Kaz Brekker and his crew have just pulled off a heist so daring even they didn’t think they’d survive. But instead of divvying up a fat reward, they’re right back to fighting for their lives. Double-crossed and badly weakened, the crew is low on resources, allies, and hope. As powerful forces from around the world descend on Ketterdam to root out the secrets of the dangerous drug known as jurda parem, old rivals and new enemies emerge to challenge Kaz’s cunning and test the team’s fragile loyalties. A war will be waged on the city’s dark and twisting streets―a battle for revenge and redemption that will decide the fate of the Grisha world.

Well, no matter how many times I tell myself I’m going to do a better job at finishing trilogies/series, it’s just hard to make any headway because SQUIRREL!!! There’s just always that shiny new thing that’s fucking irresistible…oof. But here was a chance for a small victory…A DUOLOGY! Unfortunately these aren’t terribly common!

So, whenever I start a book, I post my obligatory #currentlyreading picture on my Bookstagram story. Nine times out of ten, I don’t get any responses to that, and I don’t expect any, really. But it’s funny, when I posted that I was reading Crooked Kingdom, I got more than a few messages about it. And more than a few of those were from people who seemed pretty surprised. I don’t actively seek out YA books, with the exception of the Star Wars ones. That said, I also don’t have any weird hang-ups or preconceived notions about YA fiction. By all means, if there’s a YA book or series that you think seems up my street, let me know!! That was the case with the Six of Crows duology, and I wound up loving it!

One of the only complaints I had about Six of Crows was that, I thought Leigh Bardugo did an incredible job creating such a vivid & grimy fantasy city in Ketterdam, only to send our POV characters out of the city relatively early in the book. Some folks assured me that Crooked Kingdom wouldn’t disappoint me in that same way, and they were right, this one takes place almost entirely within Ketterdam.

This one gets…crazy. Kaz Brekker is the ultimate schemer, and Crooked Kingdom is like an extra large scheming pizza, with caramelized schemes & a scheme-filled crust. It can be hard to keep track of all the schemes, is what I’m saying.

Nevertheless! What makes these books stand out to me is the characters. Six POVs is a lot to juggle, and I think Bardugo handles this beautifully. Every single one of those POV characters is incredibly memorable in their own way. It was easy for me to gravitate towards Inej as my personal favorite, but oof…they’re all just so likable in their own way.

I mean, well…maybe Kaz isn’t exactly likable, but goddamn…there’s something about him. He’s a little bit extra unhinged in Crooked Kingdom, but come on…the dude is pushed well past the point where most of us would break.

I also really dig the symmetry of how every character is sort’ve paired with another. Matthias and Nina steal the show in that regard. They’re relationship is…kinda ridiculous & hilarious at times, but also achingly sweet. They both have this larger-than-life quality about them, and I fucking adore them as a couple. Also getting some more glimpses into Matthias’s past was really cool…oof, I could use a whole book about Matthias and his wolf, Trassel!

Of course Inej continues to be such a compelling character in this…I just love the imagery of her bounding from rooftop to rooftop, silently counting her knives…she’s so insanely badass, and this book finds her facing her deadliest challenge yet!

This quote gets straight to the heart of what I love most about Inej & these two books:

“Inej’s foot caught the edge of one of the metal scrolls, and then she understood. She didn’t have her opponent’s training or education or fine white clothes. She would never be as ruthless and she could not wish to be. But she knew this city inside out. It was the source of her suffering and the proving ground for her strength. Like it or not, Ketterdam—brutal, dirty, hopeless Ketterdam—had become her home. And she would defend it. She knew its rooftops the way she knew the squeaky stairs of the Slat, the way she knew the cobblestones and alleys of the Stave. She knew every inch of this city like a map of her heart.”

Oof!

I realize I haven’t said a whole bunch about the plot & that’s ok, I’m not gonna…there’s literally over 21,000 reviews on Goodreads, so this book is certainly not lacking in exposure. The Six of Crows duology is something that might’ve passed me by if not for some recommendations from some good friends! Both books are incredibly well written, darkly atmospheric, and filled with dynamic & diverse characters. I really dug the hell out of this duology, and I’m excited to read more of Leigh Bardugo’s work going forward!

No mourners.

No funerals.