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Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo



Book Review


Title: Crooked Kingdom


Author: Leigh Bardugo


Genre: YA/Fantasy/LGBT/Romance


Rating: *****


Review: So, after the ending of Six of Crows I was determined to find out what happened next and where the crew would end up and would they get their “happy endings”? We are introduced to some new perspective in this book as the first perspective we are given is that of Retvenko, one of Hoede’s indentured Grisha from the first novel as he encounters a whole new class of enemy. We also finally get a perspective from Wylan which we didn’t have in Six of Crows and while I was spoiled for a specific death in this series I am hoping and praying they were wrong because this character is my baby.


 

After the events of the first novel Wylan seems to be questioning what he is doing in the Barrel more so than ever now he is wearing someone else’s face, maybe for the rest of his life but he knows the Dregs are all he has now as he can’t go home, and he owes it to Inej to do whatever he can to help. After Inej’s kidnap, we see a different side to Kaz as well as the res to the Dregs, but this isn’t made easier when political ambassadors turn up from all over the country and there is a rumour that Jesper’s father is looking for him. As we approach the ¼ mark in the novel we finally see a little bit of Inej and what she is going through, and I don’t believe for a second that she is going to get out of this unharmed.


Van Eck is much smarter than I thought he’d be finding and exploiting both Inej and Kaz’s weakness but Kaz remains one step ahead, now he has Van Eck’s pregnant wife and he plans to exchange her for Inej. This book so far has been an elaborate game of cat and mouse with Van Eck and Kaz trying to outsmart one another, however, while Kaz’s plan was good Van Eck has connections that he is using to his advantage and they always manage to catch the team off guard and after the horrors they encountered in the Ice Palace nothing can be left to chance.


As we cross the ¼ mark in the novel, Kaz has managed to get Inej back but this is the least of their problems as they still have to get their money, prevent Van Eck from achieving his goal, deal with Pekka Rollins and saves Jesper’s farm from the bank as well as stay alive in one of the most deadly places and I was spoiled for a death I know at least one of the crew doesn’t make it out alive. Also, given the fact this is a duology, and this is the end I am expecting more deaths in addition to the one I was spoiled for. It seems there is more than one enemy the Dregs have to watch as there seem to be Shu hunting Grisha, but it seems they are after Nina after they destroy the White Rose, but I have no idea what they are after except the parem but then what purpose does capturing Nina serve?


When we learn what Kaz’s true plan for Van Eck is I had to admit it is genius but Nina and Inej aren’t willing to help unless they help the other Grisha in the city escape. Together they manage to come up with a plan to get the Grisha and Kuwei out of Ketterdam, destroy Van Eck and disappear into the night. However, one part of the plan requires Inej to high wire between 20-foot silos with only Nina for backup which means she has to do it without a net. As Nina and Matthias try to carry out their part of the plan they are ambushed but it happens that Nina’s old friend Zoya is among the Grisha ambushing them, but I am not so sure Nina is going to be able to talk her way out of this situation especially with Matthias by her side since his people have been hunting and killing Grisha.


As we approach the halfway mark in the novel, the Wylan arc of this story is taking an even more devastating turn when he learns his mother isn’t dead, but his father had her committed, so he could get remarried and have another heir, one to replace Wylan. It also seems that his mother is completely lucid as she remembers Van Eck and what he has done to her and she also never forgot her little boy. I have a feeling in addition to getting Grisha out of the city, the Dregs may also be breaking Wylan’s mother out of the asylum. The hints at a romance between Jesper and Wylan are also getting stronger especially when Jesper comforts Wylan after finding out about his mother and how Jesper seems to be the only person that can really cheer Wylan up when he is at rock bottom.


As everyone runs through the final stages of the plan they all go their separate ways to fulfill their roles. However, it isn’t going to plan when One I struggle with the wire walking due to her flashbacks and we learn how she really suffered at the Menagerie or when Kaz and Dylan are caught by someone they prayed wasn’t working with Van Eck. Now, this prices on most of their hands and being hunted by the Shu things feel like they are being to fall apart, and I don’t know if my heart can stand it.


As we cross into the second half of the novel, everyone is in danger no matter where they are, we see the groups fight their way through to come out on the other side was amazing. I have been glued to Matthias’ perspective to see when it is going to come but I really really don’t want it to, he is my adorable angel. While the crew may have escaped this battle with minimal injuries the war is still to come, and they have more than one mark that they have to keep safe. Compared to Six of Crows, Crooked Kingdom feels a bit lacking the suspense and tension surrounding the heist was amazing but the pacing and bouncing off the story lines feel a little strange here.


As we approach the ¾ mark in the novel, Kaz realises finally that all along they have been playing Van Eck’s game and how he is going to change the game to his advantage and hopefully kill multiple birds with one stone but in doing so he ratted Jesper out to his father and let something slip about Jordie. At this moment, I realised that while everyone has been trusting Kaz, Kaz has never trusted anyone not even Inej with his secrets. It seems this new plan is the most impossible Kaz has ever come up with and it relies solely on the honour of the Merchant Council to uphold Kerch traditions and if the slightest things go wrong they could all end up dead even Jesper’s father who has been dragged into this mess.


As the pieces are moved into position, everything is coming to it’s close and the only thing going through my mind was can Kaz be any more of an ass. I understand he has a tragic past as do all of the Dregs especially his team, but he is unnecessarily cruel and sometimes abusive towards the people that care about him and are trying to help him. However, he does have his moments, but I was expecting to see a lot more progression in his character throughout this novel like there has been for Nina, Inej, Jesper, Wylan and Matthias but nope, nothing. It’s official no more of babies had better die other I’m going to have to hunt down Leigh Bardugo myself because this pair is so precious I can’t stand it, if you’ve read the book you know who I am talking about.


As we cross into the final section of the novel, the Dregs know some of them aren’t going to survive what is coming but I am hoping. Seeing Kaz become further and further undone as we head towards the climax of the novel, I was debating whether he would be one of the Dregs that doesn’t make it out alive as he has no regard for life with the exception of Inej, he’s is even willing to throw his own life away for the sake of a payday and revenge. As the auction gets underway things seem to be going well until the Council of Tides make an appearance and all hell breaks loose.


As the real fight begins we see everyone fighting for their lives, but no death has come yet and with less than 70 pages to go and I am not eager to see my babies die but I understand that not all of the crew can make it out alive. God damn, the last 70 pages of this novel reduced me to tears and I am not a person who cries often over books. There is nothing else I can say about the ending of this novel other than it was beautiful, heartbreaking and you are going to need tissues in bulk.


Buy it here:

Paperback/Hardcover: amazon.co.uk amazon.com

Kindle Edition: amazon.co.uk amazon.com

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