Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo

So I just wrapped up Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo, and it was … interesting. Honestly, I didn’t really catch the hype for Six of Crows (like the tattoo-level hype), but I liked it. All I remembered was Kaz and Inej. That’s the reason I came back, and boy was I rewarded.

Kaz Brekker and his crew have just pulled off a heist so daring even they didn't think they'd survive. But instead of divvying up a fat reward, they're right back to fighting for their lives. Double-crossed and badly weakened, the crew is low on resources, allies, and hope. As powerful forces from around the world descend on Ketterdam to root out the secrets of the dangerous drug known as jurda parem, old rivals and new enemies emerge to challenge Kaz's cunning and test the team's fragile loyalties. A war will be waged on the city's dark and twisting streets―a battle for revenge and redemption that will decide the fate of the Grisha world. The Plot of Crooked Kingdom was similar to Six of Crows in style. Kaz is trying to pull off another impossible heist, his misfit team is super confused, and plot twist is layered upon plot twist. The story was complicated, to say the least. These missions are difficult to understand if you don’t give this book your full attention. Luckily, though, this level of complexity was my comfortable middle ground, and I enjoyed it. Kaz managed to pull off some really wild stuff this time, leaving me more than a little surprised. His cool demeanor is slipping, though, and it kind of messed up his unflappable character, but he’s not sure if he wants to go back (good job Inej :). Their strength of character inspires me actually though, both of them. They resist the forces trying to pull them back, and they fight hard. The conclusion to their heist was kind of dark and … final. It was hard, and sad, and it seemed like a definitive ending. But Kaz’s kindness gives me hope, and Inej is such a little ray of sunshine. I have to say that I was disappointed by Matthias, and it seemed extremely abrupt to me, and a little out of place in the scope of things. Still, if this dysfunctional squad manages to pull it together again, I’ll be there, for Inej ofc ❤