Crooked Kingdom (Six of Crows #2) by Leigh Bardugo
- Publisher: Henry Holt & Co., 2016
- Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
- Format: Ebook
- Page Count: 546 pages
- My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
Even more compelling than Six of Crows, I find myself loving this book. The story was a rollercoaster, unveiling new surprises after every sharp turn. A riveting book indeed.
In Crooked Kingdom, there were a lot of heartfelt conversations as well as an endless amount of cons, and Kaz’s crew finally cared more about each other that their alliance evolved into friendships, love, and trust.
Wylan summoned every bit of bravado he’d learned from Nina, the will he’d learned from Matthias, the focus he’d studied in Kaz, the courage he’d learned from Inej, and the wild, reckless hope he’d learned from Jesper, the belief that no matter the odds, somehow they would win.
The crew members were all so young, and yet had already suffered so much. Each of them was an outcast of some sort, and I definitely felt more for them in this sequel:
Kaz Brekker, the criminal mastermind, was no doubt the heart of the plot. He used scams against frauds, countered swindles with schemes, and hit where the mark isn’t looking. He always pulled off purely ingenious acts, and even more so in this sequel. Also, Kaz showed more of his humane side, something rather touching to read of.
Inej Ghafa, the forever-standing Wraith, was brave and strong beyond imagination. She tried so hard not only to protect her crew, but also to walk out of her trauma from the suffering in the Menagerie. I love how she was always there to offer a helping hand when her friends were in trouble or having an emotional breakdown. Kaz may be smart, but Inej was definitely wise.
Jesper Fahey, the gambler, was still as much fun as was trouble.
Nina Zenik, the best flirter and a Grisha, always managed to do her job superbly no matter how physically horrible she felt at the moment.
Matthias Helvar, the very conflicted big guy, was all hopes and reprieves. He believed there was good in everyone, regardless of how sinful they already were.
Wylan Van Eck, the merchling and chemist, incredulously fit in the crew.
I love how Leigh dealt with love in the series, that no one ever batted an eye against being LGBT+. Oh, and the pairings: the cripple and the acrobat, the Grisha and the Drüskelle; the one who avoided his talent of being Grisha and the one who avoided facing his illiteracy.
Along with the marvellous tricks played throughout the plot, it was also very beautiful watching them deal with their own flaws and becoming more wholesome people.
[9 May 2018]Stop treating your pain like it’s something you imagined. If you see the wound is real, then you can heal it.
