Reviews with content warning for Body horror - Crooked Kingdom

I heard some spoilers about this book which made me drag my feet a bit, and I went back and forth on how much I actually liked it, but this was honestly like reading 4 books in one.

Six of Crows was so focused, so linear on the one big job; very much like Ocean's Eleven. Crooked Kingdom had several schemes within schemes, like Russian nesting dolls. I was worried I would get lost in all the twists, but it was surprisingly easy to follow.

I really appreciated how each character had to face their weaknesses, their blind spots and traumas, in order to succeed. I loved how this talented crew faced failures and betrayals and literally had nothing left. Despite how good the team is, they felt like underdogs.

My one biggest complaint

is the death that happened. It didn't add anything to the story; it felt like someone decided that not everyone should survive, so they picked someone to die just for the sake of losing someone.

It felt out of place and random in an otherwise well-constructed story.

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elthechameleon's review against another edition

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adventurous funny 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

4.75

This book is easy to get lost in. It has the classic found family trope, but the plot twists are so well structured and planned that it keeps you on your toes the entire story.

Matthias’ death was crushing, but does this promise to change drüskelle ways mean another book for Nina? Or another book for Inej and Kaz finally taking down slavers and swindlers? And how incredible to see the fearless couple develop so thoughtfully, carefully…the ending with Inej threatening Pekka and Kaz finding her parents reminded me that these two always find small ways to show love, even if the other doesn’t know it.

The overarching narrative of struggle and sins was artfully done. The investigating quotation is: How does one forgive after such acts? A good takeaway message with thrills and adventures.

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leona's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

Brilliant. Just f*cking brilliant.

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

actually got injured and beat up a few times, because I feel like things just felt too easy for the legendary Wraith. However, I don't think those injuries were handled the best. She was gushing blood everywhere after the silo incident, but was fine after a few bandages and a bit of sleep. With her final fight with Dunyasha, I think there still should have been some limping or something, like Kaz with his leg.

Anyways, other characters. Nina and Matthias grew on me, and I liked their romance by the end. I think part of the reason I didn't like Nina to start is I didn't really want to be reminded about Zoya. I don't necessarily hate her, but I just don't believe that she's such a tough bitch as everyone claims she is. And I don't. care. about. Zoya. Jesper and Wylan were also magnificent, and I loved getting more development for them both. And I have to say I was quite scared when

Wylan spilled the plan to Van Eck and I thought, oh shit. Kaz is going to kill Wylan.

The thing about the whole crew is that you just enjoy spending time with them, seeing them interact. The banter was much better than S&B and I did love the Nikolai cameo.

(Major spoiler here)

Matthias' death. Unfortunately it didn't really effect me because I had already read like 5 chapters of King of Scars before starting Six of Crows (but then stopped because I wanted to understand Nina better) and already knew he was going to die. I also think that if anyone was going to die, it would have to be Matthias, I think he is one of the least liked characters, has the most disposable skills, and probably had the least POV chapters. However, I think if I hadn't known he was going to die, I would have been shocked, and I would have been sad. I do think it was handled well, and I do appreciate that a character was killed off because it would have been stupid if no one had. Hopefully he will actually stay dead now.

My negatives mostly revolve around some small plot conveniences,

Nina and the net, (god those corpses were creepy) but yeah, that was just a bit weird in my opinion.

Oh, and the fact that even though I liked all of the ships, it isn't realistic to me for them all to be paired off with each other, and it does annoy me a bit. (major spoiler)

However this complaint was kind of redeemed by Matthias' death, but I bet Nina is going to get hooked up with someone else in King of Scars, which will also piss me off.

Lastly, why was everyone suddenly obssessed with waffles, okay this complaint is slightly petty but...

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

Kaz susses him out

was absolutely briliant. My two favourite witty, charming characters in one place. Wow. Now that takes me to King of Scars. Don't make the mistake like I did and start reading it before Six of Crows because, spoilers. Also I'm really conflicted about whether too continue with it. Because I've already practically spoiled the ending for myself and I am really pissed off by it. (KoS major spoiler)

I mean why I am I surprised that Bardugo was bullied into writing the Darkling in again. Honestly why can't people just stay dead. I don't want to read about the Darkling anymore. I don't want him resurrected and presented as some sort of martyr hero or whatever so that all the Darklina fans can feel validated for shipping horrifically toxic relationships. And I don't really want Nikolai and Zoya to end up with each other either.

What I want from King of Scars (that I can't have) is Nikolai teaming up with Kaz and the gang in some way. I just think their two personalities together would make an amazing sequel.

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.

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alexxm13's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny reflective sad tense medium-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

i am speechless, i am emotional. wtf amazing incredible i am shocked, the ending was so satisfying to see pekka be scared so much that he has to constantly move homes with his fear of the crows getting him, with inej about to stab him with the help of kaz unlocking the lock to his bedroom window a power duo!! kaz holding inej’s hand WITHOUT GLOVES…YES I AM CRYING FUCK. also jan van eck can suck it in prison that’s what u deserve for planning to kill the cutest boy wylan, thankfully jesper is there to defend him and read to wylan which is so cute. also jesper’s dad mr colm fahey i love you. now the pain…matthias…u are alive idc u are alive and u did not die to a fjerdan child saying that u are wrong because u realised it’s okay to love a grisha and to not fear them, the character development i’m looking at u leigh that was incredible and how much u wanted to destroy me, chapter 40-43 u gave me so much pain i couldn’t read the words even with my glasses on as my eyes were just filled with tears. the way the last words matthias was to nina and to find peace with the fjerdans and grisha and how they can change to be like him let me sit here and scream, “i have been made to protect you. even in death, i will find a way.” ALSO matthias’s last line saying he is already home in ketterdam with grisha’s surrounding him IS SO POWERFUL BYE. and u telling me the first and last chapter of matthias was about dreaming of nina. u can’t do that to me. nina deserved to be happy instead she was served with a dead matthias which is sad that her power is bringing the dead back to help her fight but can’t save matthias…yes pain. leigh really said let’s give alex pain and kill a crow within the last chapters cause why not but to hurt me and nina. 5 stars, i love i don’t know compared to soc as they are both top tier books especially fantasy top tier that this duology shouldn’t even complete with other fantasy books out there, leigh u win with the crows and their money, also money… kaz buying inej a ship that says wraith on it and then have a showcase on the ship with inej seeing her parents after so many years and FUCK I LOVE KAZ. jesper living with wylan and colm being the wholesome dad he is letting jes live with wylan and can visit the farm and accept being a grisha which hello is awesome with that bullet scene to kuwei (who surprise was happy enough to kiss jes and wylan being a jelly mess) anyways clapping for leigh and her amazing work on this duology that s&b can’t compare thank you, no waiting for s2 of the show :)))

Content Warnings

luluslittlelibrary's review against another edition

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adventurous dark 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? Yes

5.0

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