Book: Crooked Kingdom (Six of Crows #2) by Leigh Bardugo

★★★★¹⁄₂/★★★★★

“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.”  

I knew the moment I finished Six of Crows I had to read this book right away! I loved the first book but Crooked Kingdom took my love for it to a whole new level. I mean, oh my god Kaz and his crew! It's been a crazy ride this book and every twist and turn will make you love it more. Like seriously!

So we're back with Kaz and his crew after they broke in and out of the Ice Court. It was a suicide mission, an impossible heist, but thank all the Saints they got what they came for (more or less) in the form of Kuwei Yul-bo. They were to get their reward that could make them rich beyond their wildest dreams when Van Eck crossed them. Uh-oh, not a good idea. But Kaz is smart and he'd somehow expected that to happen so he had a plan. The only problem was he made a teeny tiny mistake that caused them to lose Inej. Now they're plotting to get Inej back and make Van Eck regret crossing them. And when the news about jurda parem spreads and reaches the leaders around the world, Kaz needs all the help (and tricks) he can get to protect Kuwei and rescue Inej at the same time. To make things a lot messier, Van Eck teamed up with Pekka Rollins and if Kaz gets lucky, he can get Inej back, can protect Kuwei, make Van Eck pay and finally get his revenge to Pekka Rollins all at the same time.

My gahd! This book is a masterpiece! If the first book managed to wow me, this book, this book!!! has blown me away. The character development is superb and every character deserves a round of applause! *clap clap clap* We have a wonderful and awesome world building and of course there's Bargudo's brilliant writing style.

“Have any of you wondered what I did with all the cash Pekka Rollins gave us?” 
“Guns?” asked Jesper.“Ships?” queried Inej.“Bombs?” suggested Wylan. “Political bribes?” offered Nina. They all looked at Matthias. “This is where you tell us how awful we are,” she whispered.

Kaz, Inej, Nina, Matthias, Jesper and Wylan. These six people has grown so much in this book, each carrying a role that is crucial to the group. Their every action affects the group and I think that's why I love them so much because they work perfectly together and yes, they might've done some mistakes but they regret and learn from it because they knew that their lives depend on every action they do. Kaz is as cunning as ever, still giving the orders and running things around. When Ketterdam turns its back on him, he makes sure to make every person responsible pay and to get his home back. Inej is braver and more determined after what Van Eck did. She's still that strong-willed girl who believes in her friends. Nina and Matthias are lovely in this book! I love those witty banters Nina always throws Matthias and I have to admit that Matthias has somehow started to sound like one of them everytime they plot something. Jesper still has his sense of humor and I don't think I can love him any more than I already do. Wylan becomes more confident now (latter part) and he's still adorable. It made me laugh every time Jesper teases him and I love them both, you guys!! I think they're cute together. Six people, several cons, hundreds enemies, this book is crazy exciting and I dare you not to get hooked after everything!

“How many times have you told me you're a monster? So be a monster. Be the thing they all fear when they close their eyes at night.”

Cons upon cons, trick after trick, this book has a lot of twist and turns that will surely surprise you. There were times when I thought I knew how things will turn out but of course, Leigh Bardugo will prove me wrong. She made Kaz so cunning it was impossible to predict what he's thinking. And I'm in love with him because of that.

“Nina glanced from Inej to Kaz and saw they both wore the same expression. Nina knew that look. It came after the shipwreck, when the tide moved against you and the sky had gone dark. It was the first sight of land, the hope of shelter and even salvation that might await you on a distant shore.”

Dark, violent, entertaining and brilliant, Crooked Kingdom just proves to be one of the best sequel ever! It's a bit lengthy but I didn't mind because I enjoyed every page of it. I rooted for them every step of the way from rescuing Inej to auctioning Kuwei. Honestly, I want more of Kaz and his crew but well, can't do anything about it. This book is truly a page turner, something you won't be able to put down because you're eager to know what happens next. It'll make you laugh, excited, frustrated, will give you the feels and yes, it'll make you cry because of Matthias, oh Matthias! My heart broke for Nina and after everything they'd been through, I can't believe Matthias didn't make it to the end. *sobs*

“Go home to Ravka, Nina. Be free, be as you were meant to be. Be a warrior, as you always have been. Just save some mercy for my people. There has to be a Fjerda worth saving. Promise me.”

Now let's talk about Kaz and Inej. Oh my god, those two! I'm not sure whether I should be satisfied with their ending or not because I want mooooore! I know the two of them touching (holding hands) is already too much for the both of them but come on! A hug, maybe? But either way, I'm really really glad for Inej and Kaz, well, may the Saints guide him as he build his empire now that he got his money! And revenge.

Overall, this book is one of the best I've ever read and I can't recommend this book enough! So do yourself a favor and pick up Six of Crows then READ this book! :D

Book: Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

★★★★/★★★★★

“Kaz had taught her to crack a safe, pick a pocket, wield a knife. He'd gifted her with her first blade, the one she called Sankt Petyr―not as pretty as wild geraniums, but more practical, she supposed.”  

I finished this book a month ago but only able to write a review now.

Six of Crows was my first book of Leigh Bardugo and oh my god I loved it! I'd been hearing about this book while reading A Darker Shade of Magic (some comparing them) last year and I'm glad I listened when people told me to read this one if I loved ADSoM. I'm a big fan of ya fantasy and the world Bardugo created in this book is brilliant. The characters are also amazing, unique in their own way and you can't help but love them all! Especially cunning Kaz. :)

Six of Crows is set in the dark and violent city of Ketterdam, a trading hub where everyone wants to make money and is ruled by street gangs. Among these gangs is Kaz Brekker, the leader of the Dregs and a prodigy when it comes to thievery and secrets. When Kaz is offered a job that could help him speed up his revenge plans for the person who ruined his life, he knew he needs to take this job no matter how impossible it is. And for that, he needs a crew that can make impossible possible.

Kaz assembles his team of misfits; Inej, a spy known as the Wraith; Jesper, a sharpshooter who loves to gamble; Nina, a Grisha who can kill by just twisting her hand; Matthias, a convict who has thirst for revenge; and Wylan, a runway with privileged past. All six of them will try to do the impossible, trusting and depending on each other. And if they get lucky, they might just get the fortune and freedom and revenge they mostly desired. 

“No mourners. No funerals. Among them, it passed for 'good luck.” 

Gosh! I really enjoyed this book. The characters are all well-developed and they complement each other. It was hard not to like them because they're all cunning and funny and I liked that Inej and Nina are as competent as the boys. Of course each of them has their own unique personality and they might not get along well at first but along the way they learn to put aside their dislike for each other and just focus on the big heist they must pull off.

With everything happening in this book, I'm impressed that Bardugo managed to thread everything in the right place. I mean, I was hooked from the very first page until the last because it was so intense and the switch in POVs made it more exciting! The emotional tension between characters also made it more interesting and suspenseful. I think I was actually waiting for someone to snap and just, I don't know, quit or something because, hey, that would be a good twist but of course, something else happened. 

Kaz leaned back. “What's the easiest way to steal a man's wallet?” 
“Knife to the throat?”  asked Inej.“Gun to the back?” said Jesper.“Poison in his cup?” suggested Nina.“You're all horrible,” said Matthias.

There's action, suspense, a lot of comedy and of course a little romance in this book! I was actually very satisfied and happy with what little romance this book have because Oh my god! I ship them all!! I think Kaz and Inej are epic and I love them together!! Inej is fierce and lovely at the same time, I adore her! Kaz may not be the showy type and he may be cold at times but he cares for Inej. He wants her and that's so hard to say!

“He needed to tell her...what? That she was lovely and brave and better than anything he deserved. That he was twisted, crooked, wrong, but not so broken that he couldn't pull himself together into some semblance of a man for her. That without meaning to, he'd begun to lean on her, to look for her, to need her near. He needed to thank her for his new hat.”

Nina and Matthias, on the other hand, are intense! There were times I wasn't sure if they were going to rip each other's heart or what. They had a bad history so Matthias isn't that thrilled to join Kaz's crew even if the reward is his freedom. Matthias is stubborn but he's rational and loyal. I wasn't sure about his at first but I came to love him towards the end. I like Nina because she's kind and a loving friend. She's also funny and like Matthias, she's loyal. And of course there are Jesper and Wylan who bicker a lot, and I say a lot! They're both hilarious and I think they complement each other well. It's like where Jesper lacks, Wylan supplies. Lol. In short, I love them both!

Overall, Leigh Bardugo surely did a great job with this book and now I want more! The world-building was amazing, the characters were well-rounded and the plot was well written! I'm reading Crooked Kingdom now (only few pages in) and I'm so excited to read the rest! I hope it live up to my expectations.