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chandhana_12's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Eating disorder, Gore, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
snowiceblackfruit77's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Gun violence, Mental illness, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
uselesspirateraven's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Gun violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Confinement, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Gore, and Kidnapping
Minor: Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Trafficking, and Stalking
wise_old_fishie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The plot is full of twists and turn that make your gut twist, and the characters develop in their understanding and beliefs about themselves and the world around them.
If you enjoyed Six of Crows you MUST 100% read Crooked Kingdom (in my opinion even slightly better than the first book!)
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Eating disorder, Gore, Torture, Blood, and Deportation
Moderate: Addiction, Toxic relationship, Violence, Police brutality, Trafficking, Murder, and War
Minor: Kidnapping
franklloydweft's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I only give 5 stars to things that send chills down my spine and give me quotes I’ll be thinking about for a long time, and this one definitely did that. Such a fantastic conclusion for all of these characters, all of whom you grow to love over the course of the two books. I always thought I knew where things were going but I was proven wrong every time. Made me laugh, tear up a bit, and pump my fists. I even had a huge spoiler figured out from reading material about other Grishaverse novels and the reveal still hit me! Cannot recommend reading this duology enough (especially if you liked the crows in the Netflix show, they’re on a whole new level in literary form)
Graphic: Addiction and Death
Moderate: Sexual violence, Torture, Xenophobia, Trafficking, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Eating disorder
MAJOR CHARACTER DEATHdavid_slack110507's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I absolutely love the Crows and their dynamics with one another. It expanded on them even more from Six of Crows, particularly with the relationships of Kaz and Inej, Jesper and Wylan, Jesper and Kaz, Nina and Inej etc. It was so fun seeing all of the characters continue to flourish and to expand upon their already established relationships as well as build new ones and it was one of the main things that kept me coming back even with my reading slump in full force. I liked the endings we got for our Crows as they felt both satisfying and open-ended enough to allow for a sequel or for them to show up in other stories like Nina in the King of Scars duology.
The plot, while I don't think I loved it as much as the Ice Court heist, was still very interesting and was not what I expected going off of the ending of Six of Crows and where this book started off as the plot twists felt cleverly planned out and implemented without feeling like they were done to simply progress the story lazily. The last part of the book - Part 6: Action & Echo - was extremely interesting and one of my favourite parts of the boom because the chaos flowed very nicely to make it an unpredictable, fun, and memorable reading experience. Matthias' death was unexpected and while it wasn't extremely emotional for me as Matthias is one of my lesser favourite Crows (though I do still really like him as a character), it was still effectively done and I'm interested in seeing how this will affect Nina's story going into King of Scars.
Overall, I really liked this book and while I do feel like reading this through a reading slump affected my opinion on the book, though to no fault of the book, I think it was very successful and met my expectations on how to end this duology yet left it in an interesting place to open up into another book to make it a trilogy, which I would not be totally against. I'm most likely going to continue on with my Grishaverse binge and read Nikolai's duology with Zoya and Nina, King of Scars, next as well as hopefully soon rewatch season 1 of Shadow and Bone as well as finally watch season 2 for the first time as I've been waiting until I finished this book as I have been unsure whether or not they included elements of this and Six of Crows into season 2 or not.
Graphic: Death, Gore, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Child death, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Gaslighting, Abandonment, War, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Ableism, Bullying, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Sexual content, Vomit, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Classism
haloblues's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The highest compliment I can give to something I read is that it has given me ‘book hangover’ — when you finish it and you can’t bring yourself to start one of your hundred other books in your ‘to be read’ pile because you feel like you have to give it a period of respectful silence and absorb what you just experienced — and this is the first one to do that in a decent while. I loved it. Pure and simple. I’ll miss the hell out of this gang.
As for some extra notes: the twist with Wylan’s mother floored me. I’m usually pretty good at predicting twists, but I wasn’t even looking in that corner for anything surprising. I loved the little hints of the Jesper and Wylan relationship before it happened — along with Kaz and Jesper, they were my favourite dynamic in the series (though I’m also fond of Nina and Inej’s).
Just, God. This is how I want to write. The world-building, the lore and history, the geography, the characters, their development and depth, the relationships, the emotions it pulls from you. If anything I write ever makes anyone feel anything close to how I feel after reading this series, I’ll consider my life a success.
Favourite quotes:
The first mate winced. “Ghezen, Retvenko. Have you been drinking?”
“No.”
“You stink of whiskey.”
Retvenko sniffed. “Little bit whiskey.”
He had often wondered how people survived this city, but it was possible Ketterdam would not survive Kaz Brekker.
“In Ravka, there are more talented Fabrikators,” Kuwei said. “They could help.”
Nina nodded emphatically. “It’s true. Genya Safin knows poisons like no one else, and David Kostyk developed all kinds of new weapons for King Nikolai.” She glanced at Matthias. “And other things too! Nice things. Very peaceable.”
The man behind the desk wore gray scholar’s robes. His nostrils were flared so wide in effrontery that Jesper feared being sucked up one of them. “Young man—”
Jesper pointed his gun at the scholar’s chest. “Move.”
“Jesper!” his father said.
“Don’t worry, Da. People point guns at each other all the time in Ketterdam. It’s basically a handshake.”
“Is that true?” his father asked as the scholar grudgingly moved aside and they shoved the heavy desk in front of the door.
“Absolutely,” said Wylan.
“Certainly not,” said the scholar.
Jesper waved them on. “Depends on the neighborhood. Let’s go.”
“Jesper?” said a voice from beneath the nearest table.
A pretty blonde girl looked up from where she was crouched on the floor.
“Madeleine?” Jesper said. “Madeleine Michaud?”
“You said we’d have breakfast!”
“I had to go to Fjerda.”
“Fjerda?”
Jesper headed up the stairs after Wylan, then poked his head back into the reading room. “If I live, I’ll buy you waffles.”
“You don’t have enough money to buy her waffles,” Wylan grumbled.
“Be quiet. We’re in a library.”
“You barely look old enough to graduate.”
“Ketterdam was my education. And I can tell you this: Jesper never would have turned to me for help if he’d had anywhere else to go.”
“You can’t be so bad, boy,” said Colm gruffly. “You haven’t been alive long enough to rack up your share of sin.”
“I’m a quick study.”
“Can I trust you?”
“No.”
Colm took up his crumpled hat again. “Can I trust you to help Jesper through this?”
“Yes.”
Colm sighed. He looked around at all of them. Nina found herself standing up straighter. “You lot make me feel very old.”
“Spend a little more time in Ketterdam,” said Kaz. “You’ll feel ancient.”
Kaz had tapped his crow’s head cane on the flagstones of the tomb floor. “Do you know what Van Eck’s problem is?”
“No honor?” said Matthias.
“Rotten parenting skills?” said Nina.
“Receding hairline?” offered Jesper.
Matthias would be atoning for the mistakes he’d made in this life long into the next one, but he’d always believed that despite his crimes and failings, there was a core of decency inside him that could never be breached. And yet, he felt sure that if he had to spend another hour with Alys Van Eck, he might murder her just for the sake of a little quiet.
“A chemical weevil,” said Jesper. “But Wylan still hasn’t named it. My vote is for the Wyvil.”
“That’s terrible,” said Wylan.
“It’s brilliant.” Jesper winked. “Just like you.”
Wylan blushed daylily pink.
“I helped as well,” added Kuwei, looking sulky.
“He did help,” Wylan said.
“We’ll make him a plaque,” said Kaz.
Inej came to sit beside her with two cups of hot tea in hand.
“How are you this morning?” she asked. “Can you eat?”
“I don’t think so.” Nina forced herself to take a sip of tea, then said, “Thank you for what you did last night. For standing by me.”
“It was the right thing to do. I don’t want to see anyone else made a slave.”
“Even so.”
“You’re very welcome, Nina Zenik. You may repay me in the customary way.”
“Waffles?”
“Lots of them.”
“They speak quietly. They don’t engage in flirtations with every single man they meet.”
“I flirt with the women too.”
“I think you’d flirt with a date palm if it would pay you any attention.”
“Please tell me there’s something to eat.”
“You’re hungry?” said Inej.
They all goggled at Nina. She curtsied. “Yes, yes, Nina Zenik is hungry. Now will someone feed me before I’m forced to cook one of you?”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” said Jesper. “You don’t know how to cook.”
“Is this really what you want? To be a criminal? To keep bouncing from the next score to the next fight to the next near miss?”
“Honestly?” Jesper knew Wylan probably wasn’t going to like what he said next.
“It’s time,” Kaz said from the doorway.
“Yes, this is what I want,” said Jesper. Wylan looped his satchel over his shoulder, and without thinking, Jesper reached out and untwisted the strap. He didn’t let go. “But it’s not all that I want.”
“You are angry with me?” said Kuwei.
Jesper smiled. “I’m not an angry type of guy.”
“Yes, you are,” said Matthias. “Angry and frightened.”
The silos themselves were daunting, vast as sentinel gods, monuments to industry emblazoned with the Van Eck red laurel.
Jesper didn’t know if he wanted to jerk away or pull him closer.
“Just stop,” Wylan said. “Breathe.”
Wylan’s gaze was steady. Jesper couldn’t look away from that clear-water blue. He forced himself to still, inhaled, exhaled.
“Again,” Wylan said, and when Jesper opened his mouth to take another breath, Wylan leaned forward and kissed him.
Jesper’s mind emptied. He wasn’t thinking of what had happened before or what might happen next. There was only the reality of Wylan’s mouth, the press of his lips, then the fine bones of his neck, the silky feel of his curls as Jesper cupped his nape and drew him nearer. This was the kiss he’d been waiting for. It was a gunshot. It was prairie fire. It was the spin of Makker’s Wheel. Jesper felt the pounding of his heart—or was it Wylan’s?—like a stampede in his chest, and the only thought in his head was a happy, startled, Oh.
Jesper nodded sagely. “Good country air, lots of fields for … gamboling about. I grew up on a farm. It’s why I’m so tall.”
Alys frowned. “You’re a little too tall.”
“It was a really big farm.”
Kaz tilted his head, watching a gull arc above them, wings spread wide. “Tell Jesper he’s missed. Around the Slat.”
Inej raised a brow. “Around the Slat.” From Kaz that was as good as a bouquet of flowers and a heartfelt hug—and it would mean the world to Jesper.
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Gun violence, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Murder, and Classism
axel_p's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Minor: Ableism, Addiction, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Eating disorder, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
esterslibrary's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Gun violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Drug use, Eating disorder, Grief, Stalking, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Pandemic/Epidemic
siglerbooknook's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, and Trafficking
Minor: Mental illness, Pedophilia, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, and Pregnancy