Crooked Kingdom Review

Author: Leigh Bardugo

Release Date: September 27, 2016

Synopsis (from amazon.com):

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.

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My Review:

I'm just going to start out by saying I am so, so sad that there are only two books in this duology. The characters that Bardugo has created and the world that she writes about are so intensely detailed, even more so in this novel than the last (Six of Crows). This is the fifth book that has been written in the Grisha world, and Bardugo has perfected everything about it. The characters are extremely complex and dynamic, allowing even the slower parts of the book to be full of information on the characters and their inner struggles within themselves and the outer struggles against the rest of the crew and society. Though it is not necessary to read the Grisha Trilogy before reading Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom, I would definitely recommend it because the world is more introduced and the magic system more explained in that trilogy, whereas in this duology the action starts from the very beginning. I read the Grisha Trilogy in between reading Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom, and it helped me to understand a lot more of the world than I had previously. Especially in this novel, there were several mentions of previous characters from the Grisha Trilogy that someone who had not read the trilogy would not fully understand the impact of.

Overall, this novel is amazing and totally worth the read. The characters are all beautifully written and their relationships with each other are constantly changing and reaching new heights in this novel. Though I still wanted to know more at the end, the duology is concluded perfectly. I'm definitely hoping that Bardugo writes more stories in the Grisha world and some of these characters make a cameo.

Final Grade: A++

Six of Crows Review:

http://thebooknoodle.wixsite.com/akcbn/single-post/2016/03/25/Six-of-Crows-Review