My review
My book review of Crooked Kingdom
- Author
- Leigh Bardugo
- Series
- Six of Crows #2
- Release date
- September 27, 2016
- Read from
- 23.06.2026 – 02.07.2026
Book facts
Archetype
- Primary: Power Seeker (masterminds, strategy, resilience, overcoming impossible odds, earning every victory)
- Secondary: Emotional Alchemist (found family, healing through connection, personal growth, learning to trust, emotional transformation)
Tropes
Spice level
None. Romance exists in the background, but it never overshadows the story. The emotional connections between the characters are far more important than physical intimacy.
POV
Multiple POV following the members of the Crows.
Vibe
Emotional · Clever · High stakes · Character driven · Unforgettable. A story full of impossible plans, devastating losses, earned victories, and characters you'll never forget.
What I loved
- The character work is some of the best I've ever read. Every member of the Crows feels fully realized, and each of them has their own motivations, flaws, and emotional journey.
- The plot is incredibly clever. Every reveal feels earned, every twist makes sense, and every victory comes at a cost.
- The writing is beautiful. It's honestly phenomenal how often I had to stop and highlight passages in this book. I rarely highlight anything, but the writing and the messages were simply too beautiful and too valuable to forget.
- Every emotional moment landed. When these characters won, I celebrated with them. When they lost, it genuinely hurt.
- Nothing felt convenient. Every success had to be earned, which made the payoff even more satisfying.
The highlights
- The character development throughout the entire duology.
- The clever planning and satisfying reveals.
- The emotional impact of both the victories and the losses.
- The beautiful writing and memorable quotes.
- Watching this group slowly become a family.
Characters
The characters are the heart of this duology.
Each of the Crows feels completely unique, and every single one contributes something meaningful to the story. Their relationships, growth, and loyalty to one another are what made these books unforgettable for me.
By the end, they genuinely felt like real people.
I realized something after finishing this book. It wasn't the Grishaverse that I fell in love with. It was these characters. They're the reason my heart still hurts now that the story is over.
What didn't work
The ending felt slightly rushed compared to the rest of the novel.
The final fifty pages moved a little faster than I would have liked, although after more than five hundred pages, I understand the story had to end somewhere.
My final thoughts
I love love love this duology from the bottom of my heart.
This is one of the best examples of character writing I've ever experienced. The plot is clever, the emotional moments are powerful, and every twist, reveal, victory, and loss feels completely earned. I never found myself questioning the logic or looking for plot holes because everything was so carefully constructed.
What surprised me the most was how attached I became to these characters. They've been living rent free in my head throughout both books, and when I finished Crooked Kingdom, I genuinely felt heartbroken knowing I wouldn't get to spend more time with them. I haven't read Shadow and Bone, and I don't even know if I want to. That made me realize it's not the Grishaverse or even the world-building that I fell in love with. It was these six characters.
The ending may have felt a little rushed, but that small complaint barely matters compared to everything this duology accomplished. It made me laugh, it broke my heart, and somehow it left me feeling more motivated to face life than I did before I started reading.
This is one of those stories I'll be grateful for for the rest of my life. I honestly feel sorry for people who haven't experienced it yet.
Would I recommend it?
Yes, without hesitation.
If you enjoy clever plots, unforgettable characters, meaningful relationships, and stories where every victory feels earned, I can't recommend this duology enough. The character work alone is better than what many trilogies manage to achieve.
