Leigh Bardugo

The Grishaverse will be coming to Netflix soon with Shadow and Bone, an original series! Crooked Kingdom: the highly anticipated sequel to Leigh Bardugo's thrilling #1 New York Times-bestselling Six of Crows. 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.

A Sequel to Six of Crows

Crooked Kingdom

Ivy Dena

Her heart was a river that carried her to the sea.

   She exhaled. "Go on," finish the story.

She'd laughed, and if he could have bottled the sound and gotten drunk on it every night, he would have.

kari <33

Her heart was a river that carried her to the sea. 

It was a smile he thought he might die to earn again. 

“It’s easier when you’re younger, but so is everything.”

His gaze found her. He’d known she was there all along. Of course he had. He always knew how to find her. 

Two of the deadliest people the Barrel had to offer and they could barely touch each other without both of them keeling over. But they’d tried. He’d tried. Maybe they could try again. 

“We can endure all kinds of pain. It’s shame that eats men whole.”

“I would 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 our together—knives drawn, pistols blazing. Because that’s what we do. We never stop fighting.” 

“What you want and what the world needs are not always in accord, Kaz. Praying and wishing are not the same thing.”

Kaz didn’t hear Inej approach, he just knew when she was there

“No, you're the man who sits idly by, congratulating yourself on you decency, while the monster eats his fill. At least a monster has teeth and a spine.”

There are no good men in Ketterdam, Kaz said. The climate doesn’t agree with them. 

Alison Deaner

"A man showed up at the university, Jesper, he claims he's your father."

the past two chapters have been so fucking horny. for what????

Owen Ball

“Nina, licking strawberry juice from her fingers in a way that thoroughly defeated Matthias’ ability to form a ration thought”

“Then I’ll tell Nina you tried to kiss Matthias. With tongue.”

Romi

"The really bad monsters never look like monsters"

Crooked Kingdom: A Sequel to Six of Crows

Erin McDonald

“There is no one I want more; there is nothing I want more than to be overwhelmed by you."

"You aren't a flower, you're every blossom in the wood blooming at once. You are a tidal wave. You're a stampede. You are overwhelming.“

"I would come for you," he said, and when he saw the wary look she shot him, he said it again. “I would come for you. And if I couldn't walk, I’d crawl to you, and no matter broke we were, we’d fight our way out together…”

My lord was this a long winded book. It took over a month to read. It dragged at times and I feel like 200 pages could’ve been cut. But the story was good. The character and plot arcs were nicely wrapped up in a satisfying way.

Bushra Yenice

STILL SO AMAZING just not quite as good as the first and maybe Slightly less cohesive. but she8888

vindhya

Leigh Bardugo’s Crooked Kingdom is the explosive and emotionally charged sequel to Six of Crows, and it delivers on every front. Set in the grimy, bustling port city of Ketterdam, this novel picks up right where the first book left off—with Kaz Brekker and his crew betrayed, bruised, and burning for revenge. What follows is a masterclass in character development, strategy, and emotional storytelling.

After being double-crossed at the end of Six of Crows, Kaz and his crew are determined to strike back and reclaim what they were promised. But this time, the stakes are even higher. Ketterdam’s most powerful players—merchant lords, gangs, and foreign powers—are all hunting for control of the dangerous drug jurda parem, and the crew is caught in the middle of the chaos.

Kaz must outwit enemies on all sides, while each member of his team faces personal battles: Inej’s freedom, Nina’s struggle with addiction, Jesper’s troubled family past, Wylan’s need for identity and recognition, and Matthias’ torn loyalties. The book becomes not just a fight for justice, but a fight for survival, healing, and redemption.

The strength of Crooked Kingdom lies in its characters. Each one is fleshed out with more emotional depth than before:

The relationships—romantic, platonic, and everything in between—are written with tenderness and complexity. Every character has a moment to shine.

Ketterdam continues to be a living, breathing setting filled with danger and corruption. The city’s alleys, mansions, markets, and underworld all play critical roles in the plot. It’s not just a backdrop; it’s a character in its own right—gritty, unforgiving, and full of surprises.

What stood out most was how much heart this book has. Though it’s filled with cons, action scenes, and intricate plots, it never loses focus on the emotional stakes. The themes of justice, identity, trauma, loyalty, and hope are woven into every chapter. The pacing is fast, the dialogue is sharp, and the twists are clever without feeling forced.

The ending is bittersweet and courageous, refusing to wrap everything up in a neat bow. It’s a conclusion that feels honest to the characters and their world.

I loved Crooked Kingdom. It’s more than just a heist novel—it’s a story about broken people finding strength in each other. It expands on everything that made Six of Crows great and adds more emotional weight, sharper conflict, and satisfying character growth. It’s thrilling, clever, and often deeply moving.

Perfect for readers aged 15 and up, especially those who enjoy fantasy with a darker edge, morally complex characters, and emotionally rich storytelling. Fans of heists, found families, and character-driven plots will love this book. If you liked The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater or Vicious by V.E. Schwab, Crooked Kingdom is a must-read.

Keisi

Leigh Bardugo’s Crooked Kingdom is the explosive and emotionally charged sequel to Six of Crows, and it delivers on every front. Set in the grimy, bustling port city of Ketterdam, this novel picks up right where the first book left off—with Kaz Brekker and his crew betrayed, bruised, and burning for revenge. What follows is a masterclass in character development, strategy, and emotional storytelling.

After being double-crossed at the end of Six of Crows, Kaz and his crew are determined to strike back and reclaim what they were promised. But this time, the stakes are even higher. Ketterdam’s most powerful players—merchant lords, gangs, and foreign powers—are all hunting for control of the dangerous drug jurda parem, and the crew is caught in the middle of the chaos.

Kaz must outwit enemies on all sides, while each member of his team faces personal battles: Inej’s freedom, Nina’s struggle with addiction, Jesper’s troubled family past, Wylan’s need for identity and recognition, and Matthias’ torn loyalties. The book becomes not just a fight for justice, but a fight for survival, healing, and redemption.

The strength of Crooked Kingdom lies in its characters. Each one is fleshed out with more emotional depth than before:

Kaz Brekker is still ruthless and brilliant, but we see cracks in his armor. His trauma and carefully hidden vulnerability make him both fearsome and heartbreaking.

Inej Ghafa, the soul of the group, faces her fears and holds fast to her morals in a world that constantly tries to corrupt them.

Nina Zenik wrestles with the consequences of jurda parem, making her stronger and more unstable.

Jesper Fahey opens up about his guilt, identity, and addiction in moving ways.

Wylan Van Eck, once underestimated, comes into his own with intelligence, courage, and quiet strength.

Matthias Helvar continues to grow and question everything he once believed, making his arc one of the most powerful in the book.

The relationships—romantic, platonic, and everything in between—are written with tenderness and complexity. Every character has a moment to shine.

Ketterdam continues to be a living, breathing setting filled with danger and corruption. The city’s alleys, mansions, markets, and underworld all play critical roles in the plot. It’s not just a backdrop; it’s a character in its own right—gritty, unforgiving, and full of surprises.

What stood out most was how much heart this book has. Though it’s filled with cons, action scenes, and intricate plots, it never loses focus on the emotional stakes. The themes of justice, identity, trauma, loyalty, and hope are woven into every chapter. The pacing is fast, the dialogue is sharp, and the twists are clever without feeling forced.

The ending is bittersweet and courageous, refusing to wrap everything up in a neat bow. It’s a conclusion that feels honest to the characters and their world.

I loved Crooked Kingdom. It’s more than just a heist novel—it’s a story about broken people finding strength in each other. It expands on everything that made Six of Crows great and adds more emotional weight, sharper conflict, and satisfying character growth. It’s thrilling, clever, and often deeply moving.

Perfect for readers aged 15 and up, especially those who enjoy fantasy with a darker edge, morally complex characters, and emotionally rich storytelling. Fans of heists, found families, and character-driven plots will love this book. If you liked The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater or Vicious by V.E. Schwab, Crooked Kingdom is a must-read.

Hannah Bateman

i flew threw this book in six hours. i am at a loss for words.

everything was perfect. the last chapter left me with such a longing for more of these beautiful characters. watching them grow and learn and love was so so special. i've never felt a connection like this to a set of characters in my life.

i'm so thankful i could feel like a part of this absolutely magical journey.

kaii

oh. my. god.

i flew threw this book in six hours. i am at a loss for words.

everything was perfect. the last chapter left me with such a longing for more of these beautiful characters. watching them grow and learn and love was so so special. i've never felt a connection like this to a set of characters in my life.

i'm so thankful i could feel like a part of this absolutely magical journey.

I didn’t think the second book could top the first book but it’s so good.

Ashley Denktas

xie lian fr

love love love. i think i liked this one more than the first since i was going in already loving the characters. and i finally got my wylan/jesper moment 🫶 | schemes and twists | found family | funny banter | lovable crew

callie

I think I could read about these characters endlessly and I like that their endings haven't been defined.

Sian Hutchinson 

thought six of crows was amazing, but this one is even more phenomenal. i love every bit of how the story progressed and how fleshed out the characters are. to say that the characters are written well is an understatement. these characters are real. they are alive. 40 or so chapters divided into 6 povs but leigh bardugo managed to put so much depth into these characters and bring them to life. i felt so connected to them that i find it very difficult to let go of the world this duology created. the crows are surely going to stay with me for a long time.

"i would 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."

chel

thought six of crows was amazing, but this one is even more phenomenal. i love every bit of how the story progressed and how fleshed out the characters are. to say that the characters are written well is an understatement. these characters are real. they are alive. 40 or so chapters divided into 6 povs but leigh bardugo managed to put so much depth into these characters and bring them to life. i felt so connected to them that i find it very difficult to let go of the world this duology created. the crows are surely going to stay with me for a long time.

PS. KANEJ I LOVE YOU.

"i would 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."

natalka

Jennifer Gosnell

Well, fuck. What a conclusion! I don’t want to leave Ketterdam and this band of miscreants behind!!! I loved them all so much. What a way to go out, though. A fantastic plot (although it took maybe 30% of the way in to get really hooked), I loved the new characters in this book, and everything just wrapped up so well. Ugh. Sad to be done this series.

Anna 

the crooked kingdom was just as good as the six of crows, maybe even better. 
I just love all the heist and found family and beautiful tricks kaz is able to do. I love all of the characters and will definitely reread it again. 
this series became my comfort reads, to be quite honest <3

Nala

** spoiler alert **
           I refuse to believe Matthias is dead!!!!

sometimes you’re just a 26 year old adult woman and you wanna read about 17 year olds with various emotional problems/magic powers creating a found family while pulling off heist after heist and lucky for you the six of crows duology exists 🙏

Jessica Gagliardi

*The Grishaverse will be coming to Netflix soon with Shadow and Bone, an original series!* The stunning sequel to SIX OF CROWS, this is GAME OF THRONES meets OCEAN'S ELEVEN in a fantasy epic from the number 1 NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author Leigh Bardugo. Welcome to the world of the Grisha. Kaz Brekker and his crew of deadly outcasts 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. As gripping, sweeping and memorable as the Grisha trilogy - SHADOW AND BONE, SIEGE AND STORM and RUIN AND RISING - this novel is perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Laini Taylor, Kristin Cashore and GAME OF THRONES. Winner of the Teen Choice Book Award for Book of the Year.

Book 2

Crooked Kingdom (Six of Crows Book 2)

a heist story of epic proportions that only grows bigger and more ludicrous and more and more fun. a smashing end to an exciting duology, i will be thinking of these characters for a long time.

rin 🐇

Keila Rico 

Lauren Fortgang

Fred Berman

Elizabeth Evans

Roger Clark

Jay Snyder

Kevin T. Collins

Peter Ganim

Brandon Rubin

I LOVED IT SO DAMN MUCH. I LOVED ALL THE MCS THAT I CAN'T PICK MY FAVE. IT WAS SUCH A ROLLER COASTER RIDE. AN ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT, ENTHRALLING, AND BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN. IT HAS EVERYTHING YOU COULD POSSIBLY WANT IN A BOOK AND I CANNOT RECOMMEND IT ENOUGH!

tori 👻

“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.” 

Ok, this was a ride. Unpopular opinion though: I don't think this needs another installment in the series, I like the way Bardugo ended this duology.
I don't remember the last time I had so many tabs in a book, let me tell you that. I'll never shut up about the complexity of these characters and how much I loved each one of them. This is such a character-driven story that doesn't fail in telling an incredibly interesting and complex narrative. 
I feel so sad, but I also feel so proud (and happy to have read such an amazing piece of literature at the beginning of my reading year).

It leaves you wanting for more but in a great way. Of course, we want to know what is to happen to the characters we know and love. But maybe that's a tale solely for our imagination. Once you read the Six of Crows duology, you will leave the story wondering and that, by itself, proves how brilliant it is.

All in all, I'll carry these beautiful amazing characters with me. I'll catch myself wondering and hoping and longing for them.

This was a beautiful series. Just beautiful.

No mourners. No funerals.

this was somehow better than the first one and idk how that's even possible I loved this book sm it flew over my expectations

** spoiler alert **
           Changed my rating coz I hated that Matthias died it was so unnecessary 🫠

sani

“he was going to break my legs,” she said, her chin held high, the barest quaver in her voice. “would you have come for me then, kaz? when i couldn’t scale a wall or walk a tightrope? when i wasn’t the wraith anymore?” 

“i would come for you,” he said, and when he saw the wary look she shot him, he said it again. “i would come for you. and if i couldn’t walk, i’d crawl to you.”

99% of my motivation to read this book was kanej and my god did they not disappoint. bye bye inej ghafa, you are my biggest idol. i love you so much. 

my favourite character, aside from kanej ofc, was nina. she was so likeable? her and Matthias were my og ship and i am utterly devastated. 

“matthias was dreaming again. dreaming of her.” my breaking point.

karo

i dont think ill ever recover from this book. the ending made me cry like a baby

Crooked Kingdom A Sequel to Six of Crows

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