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Book Description:
Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price—and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams.Kaz’s crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction—if they don’t kill each other first.
My Take:
One of my favorite tropes is the found family and this duology delivers wonderfully on that.
Starting off a bit slow – and found myself thinking, “Should I already know things?” – this book is actually paced perfectly giving us (the readers) time to learn the [physical] landscape, meet these characters, and care about what they are up to. More than an action-packed heist movie, this book develops into a story where every chapter provides more and more anticipation of “will they succeed??? They have to succeed, right? RIGHT????”
I am so glad I already had Crooked Kingdom in hand when I finished this one.
Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo
Book Description:
Kaz Brekker and his crew of deadly outcasts 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
My Take:
I read Six of Crows and loved it! (See above.) It was an amazing adventure book with characters we love.
And then I read Crooked Kingdom. I give Six of Crows 5 stars. In the middle of Crooked Kingdom, I thought to myself, “What am I supposed to do here – give it 5+? Is that a thing???”
What makes Crooked Kingdom just a little bit better than Six of Crows is that in Crooked Kingdom our new family members are truly allowed to use their unique talents to the utmost of their ability.
Throughout this book I found myself thinking:
THIS is what was missing in a certain seven-book series set in a magical school – these characters share all the information, rely on each other, and trust the others to handle their parts. That other series was all about secrecy and “you cannot tell anyone about this prophecy.”
Though it hurt to watch these characters separate for the plan and not be allowed to save each other at every turn, we had to trust them to follow through and reach their goals.
Favorite Lines:
“I would come for you.
Pg. 184
And if I couldn’t walk, I’d crawl to you, and no matter how broken we were, we’d fight our way out together. Because that’s what we do.
We never stop fighting.”
“I don’t hold a grudge.
Pg. 300
I cradle it. I coddle it.
I feed it fine meats and send it to the best schools.
I nurture my grudges.”
“What about the nobodies and the nothings, the invisible girls?
Pg. 460
We learn to hold our heads as if we wear crowns. We learn to wring magic from the ordinary.
That was how you survived when you weren’t chosen, when there was no royal blood in your veins.
When the world owed you nothing, you demanded something of it anyway.”
Favorite Chapter:
Chapter 26 – hands down.
The Final Verdict
My rating: 5 stars
Would I recommend? Yes
I completely recommend this series. Read it!
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