HOW GOOD IS IT?
8/10
BASICALLY
After completing the deadly mission at the Ice Court, the gang – Kaz, Inej, Nina, Matthias, Jesper, and Wylan – find they have been double-crossed by Jan Van Eck, the man who hired them for this job. Luckily, nothing gets by Kaz, he has a plan to respond.
We also get to see a lot more of Pekka Rollins, Kaz’s number one enemy.
Crooked Kingdom revolves around a rescue mission, a demand for payment, and the ultimate revenge.
SO…
This book is a satisfying sequel to Six of Crows, full of twists and turns and not lacking in character development, which is probably the best part of the story.
In Harry Potter’s words, Kaz’s plans can be described as “we plan, we get there, all hell breaks loose”. Luckily for them, the guys on the other side aren’t exactly perfect strategists, either. They outsmart one another, fail, get back up, come up with riskier and more complicated plans because the stakes are higher every time.
Through it all, the relationships between the characters are at their best and the resolution couldn’t be more justifying.
About the characters, to sum it all up:
The one with the crappiest life who remains strong and hopeful in the most endearing way – Inej.
The one who will unintentionally make you laugh (and possibly cry) – Matthias.
The entertaining soap opera episode of this fantasy – Jesper and Wylan.
The one who should write a book on why you should not try to cross Kaz Brekker – Pekka Rollins.
Erm… what and how? – Dunyasha.
SPOILER THOUGHTS
SPOILER AHEAD
The most bewildering twist in this book in probably Matthias’ ending. Just why, book? At least give us a 2-chapter warning or something.
On a more serious note — at first glance, this shocking event looks like a lazy attempt to add misery to the end because everything else is already perfect: the boy who pulls the trigger on Matthias comes out of nowhere, does not have any mentions throughout the book, and is not even that important to the plot overall. Yes, it could very well be that Leigh Bardugo just didn’t want to put the burden on everyone’s beloved mastermind, Kaz, who — after all — is responsible for the planning; hence, this random boy.
But the merit of Matthias’ death is in its consistency with his development: a soldier with a dream to free all of his comrades from the brainwashing he has gone through and to bring justice to the mistreated Grisha. Matthias’ grander journey ends before it can begin, not because he was not capable enough, not because Kaz miscalculated, not because Jesper, Wylan, Nina or Inej were not doing their jobs right, but because Matthias struggles between loyalty and his mission to the last second, unable to stop sympathizing with the young version of himself who is standing in front of him.
In a way, you can even say that his death opens the door for the young Drüskelle soldiers to escape their fate.
END OF SPOILER
BOTTOM LINE
Well, Netflix had better not mess this up!