By HAYLEE SAESEE
Staff Writer
Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
“I would have come for you. 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-knives drawn, pistols blazing. Because that’s what we do. We never stop fighting.” – Leigh Bardugo, Crooked Kingdom
Synopsis: The crew focuses on their newfound riches after surviving unimaginable conditions. However, with the threat of jurda parem still looming over the team, lines are blurring and emotions are changing. In an attempt to return to their normal lives, the squad sets out on a new mission to stop Van Eck from destroying the Grisha. As tides shift and preparations are shattered, the harsh environment surrounding Ketterdam comes into focus as the team decides their fate.
Review: With engaging characters, twists and turns in the narrative, and excellent world-building in each of the volumes, the Grishaverse has quickly become one of my favorite fantasy worlds to read about. With a heavy heart, I announce that I have finished the Six of Crows duology. I adore each and every one of the characters, and I can’t bear the thought that the story has come to a close. Crooked Kingdom quickly became one of my favorite books from the start. This book solidified my devotion to the duology. Crooked Kingdom was unlike most series; whereas most series begin their second novels by slowing down and allowing us time to breathe after the first, Crooked Kingdom did the exact opposite, and I loved it. There was action right away, and the pace remained amazingly consistent throughout. This book also does a good job of focusing on the history of the other crew members, such as Wylan and even Jesper, who were not well-represented in the first book. In this book, I enjoyed getting to know all of the Crows better. Aside from the characters, the action in this novel is the finest part. Just when I thought the crew had it figured out and were at peace, something else happened. Overall, the Grishaverse has earned its place as one of my favorite fantasy works; Leigh Bardugo is a genius, and I can’t wait to see more of the crows in Season 2 of Shadow and Bone.