Reviewed: October 2nd, 2021
Released: December 1st, 2020
Genre: YA Fantasy
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.
Helen’s thoughts: 5/5
My daughter kept nagging me to read this book so I did! I loved Six of Crows, so I thought I’d love Crooked Kingdom as well.
Bardugo’s world is so well developed and described that you can easily imagine yourself walking down the street, or drifting down a canal with the characters. And what characters they are, Kaz and his crew leap off the page as Bardugo lovingly delves deeper into each of their back stories. Kaz is still my favourite, though Jesper is not far behind, and then there is Nina and Mathias, such a lovely love story, and you can’t forget Inej or Wylan. They are all such terrific characters and each has a part to play.
I must admit I did feel the first half was a bit slow, as Bardugo spent a lot of time setting up the scene, but once you got past the half way, oh my word, the excitement just kept coming!
If you love the world of Grisha, then this is a no-brainer for you. Another great book from Bardugo.
About the Author:
Leigh Bardugo is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of fantasy novels and the creator of the Grishaverse (now a Netflix original series) which spans the Shadow and Bone Trilogy, the Six of Crows Duology, The Language of Thorns, and King of Scars—with more to come. Her short stories can be found in multiple anthologies, including the Best American Science Fiction & Fantasy. Her other works include Wonder Woman: Warbringer and Ninth House (Goodreads Choice Winner for Best Fantasy 2019) which is being developed for television by Amazon Studios.
Leigh grew up in Southern California and graduated from Yale University. These days she lives and writes in Los Angeles. For information on new releases and appearances, sign up for Leigh’s newsletter: http://bit.ly/bardugonews.
Crooked Kingdom is availble on Amazon.
Link to book on Amazon UK: Paperback | eBook
Link to book on Amazon US: Hardcover
If you enjoy fantasy books then you will love my books which are available in eBook or paperback: Book One: Sentinals Awaken. Book Two: Sentinals Rising. Book Three: Sentinals Justice. Sign up to my newsletter and download a free novella called Sentinals Stirring and get notified when my next books are published.
Helen Garraway 