#grishanovel

Author: Leigh Bardugo

Published by Indigo

Pages 536

Format Paperback

My Rating ★★★★★

From New York Times bestselling author of

Six of Crows

A Grisha Novel

When you can’t beat the odds, change the game.

Jesper taps his fingers restlessly. “Has anyone noticed this whole city is looking for us, mad at us, or wants to kill us?”

“So?” said Kaz.

“Well, usually it’s just half the city.”

When you can’t beat the odds, change the game.

Kaz Brekker and his crew have just pulled off the most daring heist imaginable. But instead of divvying up a fat reward, they’re fighting for their lives.

As old enemies and new rivals descend on the city, a war will be waged in the streets – a battle for revenge and redemption that will decide the future of magic. 

My thoughts:

**Warning: Spoilers ahead!**

As someone who absolutely loved Six of Crows, I was very excited to read this one and continue on the story of these wonderful characters in such a thrilling fantasy fiction world.

As hopeful as I was, I’m pleased to say that the book totally surpassed my already-high expectations, and Leigh Bardugo once again reeled me into the Grishaverse with a novel that is arguably even more complex, rich, and well-written than Six of Crows. I loved the various character arcs that unfold throughout the story, and the whole book builds and builds in tension, excitement, and expectation as the reader desperately awaits to find out how these key characters will ultimately fair in this epic finale.

The first book in the series, Six of Crows, was great in laying the groundwork and allowing us to get to know each of the characters, but by the time I was just a few chapters into Crooked Kingdom, the characters truly felt like old friends, and I rarely find myself caring so much about the fate of fictional characters.  They each bring something so fresh and vital to the group, and the relationships between them all appear believable, genuine and at times really heart wrenching. I am still amazed at how brilliantly Bardugo manages to juggle so many diverse characters within the plot, and actually make the reader care so much about each of them.

These characters have all been through so much, they truly deserve their happy endings. I was on the edge the whole time to see who would survive, and I still cannot quite fully accept that Matthias Helvar got killed off by a young drüskelle. I feel it worked for the story, and added to the sense of realism and grit that these characters constantly deal with everyday in Ketterdam. But of course I was rooting for every one of them to have their happy ending, so this death was certainly unexpected and very sad.

There were so many twists and turns that brought a really engaging sense of excitement, danger and adventure to this Six of Crows sequel.

I particularly love the way Bardugo is able to write evocative, raw and very powerful scenes that really tug at the heartstrings, most obviously the key scenes between Inej and Kaz, Nina and Matthias.

I am only glad that more main characters did not die, and despite the sadness of Matthias’s death, the story still ends with a really positive feel, and I was completely hooked right up until the very last word.The ending felt really well -rounded and satisfying, tying up all the loose ends.

“After all their mad escapes and close calls, he’d started to believe the six of them were somehow charmed, that his guns, Kaz’s brains, Nina’s wit, Inej’s talent, Wylan’s ingenuity, and Matthias’ strength had made them somehow untouchable. They might suffer. They might take their knocks, but Wylan was right, in the end they were all supposed to stay standing. “No mourners,” said Jesper, surprised by the ache of tears in his throat. “No funerals,” they all replied softly.”

Overall, as someone who absolutely loved Six of Crows, I was very excited to read this one and continue on the story of these wonderful characters.

Whilst I cannot really even begin to sum up all the action, adventure and craziness that takes place in this book, I do know that I absolutely loved it. As well as being dark and compelling, the characters and relationships become even more fascinating and deeply developed in this sequel. I’m just sad it’s over.

If you haven’t already, go read these books. Now!

Overall reaction: