me nostalgic or happy, but left a bad taste in my mouth, and the overall feeling that the books were dumbed down for readers in a way that was unappealing. I understood that there was a place for them, but that place was never on my bookshelf. If I wanted more teen orientated adventures or romance stories, I was more than happy with my manga collection instead. When I stumbled across the first book Six of Crows, I was simply looking at my library's recommendations for me and I thought it looked interesting. However, they didn't mark it as YA on the site so I was a little put off when a beautiful hardcover book with "YA" slapped on the spine was handed to me by the librarian. I contemplated not taking it out as I had been let down by the genre too many times to count. But, I checked it out anyways. What greeted me was a flawed story, but a very good one with characters I really enjoyed and an ending that left me angry that I'd have to wait a year to get my proper conclusion.
And that year went by slowly, but it finally passed.
Crooked Kingdom is a fitting ending to Six of Crows. The pacing can be slow at times, but overall this was a very satisfying read. I felt every emotion that each character felt, I teared up as I saw my favorite characters in pain, I laughed at all the new one-liners that will be on my favorite quotes list, I was invested in nearly every moment, and I enjoyed a YA series for the first time in years. It made me feel alive to a degree.
I could gush about the book for hours (and already have to my boyfriend who is just as shocked as I am that I've loved a series as this so much), but I would risk spoiling everything. Please, if you enjoyed the first book, grab this one and get your ending.
My only main complaint is that the characters, to me, do not act their age. They feel so much older and I suppose you could say what they went through forced them to grow up faster, but I almost feel it is a cop-out excuse. They are their age because of the target demographic. That isn't necessarily a bad thing, it just throws me off some moments to have their ages retold to me and it has to register just how young these characters are.
Get the book.
No Mourners.
No Funerals.
Show Less
LibraryThing member reading_fox
The conclusion to the Heist - a direct continuation from Six of Crows which should be read beforehand.
Having succeeded in stealing away the famous scientist's son, Kaz and the crew returned home to find they'd been cheated of their reward, and one of their own kidnapped for good measure. The
Well plotted with some exciting jinks and turns, some more obvious than others. The voice switches between the various members of the crew, as per the last book, which mostly works apart from the annoying cliff-hangers (literally of course in a few instances). THere's also a lot of maudlin dwelling on back-story, oh woe is me how did I get to be here hanging from my fingertips above a dreadful drop etc. AT least there's no repeats of information provided in the last story, but still it's not really the kind of thoughts that go through your head.
Engaging storyline through in places it felt more contrived than the last. Interestingly it does appear to come to a complete close as a duology which is unusual.
Having succeeded in stealing away the famous scientist's son, Kaz and the crew returned home to find they'd been cheated of their reward, and one of their own kidnapped for good measure. The
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'Scheming face' appears almost immediately, and a cunning plan is concocted which requires the dedication of all of his crew. But when Kaz hadn't recognised all of the depths to which is opposition was prepared to stoop, nor had he fully allowed for his own predictability, things go wrong and it's down to individual strengths to overcome their weaknesses.Well plotted with some exciting jinks and turns, some more obvious than others. The voice switches between the various members of the crew, as per the last book, which mostly works apart from the annoying cliff-hangers (literally of course in a few instances). THere's also a lot of maudlin dwelling on back-story, oh woe is me how did I get to be here hanging from my fingertips above a dreadful drop etc. AT least there's no repeats of information provided in the last story, but still it's not really the kind of thoughts that go through your head.
Engaging storyline through in places it felt more contrived than the last. Interestingly it does appear to come to a complete close as a duology which is unusual.
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LibraryThing member Banoczi_Henrietta
This book is phenomenal. Dare I say it's better than Six of Crows? No actually, both of them are amazing on different levels. Although this one did make me cry a lot more. It was everything I wanted and more.
I was hooked from the first page, it never felt slow, and the action sequences kept me on
My one complaint is that there are only books in this series. why
I was hooked from the first page, it never felt slow, and the action sequences kept me on
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the edge of my seat. But my favourite parts were definitely the plot twists; for me none of them were predictable or boring. I also really really liked the new characters introduced, and it just made me fall even more in love with the old crew. My one complaint is that there are only books in this series. why
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LibraryThing member GracePasquale
Not only did Jan Van Eck cheat Kaz and the crew of their money after they successfully pulled off the ice court heist, but now he has kidnapped Inej, and gave Kaz only a week to give up Kuwei before he kills her. Now Kaz, Jesper, Nina, Matthias, Wylan, and Kuwei must race against the clock to save
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
These characters are so incredibly well-developed. They each possess their own unique stories, their own strengths, their own weaknesses. I grew to love every character and genuinely cared about their well-being as if they were actual people. That’s how good Leigh Bardugo’s writing is. I could read a page of just snippets of dialogue and know exactly who is speaking because each character has their own distinct tone and mannerisms.
In addition to the characters, the Grisha universe is amazing in of itself. I love the world, the concept of the Grisha, how there are all these different regions with people, cultures, languages, and beliefs unique to those locations. The detail of this world blows my mind.
In Crooked Kingdom, Kaz and the crew are planning Inej’s rescue, keeping Kuwei safe, plotting to get their money from Van Jeck, and Kaz is contemplating his revenge on Pekka Rollins more than ever. I genuinely cared about all of these problems. My love for the characters made these situations somehow personal to me, and for the first time in a while a book was equally plot driven as it was character driven for me.
Kaz’s schemes are incredible and I was literally in awe watching them unfold. Sometimes you think the plan went sour just to find out Kaz had planned for that all along, while other times the plan really does take a turn for the worst yet Kaz knows exactly how to bounce back (sometimes). The last job at the end of the book was amazing, how Bardugo was able to think all of that up is beyond me.
Lastly, Bardugo’s writing is incredible. The last few chapters were written so perfectly, I had so many emotions while reading. The story didn’t wrap up neatly and perfectly – and I wasn’t expecting it to. Each character had a realistic end. And it was beautiful and solemn and bittersweet and BARDUGO CONTINUE THIS SERIES DAMMIT
The Long Awaited Romances:
Kaz and Inej: They have become one of my favorite couples of all time. This is the absolute definition of a slow burn – it’s tentative, scary, hopeful, and lovely. Both Kaz and Inej have experienced such tragedies and yet they are each other’s glimmer of hope. Inej’s constant faith in Kaz’s redemption is heartwarming. And despite Kaz constantly saying he’s a cold, heartless bastard, he still takes these tiny steps to show that that isn’t entirely true. I just love them so much. I really do hope and pray and beg for Bardugo to continue this series because I want to see so much more.
Wylan and Jesper: Ugh. These two are absolutely adorable. In Six of Crows these two were harmlessly flirtatious, but in Crooked Kingdom it became so much deeper. They both see each other’s inner turmoil and they just both get each other. Both of their stories unfolded so much more in this book. Wylan struggles with his feelings of inadequacy and uselessness, while Jesper struggles with his self-identity, his family, and his gambling. If you thought Jesper making Wylan blush in Six of Crows was cute, then just wait until you crack into Crooked Kingdom
Matthias and Nina: I grew to love this couple so much in this book. In Six of Crows, I liked Matthias, but I didn’t have a real connection with him like I did everyone else. But Crooked Kingdom made me fall in love with his big, goofy, naive self. I love his tentativeness to be with Nina, his politeness about it all, him getting embarrassed at the talk of romance. Nina is my second favorite character (next to Kaz) and I absolutely loved the way she teased Matthias and broke him out of his shell. I loved all their interactions and they were constantly making me laugh and smile. And for someone who doesn’t speak romance, Matthias is oddly very romantic
Overall, this series was such an adventure. I grew to love and understand these characters in such a short period of time and got the chance to live in a world full of witty banter, magical beings, and devious schemes. Can I set my credit card to automatically be charged whenever Leigh Barudgo writes a book within the Grisha universe again? I’d like to set that up.
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Inej’s life. Meanwhile, Kaz hasn’t forgotten about his money, or about his revenge against Pekka Rollins. Kaz has outwitted the people of the Barrel before, but what will he do when the entire city is out to get him? Can he and the crew outsmart the entirety of the Barrel? With so many lives on the line and plans to carry out, things are bound to go wrong. So the only question is…will what matters most go right in the end?~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
These characters are so incredibly well-developed. They each possess their own unique stories, their own strengths, their own weaknesses. I grew to love every character and genuinely cared about their well-being as if they were actual people. That’s how good Leigh Bardugo’s writing is. I could read a page of just snippets of dialogue and know exactly who is speaking because each character has their own distinct tone and mannerisms.
In addition to the characters, the Grisha universe is amazing in of itself. I love the world, the concept of the Grisha, how there are all these different regions with people, cultures, languages, and beliefs unique to those locations. The detail of this world blows my mind.
In Crooked Kingdom, Kaz and the crew are planning Inej’s rescue, keeping Kuwei safe, plotting to get their money from Van Jeck, and Kaz is contemplating his revenge on Pekka Rollins more than ever. I genuinely cared about all of these problems. My love for the characters made these situations somehow personal to me, and for the first time in a while a book was equally plot driven as it was character driven for me.
Kaz’s schemes are incredible and I was literally in awe watching them unfold. Sometimes you think the plan went sour just to find out Kaz had planned for that all along, while other times the plan really does take a turn for the worst yet Kaz knows exactly how to bounce back (sometimes). The last job at the end of the book was amazing, how Bardugo was able to think all of that up is beyond me.
Lastly, Bardugo’s writing is incredible. The last few chapters were written so perfectly, I had so many emotions while reading. The story didn’t wrap up neatly and perfectly – and I wasn’t expecting it to. Each character had a realistic end. And it was beautiful and solemn and bittersweet and BARDUGO CONTINUE THIS SERIES DAMMIT
The Long Awaited Romances:
Kaz and Inej: They have become one of my favorite couples of all time. This is the absolute definition of a slow burn – it’s tentative, scary, hopeful, and lovely. Both Kaz and Inej have experienced such tragedies and yet they are each other’s glimmer of hope. Inej’s constant faith in Kaz’s redemption is heartwarming. And despite Kaz constantly saying he’s a cold, heartless bastard, he still takes these tiny steps to show that that isn’t entirely true. I just love them so much. I really do hope and pray and beg for Bardugo to continue this series because I want to see so much more.
Wylan and Jesper: Ugh. These two are absolutely adorable. In Six of Crows these two were harmlessly flirtatious, but in Crooked Kingdom it became so much deeper. They both see each other’s inner turmoil and they just both get each other. Both of their stories unfolded so much more in this book. Wylan struggles with his feelings of inadequacy and uselessness, while Jesper struggles with his self-identity, his family, and his gambling. If you thought Jesper making Wylan blush in Six of Crows was cute, then just wait until you crack into Crooked Kingdom
Matthias and Nina: I grew to love this couple so much in this book. In Six of Crows, I liked Matthias, but I didn’t have a real connection with him like I did everyone else. But Crooked Kingdom made me fall in love with his big, goofy, naive self. I love his tentativeness to be with Nina, his politeness about it all, him getting embarrassed at the talk of romance. Nina is my second favorite character (next to Kaz) and I absolutely loved the way she teased Matthias and broke him out of his shell. I loved all their interactions and they were constantly making me laugh and smile. And for someone who doesn’t speak romance, Matthias is oddly very romantic
Overall, this series was such an adventure. I grew to love and understand these characters in such a short period of time and got the chance to live in a world full of witty banter, magical beings, and devious schemes. Can I set my credit card to automatically be charged whenever Leigh Barudgo writes a book within the Grisha universe again? I’d like to set that up.
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LibraryThing member jethplain
All beginnings start with an end.
What a bittersweet ending filled with hope and possibilities. I Ended my year with Leigh Bardugo's Crooked Kingdom and it hit me, The Six of Crows series just ended. Is it really just a duology? I need moooore!
The second instalment starts with the remaining
There's more character development in this one. The Crows really grew up by the end of this book, especially with Kaz and Jesper. They face and acknowledge their inner demons, came to terms with it and are working on to get pass it. I hope I get to hear more of them soon (stand alone books? or cameos?).
If you like The Grisha Trilogy and Like the Six of Crows then this is a must read.
What a bittersweet ending filled with hope and possibilities. I Ended my year with Leigh Bardugo's Crooked Kingdom and it hit me, The Six of Crows series just ended. Is it really just a duology? I need moooore!
The second instalment starts with the remaining
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members trying to gather intel to rescue Inej after she was taken. Aside from trying to get their money from their heist in the Ice Castle and getting her back, new problems arise. Grishas in Ketterdam are going missing with while delegates from Ravka, Shu Han and Novyi Zem have arrived. Characters from the Grisha trilogy also make an appearance and will play important roles in Kaz' ultimate plan.There's more character development in this one. The Crows really grew up by the end of this book, especially with Kaz and Jesper. They face and acknowledge their inner demons, came to terms with it and are working on to get pass it. I hope I get to hear more of them soon (stand alone books? or cameos?).
If you like The Grisha Trilogy and Like the Six of Crows then this is a must read.
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LibraryThing member bookishpeach240
let's just say that this book blew my mind. This book had me gasping with disbelief and shock every three sentences. all the twists and turns, and a certain incident that... oh gods, I'm still not over it. I'm going to write a proper review once I'm able to form coherent sentences.
LibraryThing member Herenya
I hadn't been expecting Six of Crows to end the way it did, and I embarked upon Crooked Kingdom feeling frustrated and impatient (I wanted to know what happened and I wanted to know now). It’s also a darker story than Six of Crows. In the first book, the job involves risking their lives but if
However, in the sequel, everything is going to hell in a handbasket. They’ve made enemies and this time it is personal. They’re fighting on their home turf and there’s no obvious chance of things going back. to the way things were before. It’s become a case of win or die.
Like the first book, Crooked Kingdom is tense and twists unexpectedly. It has teamwork and banter and some positive developments amongst the craziness. I was mostly okay with the final outcome and where it left these characters. I was unsurprised by what it cost - that turn of events fitted the story - but nevertheless it muted my enthusiasm for this duology.
The frustration of a story which is almost but not quite everything I wanted it to be, I guess.
“I’m fine,” said Inej.
Jesper rolled his eyes. “You always say that.”
“Isn’t that how things are done around here?” asked Wylan. “We all tell Kaz we’re fine and then do something stupid?”
“Are we that predictable?” said Inej.
Wylan and Matthias said in unison, “Yes.”
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they fail in their mission without being killed, although they won’t get paid, they’ve still got the option of returning their old lives in Ketterdam.However, in the sequel, everything is going to hell in a handbasket. They’ve made enemies and this time it is personal. They’re fighting on their home turf and there’s no obvious chance of things going back. to the way things were before. It’s become a case of win or die.
Like the first book, Crooked Kingdom is tense and twists unexpectedly. It has teamwork and banter and some positive developments amongst the craziness. I was mostly okay with the final outcome and where it left these characters. I was unsurprised by what it cost - that turn of events fitted the story - but nevertheless it muted my enthusiasm for this duology.
The frustration of a story which is almost but not quite everything I wanted it to be, I guess.
“I’m fine,” said Inej.
Jesper rolled his eyes. “You always say that.”
“Isn’t that how things are done around here?” asked Wylan. “We all tell Kaz we’re fine and then do something stupid?”
“Are we that predictable?” said Inej.
Wylan and Matthias said in unison, “Yes.”
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LibraryThing member Faith_Murri
This book finally did what all 4 books before it failed to do.
It made it to my favorites list.
That was how you survived when you weren’t chosen, when there was no royal blood in your veins. When the world owed you nothing, you demanded something of it anyway.
I started this with low expectations,
In specifics, I loved Nina's new abilities and the utter horror of their reality (I'm trash for possessed dead people; weird, I know ¯_(ツ)_/¯ ). I loved Jesper's battle to accept his own faults and his own gifts, and how his father played a key role in the plot. I loved Wylan's similar journey, and I loved that they helped each other through their hardships. I loved Inej and her warrior's spirit. I loved Kaz and his open ending. I loved Matthias and his goofy, fish-out-of-water kindness and equally compelling struggles. I even loved Kuwei and his stupid little antics.
This book had me sobbing all the time. I was a mess. I stayed up to ungodly hours reading this and further ruined my already damaged circadian rhythm. I'm so glad I read it. Maybe, upon a re-read, I'll like the first one more because of this one.
Crows remember human faces. They remember the people who feed them, who are kind to them. And the people who wrong them too. They don’t forget. They tell each other who to look after and who to watch out for.
Read this review and more on my blog here!
It made it to my favorites list.
That was how you survived when you weren’t chosen, when there was no royal blood in your veins. When the world owed you nothing, you demanded something of it anyway.
I started this with low expectations,
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to be honest. I had been let down by Six of Crows and didn't want to repeat my disappointment. And I think those low expectations saved me just a little bit. While I still had reservations in the first 100-or-so pages, by the midpoint, I was sufficiently hooked. Honestly, I feel like the real problem with this duology is that the first book is bogged down by thematic set up that only pays off in this book. The plot was better paced, held more tension and stakes. There were real ideas here to latch onto, and real character moments that didn't feel too contrived or that they were entirely for the aesthetic. I felt myself begin to truly care for the characters and their problems, especially those characters who hadn't managed to snag me in the first book, like Jesper, Wylan, and Matthias. And those who I already cared for only became more important to me, primarily Kaz and Inej.In specifics, I loved Nina's new abilities and the utter horror of their reality (I'm trash for possessed dead people; weird, I know ¯_(ツ)_/¯ ). I loved Jesper's battle to accept his own faults and his own gifts, and how his father played a key role in the plot. I loved Wylan's similar journey, and I loved that they helped each other through their hardships. I loved Inej and her warrior's spirit. I loved Kaz and his open ending. I loved Matthias and his goofy, fish-out-of-water kindness and equally compelling struggles. I even loved Kuwei and his stupid little antics.
This book had me sobbing all the time. I was a mess. I stayed up to ungodly hours reading this and further ruined my already damaged circadian rhythm. I'm so glad I read it. Maybe, upon a re-read, I'll like the first one more because of this one.
Crows remember human faces. They remember the people who feed them, who are kind to them. And the people who wrong them too. They don’t forget. They tell each other who to look after and who to watch out for.
Read this review and more on my blog here!
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LibraryThing member ShellyPYA
Kaz and his crew find their loyalties tested after pulling off an impossible heist and are forced to fight for their lives when powerful enemies descend on Ketterdam in pursuit of knowledge about a dangerous drug.
LibraryThing member tamaranewman
Heart. Broken.
LibraryThing member jdifelice
Ugh this book was just so good. I LOVED it. It was such a great conclusion and the writing was beautiful, the story flowed so well and I just loved all the characters. I loved seeing their development and flaws and Bardugo did a great job of making them feel human.
Full review to come later :)
Full review to come later :)
LibraryThing member damred
I don’t have the proper words to describe how much I loved this book, this world and the characters.
Everything was perfect, I loved the twists and especially the way it was written, the twists were smart and I rarely if at all saw them coming. I will be re-reading this series. Favorite series
Everything was perfect, I loved the twists and especially the way it was written, the twists were smart and I rarely if at all saw them coming. I will be re-reading this series. Favorite series
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I’ve ever read. Show Less
LibraryThing member m_mozeleski
The excellent sequel to Six Of Crows, it shows Kaz Brekker's crew growing and becoming even closer than before. A fantastic story.
LibraryThing member passion4reading
After the events in Six of Crows the action picks up almost seamlessly in this second and concluding volume of the duology, and the already high stakes have been raised even higher. If possible, the tension is increased by a notch or two, with the change in POV acting as a mini-cliffhanger so that
Escapism in the best sense of the word.
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I felt I had to carry on reading until I knew what had happened to the character involved. While I enjoyed the world-building as much as in the first volume, it is the characterisation that really stands out for me: each character is portrayed with their frailties and flaws, but also their courage, determination and loyalty to their friends, and I cared deeply about them. I was sad to reach the final page and say goodbye, and wish the series had continued.Escapism in the best sense of the word.
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LibraryThing member anacskie
"Crows remember human faces. They remember the people who feed them, who are kind to them. And the people who wrong them too.
I truly enjoyed the second installment of this duology series by Leigh Bardugo. But I have to admit that it is also a book that I find extremely hard to review, because of
If you couldn't beat the odds, you changed the game.
In this book, unlike the first one, the setting is mainly within the city of Ketterdam. The story picks up where it left off. Kaz and the gang came back to Ketterdam so eager to received their rewards. But instead of getting the fat reward that Jan Van Eck (the merchant who hired them) promised, they found out that Van Eck double crossed them. On top of that, he kidnapped one member of their valuable crew, holding her hostage for ransom.
The stakes just keep getting bigger in this book, plus enemies of Kaz and the gang just increased in number. It was definitely a roller coaster ride that will leave you breathless. One of the things I liked in this book is the fact that you get to know more of each characters, their emotions, fears, dreams/hopes and what they had been through.
Has she really thought the world didn't change? She was a fool. The world was made of miracles, unexpected earthquakes, storms that came from nowhere and might reshape a continent.
To sum it up, the book is not only about the crazy non-stop action of gun fights/acrobatics, genius schemes and revenge. It was also about family, friendship, trust/loyalty, love and camaraderie. I actually shed some few tears (don't judge me) most especially towards the end. It definitely deserves all the accolades it got.
Although, I was craving for more, I have to admit it ended perfectly. An epic conclusion to an awesome series. I rarely give five stars and this book deserves way more.
I truly enjoyed the second installment of this duology series by Leigh Bardugo. But I have to admit that it is also a book that I find extremely hard to review, because of
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the fact that this book has about half a dozen points of view from different characters. But Bardugo has a way of making each character fascinating that each view did not became so redundant. She has skills that kept the whole process of multiple POV more natural instead of being forced. I have read other books with tons of POV and it always comes out so contrived.If you couldn't beat the odds, you changed the game.
In this book, unlike the first one, the setting is mainly within the city of Ketterdam. The story picks up where it left off. Kaz and the gang came back to Ketterdam so eager to received their rewards. But instead of getting the fat reward that Jan Van Eck (the merchant who hired them) promised, they found out that Van Eck double crossed them. On top of that, he kidnapped one member of their valuable crew, holding her hostage for ransom.
The stakes just keep getting bigger in this book, plus enemies of Kaz and the gang just increased in number. It was definitely a roller coaster ride that will leave you breathless. One of the things I liked in this book is the fact that you get to know more of each characters, their emotions, fears, dreams/hopes and what they had been through.
Has she really thought the world didn't change? She was a fool. The world was made of miracles, unexpected earthquakes, storms that came from nowhere and might reshape a continent.
To sum it up, the book is not only about the crazy non-stop action of gun fights/acrobatics, genius schemes and revenge. It was also about family, friendship, trust/loyalty, love and camaraderie. I actually shed some few tears (don't judge me) most especially towards the end. It definitely deserves all the accolades it got.
Although, I was craving for more, I have to admit it ended perfectly. An epic conclusion to an awesome series. I rarely give five stars and this book deserves way more.
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LibraryThing member emeraldreverie
More of the same great pain march through your heart.
LibraryThing member SBoren
I purchased this book from Half Priced Books to read with my bestie Christina All opinions are my own. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo. This book left me wrecked and fulfilled in the same breath. The world building is beautiful even in the slums of The Barrell. In the
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aftermath of the breaking into the Ice Castle. Kaz and his band of misfits are on the brink of disaster with the entire town looking to claim the price on their heads. Wylan's dad is a monster like no other and the entire gang will work to their death to ruin his reputation. When you can't beat the odds, change the game.......Review also posted on Instagram @borenbooks, Library Thing, Goodreads/StacieBoren, Amazon, Twitter @jason_stacie and my blog at readsbystacie.com Show Less
LibraryThing member AmalieTurner
I love this cast of characters like they were my own family. Leigh Bardugo has such an amazing way of crafting characters that I could read a line and know immediately who it was before the character's name was written because they each had such unique and defined personalities. Of the two in the
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duology, I think Six of Crows is my favorite but they are both so incredible! Show Less
Awards
Locus Award (Finalist — Young Adult Novel — 2017)
Kids' Book Choice Awards (Finalist — 2017)
Nerdy Book Award (Young Adult Literature — 2016)
Los Angeles Public Library Best of the Year (Teen — 2016)
Original language
English
Original publication date
2016-09-27
Physical description
576 p.; 8.21 inches
ISBN
1250076978 / 9781250076977