There are a lot of Booktok videos where a person just holds up a book and says it’s fantastic, without providing any details to lure one into reading it. They love it so much they are at a loss for details. That is how I feel writing this review, but I have overcome my dazzle to set down the details of this marvelous book.
Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo is the final book in the Six of Crows duology, the first book of which I reviewed here. I thoroughly enjoyed Six of Crows, but I loved Crooked Kingdom even more.
Two things make these books so great: twisty, exciting plots and extremely well drawn characters. In this book, six members, most from the Dregs gang under the leadership of charismatic and cold Kaz Brekker, set off to rescue one of their number who was kidnapped in the last book. Kaz is plotting revenge for the kidnapping, as well as for other actions by the powerful merchant which closed out the first book. The gang have with them a powerful boy who makes a highly addictive drug that give the Grisha–magical beings–untold power but with dire consequences. Everyone is after the boy to control the powerful drug.
The plot is too good to give away, but it involves daring and vengeful plans, crushing defeats, brilliant solutions, and intense relationships among the six members. There is Kaz, who underneath his icy genius cannot seem to overcome past trauma to act on his feelings for Inej, called the Wraith for her stealth and ability to climb any structure, no matter how dangerous. Then there is Mathias and Nina, with hunky, imposing Mathias head over heels for the mischievous Grisha, who returns his feelings but teases him mercilessly. Finally there is Jesper and Wylan, whose attraction grows as they work together to take down the merchant–who happens to be Wylan’s father.
But the romantic tensions are only part of the story. The individual talents each possesses make this a formidable yet scrappy team. Kaz is a brilliant, ruthless strategist, who despite his dark actions is magnetically attractive (at least to me, who has an unfortunate thing for tormented bad boys). He is a great central character that holds the plot together. There is Inej, who I mention above, who has her own deep trauma but incomparable tracking skills. The strongman of the group, Mathias, comes from a land that targeted Grisha, a frame of mind that he gives up as he works more closely with them, especially Nina. Nina is a Heartrender, who can control people’s bodies with a spread of her hands. Jesper is a sharpshooter and hides the fact he is also a Grisha, like his late mother. Finally, there is a Wylan, a former rich boy whose own father tried to have him killed, rejecting his son for a new family, with no regard for Wylan as a brilliant chemist (and the gang’s demolition expert). The villains are equally well drawn, and you truly grow to loathe them. They are compelling adversaries.
This book is a true adventure, and I was absorbed in the world. What makes this fantasy book so compelling to me is the relationships, but the actions of the characters are also engaging. There are many ups and downs, which keeps the tension going. There’s also humor and a well done ending. I loved loved loved this book and the whole duology. Highly recommended!
