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safety_pin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Abandonment, Blood, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Murder, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, and Vomit
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, War, Slavery, Medical content, and Kidnapping
Minor: Police brutality
leona's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I think this book is better than Six of Crows, (for most of it anyway.) I think it starts slower, and hasn't got as clear a plot line, because there are a lot of layers to Crooked Kingdom's plot. However the plot was brilliant. The characters are brilliant. It's just brilliant. How do I even summarise my rambling thoughts into a clear review. What can I say that hasn't been said already?
Also I will try to hide spoiler's but I can't guarantee them all so... you've been warned.
The main thing this duology has going for it are definitely the characters. So I will start by talking about them (again). It sounds weird to say I loved Kaz because he is so morally grey, but I think Bardugo does an excellent job at writing him. I love his intelligence and getting to see all of his schemes play out, it is so exciting. I think his trauma is handled excellently, and even though I wanted more romance, I really appreciate that nothing more did happen with Inej and Kaz, because the scenes that there were, were even more powerful. The other thing about Kaz is that the reader is so invested in him getting his revenge on Van Eck and Rollins, whilst almost starting to see Kaz become Rollins. It was mentioned, that Kaz had almost become the person who would con young, vulnerable 'pigeons' from their money. But, Kaz is always pretty true to his word, and doesn't endorse in bigotry and sexual assault, trafficking and slavery. If someone is contracted to the gang, they are free to leave after they have paid their debts, unlike at the Menagerie, or places that Rollins owns. Does this make him morally better, despite being a murderer, despite threatening kids, or emotionally abusing Rollins (however much he may or may not have deserved it). I'm not entirely sure what point I'm trying to make here, but I think there are so many questions that this book presents about morals, and what actually makes someone evil.
Anyway, Bardugo handles trauma very well in my opinion, the bandage moment (is this a spoiler, I don't really know...) was so good, because of Inej and Kaz's shared trauma. I loved it. But I did kind of want them to exchange more of their backstory's with each other. However, I do think that most people wouldn't have found this necessary because they both just have a kind of shared acceptance that they have both had shit lives. Which I also greatly appreciated. I'm also glad that Inej
(Major spoiler here)
My negatives mostly revolve around some small plot conveniences,
The book felt less gory than its predecessor, but it probably wasn't to be fair, I think I was just a bit more prepared this time. I should also mention that the book, at least in my opinion, is very diverse. The characters are from a wide variety of ethnic backgrounds, there are a few gay characters, and also some disability representation in Kaz, who has a pronounced limp due to a previous injury.
Anyways, thinking of Nikolai and Kaz, oh ma gosh, that scene where
Here are some quotes I liked:
'I wouldn't throw myself off a bridge for the king of Ravka'
(speak for yourself Nina, because I would)
'I doubt it's true. It's just what happens when you let men name bridges.'
'If I live, I'll buy you waffles.' 'You don't have enough money to buy her waffles,' Wylan grumbled. 'Be quiet. We're in a library.'
'What about the nobodies and nothings, the invisible girls? [...] When the world owed you nothing, you demanded something of it anyway.'
Also, if anyone watches Merphy Napier on Youtube and are aware of the 'undulating' joke, I now can't unsee this word, and Bardugo loves using it. Yes, I counted it 4 times at least.
Overall, just read this duology. It's brilliant. The characters are brilliant. The plot is brilliant. The theme work is brilliant. Solid, well deserved 5 stars.
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Pregnancy, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Addiction, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, and Murder
Minor: Death of parent, Grief, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, and Trafficking
(Not major spoiler)isabellecate49's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, and Slavery
Moderate: Blood, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: Mental illness
megsg's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Blood, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Drug use, Mental illness, Rape, and Trafficking
alexxm13's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Addiction, Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, Kidnapping, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Slavery, Violence, and War
luluslittlelibrary's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cultural appropriation, Death, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Medical content, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Racism, Rape, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Slavery, Terminal illness, Torture, Trafficking, and Violence
agentsofromanov's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Death, Gun violence, Kidnapping, and Trafficking
Moderate: Child death, Death of parent, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, and Slavery
onlyoncetbj's review against another edition
- 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
after rereading: absolutely insane was my first thought. again. so much action - it does not stop. everything i said before still stands. leigh's way of injecting detail in a way that gives us the perfect amount of insight into what the characters are thinking, while still preserving mystery. brilliant. makes it incredibly easy to empathise with the characters - whether it's ecstasy or the revival of their most painful memories.
Graphic: Death
Minor: Death of parent
alyssadavis's review against another edition
- 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
Maybe there were people who lived those lives. Maybe this girl was one of them. But what about the rest of us? What about the nobodies and the nothings, the invisible girls? We learn to hold our heads as if we wear crowns. We learn to wring magic from the ordinary. 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.
Moderate: Child death, Death, and Violence
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Slavery, Death of parent, and Murder
knifewifestan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Grief, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexism, Trafficking, and Violence
Moderate: Homophobia, Gaslighting, and Domestic abuse