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neko_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
WOW this book, how do you even rate something so extraordinary in every sense?
First of all: the world. Absolutely breathtaking, every part of it. I have no more words. second of all the schemes and plans. Phenomenal in their very essence, I love the way this book never tells us the entire plan until it's happening. we are given the barest bones of Kaz's ideas, ideas which are so clever I can hardly wrap my head around them.
And finally, the characters. The characters are truly the best part of this book for me, they are so well done, and the amount of time we spend in their minds learning of their stories, every second of it is truly breathtaking. of course, Bardugo also punishes us for falling so deeply in love with these six. And while my heart has been rent out of my chest so cruelly, I will still cry from my happiness that such a thing exists.
I think what I love so much about this series is that, given a different perspective, they would be the villains, right? Yet to us, they are the heroes. what are the definitions of those two words really?
I so desperately wish that this book did not end. I wish I could follow each and every one of these characters further along their journeys, but alas, we have this bittersweet ending, and we love it so anyways.
First of all: the world. Absolutely breathtaking, every part of it. I have no more words. second of all the schemes and plans. Phenomenal in their very essence, I love the way this book never tells us the entire plan until it's happening. we are given the barest bones of Kaz's ideas, ideas which are so clever I can hardly wrap my head around them.
And finally, the characters. The characters are truly the best part of this book for me, they are so well done, and the amount of time we spend in their minds learning of their stories, every second of it is truly breathtaking. of course, Bardugo also punishes us for falling so deeply in love with these six. And while my heart has been rent out of my chest so cruelly, I will still cry from my happiness that such a thing exists.
I think what I love so much about this series is that, given a different perspective, they would be the villains, right? Yet to us, they are the heroes. what are the definitions of those two words really?
I so desperately wish that this book did not end. I wish I could follow each and every one of these characters further along their journeys, but alas, we have this bittersweet ending, and we love it so anyways.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Trafficking, Gun violence, Addiction, and Torture
Minor: Sexual assault and Rape
annapolly14's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
leigh bardugo give nina and matthias one moment of peace challenge
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Violence, Blood, Death, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Rape, Torture, Child abuse, Death, Grief, Mental illness, Murder, Sexual harassment, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Trafficking, Forced institutionalization, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Child death, Sexual assault, and Slavery
mlottermoser's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
After their last victorious job, the six crows return to Kerch to be paid. They are viciously betrayed and the wraith is taken captive. The book starts slowly but ends with a big finish. A fun mix between Sherlock Holmes scheming, Robin Hood’s den of thieves, and magic.
Kaz has sworn to take Rollins and Van Eck down. Plans may change, but the team works together. The Wraith is my favorite, but you have to love Nina and Mathias coming together. Opposites attract.
Kaz has sworn to take Rollins and Van Eck down. Plans may change, but the team works together. The Wraith is my favorite, but you have to love Nina and Mathias coming together. Opposites attract.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Murder, Rape, Addiction, Forced institutionalization, Torture, Kidnapping, Slavery, Bullying, and Sexual assault
leahfoko's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I love the crows and I loved this book. I knew I would because I liked the first one, and I really enjoy all the heists and seeing all the twists and turns and wondering how things are going to play out etc. This duology is so exciting and I am wondering at every step what is going to happen next. There’s just so much going on and figuring out Kaz’s schemes as they unfold is just so much fun. If you like a morally questionable crew carrying out heists and developing as friends along the way, you will like this series. I felt like this book wrapped everything up really well but also stood well on its own. And boy was watching Van Eck get his comeuppance at the end damn satisfying.
I am really, really glad that I decided to read the sequel after reading the Shadow and Bone series. The Six of Crows was the first book that I ever read in the series, it was recommended to me by a friend and I really liked the first book. When I watched Season 1 of Shadow and Bone on Netflix, it made me want to read the original series as well, which I hadn’t been sure of at first because I had heard it wasn’t as good (Leigh Bardugo herself says there are things she wishes she had changed and such). While this duology can definitely stand on it’s own and by no means do you have to read the original series in order to enjoy this one, if you are at all considering reading the original trilogy then I suggest doing so before reading this duology but especially before reading this book. Some of the characters from the original series show up in this book and again, you don’t need to read the originals to enjoy the book, but I enjoyed it so much more knowing who those characters were beforehand. I was so much more invested when they appeared, so if you’re wanting to read the original series then definitely do so first. It’ll be worth it.
Also DUDE THE STURMHOND CAMEO. I totally thought that he would show up somehow because I mean, he’s a privateer and Nina was a student during the civil war and was trained by Zoya and Genya. Like, of course he was going to be in it. And of course those two would be too. But yet I still absolutely shrieked when he showed up because I would die for Nikolai I love him so much. 10/10 cameo. It was so perfect and I adored his conversation with Kaz and Kaz seeing right through the disguise because of course he did. Perfect. Best part of the book.
I really liked this book, I thought it was super creative and thought out. I was so impressed with how the heists were planned out. If Kaz is a genius for scheming them, then Leigh Bardugo is a genius for creating Kaz and therefore also the schemes. Like damn girl you smart. The characters are flawed but extremely lovable and I thought they all got a really nice ending. Someday I want to read both the books in this duology again because the heists are so elaborate I think they would still be enjoyable to read a second time.
I am really, really glad that I decided to read the sequel after reading the Shadow and Bone series. The Six of Crows was the first book that I ever read in the series, it was recommended to me by a friend and I really liked the first book. When I watched Season 1 of Shadow and Bone on Netflix, it made me want to read the original series as well, which I hadn’t been sure of at first because I had heard it wasn’t as good (Leigh Bardugo herself says there are things she wishes she had changed and such). While this duology can definitely stand on it’s own and by no means do you have to read the original series in order to enjoy this one, if you are at all considering reading the original trilogy then I suggest doing so before reading this duology but especially before reading this book. Some of the characters from the original series show up in this book and again, you don’t need to read the originals to enjoy the book, but I enjoyed it so much more knowing who those characters were beforehand. I was so much more invested when they appeared, so if you’re wanting to read the original series then definitely do so first. It’ll be worth it.
I really liked this book, I thought it was super creative and thought out. I was so impressed with how the heists were planned out. If Kaz is a genius for scheming them, then Leigh Bardugo is a genius for creating Kaz and therefore also the schemes. Like damn girl you smart. The characters are flawed but extremely lovable and I thought they all got a really nice ending. Someday I want to read both the books in this duology again because the heists are so elaborate I think they would still be enjoyable to read a second time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Kidnapping, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Gun violence, Classism, Death, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Rape, Miscarriage, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Violence
There is so much violence, torture, abuse (described usually in past tense, these characters grew up in some really traumatic experiences). They are in a gang in a corrupt, medieval-ish city. So do with that what you will and be prepared. I put in all the content warnings as explicit just to be safe.chris_reads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Addiction, Confinement, and Death
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Trafficking, Violence, and Gun violence
Minor: Alcohol, Blood, Forced institutionalization, Murder, Gore, Rape, and Torture
britwalsh16's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I loved this book! Kaz & Inej’s complicated feelings for eachother are just so relatable! And Jan Van Eck is just a perfect villain! You have to hate him, and how he can treat his son that way makes me want revenge on him too. This book just keeps you invested in the characters stories, and their want for revenge and payback, and you just spend the whole book waiting to see how they get it!
but I can’t believe they killed Matthias!!! Matthias & Nina we’re my favorite! Enemies to lovers, and their hopes to make the world a better place like Nina did with Matthias! I can’t believe they didn’t get their happy ending!!! No one was supposed to die! 😭
No Mourners, No Funerals. 🖤🖤🖤
No Mourners, No Funerals. 🖤🖤🖤
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death, Gun violence, and Blood
Moderate: Slavery, Stalking, Trafficking, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Torture, and Addiction
Minor: Rape and Sexual assault
just_a_bibliophile's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
After having this book sitting on my shelf for the past few months, I finally decided to pick it up before the next Shadow and Bone series comes out on Netflix, and in all honesty, I don't know why I was putting off reading this for so long. I found Six of Crows so incredibly slow and hard to get in to, but there was something about Crooked Kingdom that was just a billion times better. Following on from Six of Crows, the next book in this duology continues Kaz and his crew's story, with the six back on the streets of Ketterdam.
The world-building was BEAUTIFUL. I think especially as this is the fifth Grishaverse book I've read now, I really appreciated how the whole world is just so intricately detailed and well thought out. There's something so magical about it all.
The characters were where things really got interesting. I adored all six of them. I felt like the characters had been developed on such a new level in Crooked Kingdom - we really got to understand them and their motives, and they all had such distinctive traits and quirks. They all had such compelling friendships and relationships with each other, and again, it was just truly magical to read about. The sheer complexity of some of these relationships was explored in such a clever way, and I really loved how all of the characters had their own unique ways of expressing themselves and their love for each other. The six of them together had such a powerful dyanmic.
While I did think some parts of it dragged a little too much, it did feel like such an incredible amount happened in this. It was absolutely full of twists and turns and everything unexpected and spontaneous, definitely keeping me on my toes. On the flip side, I did think that other parts were skimmed over way too quickly, such as the death of a certain someone , so for me, the pacing was slightly off generally: some parts too slow, some too fast. My only other complaint was that there was just something lacking in this. I'm honestly struggling put my finger on it, but I felt the same way about Six of Crows, there was just something missing from this that made me not entirely love it as much as I could have. I think maybe it's the lack of connection I feel I have with the characters? As much as I love reading about them, I just didn't feel I could truly empathise with them in the way that I usually can with other characters. As irritating as this is, I do absolutely adore these characters' stories and individual developments throughout the whole duology.
Absolutely worth a read for any fantasy fan, and I'm actually quite interested in reading some of the next Grishaverse books after this.
Rating: 3.5 stars
The world-building was BEAUTIFUL. I think especially as this is the fifth Grishaverse book I've read now, I really appreciated how the whole world is just so intricately detailed and well thought out. There's something so magical about it all.
The characters were where things really got interesting. I adored all six of them. I felt like the characters had been developed on such a new level in Crooked Kingdom - we really got to understand them and their motives, and they all had such distinctive traits and quirks. They all had such compelling friendships and relationships with each other, and again, it was just truly magical to read about. The sheer complexity of some of these relationships was explored in such a clever way, and I really loved how all of the characters had their own unique ways of expressing themselves and their love for each other. The six of them together had such a powerful dyanmic.
While I did think some parts of it dragged a little too much, it did feel like such an incredible amount happened in this. It was absolutely full of twists and turns and everything unexpected and spontaneous, definitely keeping me on my toes. On the flip side, I did think that other parts were skimmed over way too quickly
Absolutely worth a read for any fantasy fan, and I'm actually quite interested in reading some of the next Grishaverse books after this.
Rating: 3.5 stars
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Death
Moderate: Gun violence, Slavery, Torture, and Trafficking
Minor: Sexual assault
kendal_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Torture, Blood, and Death
Moderate: Ableism and Kidnapping
Minor: Forced institutionalization
riverlasol's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
OH MY GOD. I have no way to actually say this other than I am wrecked. I’ve never sobbed over a book…until today. I’ve cried but never SOBBED like I did for this ending. I took my time with this duology despite how addictive it is (mostly cuz school ugh) but that also meant I really got the sit with these characters and at this point, they just mean so much to me. I loved how sharp this book was, how witty and clever, the moments of levity were perfectly placed and the moments of sadness, of human desperation, of human love, they were all so powerful. I know this is a popular book and that it isn’t perfect (no book is) but it really is one of my favorite things I have read and it was more than a little life changing for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction and Violence
Moderate: Ableism and Mental illness
Minor: Child abuse, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Slavery, War, Drug abuse, Sexual harassment, Torture, and Trafficking
brekker_by_brekker's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, and Violence
Minor: Torture