Previous BOMs - Authors; A - D: Bardugo, Leigh - Crooked Kingdom (Six of Crows #2) - Informal Buddy Read; Start December 15, 2016 **REVISIT** 6 July 2018

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This topic is open for discussion about Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo



Book synopsis:
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 left crippled by the kidnapping of a valuable team member, 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 magic in the Grisha world.

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[Ladiibbug]

Hi Eunice!

Just picked up Six of Crows at library! Will begin tonight.

Have you read Leigh Bardugo's The Grisha trilogy? I read it last year and each book was a 5++ star read -- topping the best of the best Urban Fantasy I've had the pleasure to read.

I've been ***SO*** anxious to read SOC, but have begun reading series back to back or closer together. I am VERY EXCITED to dive into this tonight!!

Buddy read for SOC and/or Crooked Kingdom still open for anyone interested.

[Eunice]

Leigh Bardugo is a new author for me. I did plan to read her other book sometime in the future. A probably distant future because I plan on emptying that to-read list. At least some of it. The two books' BR threads are separate, so... we should probably separate the two books. We go on the other thread first before here.

[Ladiibbug]

Eunice wrote: "Leigh Bardugo is a new author for me. I did plan to read her other book sometime in the future. A probably distant future because I plan on emptying that to-read list. At least some of it. The two ..."

Oops, I meant to post in the Six of Crows (book 1 of 2) thread.

[Eunice]

Ladiibbug wrote: "Eunice wrote: "Leigh Bardugo is a new author for me. I did plan to read her other book sometime in the future. A probably distant future because I plan on emptying that to-read list. At least some ..."

I'll be moving to the other thread now. :))

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Are you both still intending to read this one? I'd like to get to it in December if you're up for it - I just need to refresh myself on book 1 first as it has been a while

[Imke]

I think I'll join you in December.

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Imke wrote: "I think I'll join you in December."

Great!

[Sully]

When are y'all looking to start your read in December? Have had this checked out forever and looking for an excuse to finally read it if you're looking for others to join. :)

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

I have it on reserve at the library, looks like I should get it for mid December if that works for everyone.
If we say 15 Dec?

[Imke]

Great, I think I can fit that in with the BOM's I want to join.

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Great :)

[Vicky]

Me too

[Brooke]

I planned to read this this month already so I'll join in! :)

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

I started this today (a bit early I know) because I had some time available.
Part One
It took me most of this part to get my head around all the characters again and remember who is who and what happened at the end of the last book. I always find myself wishing that series books would give a quick summary at the start of the last book! ;)

I'm worried for Inej, but confident that the gang will rescue her. I wonder if Bajan will turn and join them too?
That last scene was pretty tough. (view spoiler)[ Van Eck is kind of toying with her, allowing her an escape route. Just kind of showing his power and removing her confidence (hide spoiler)]

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Oh I got a notification from the library that this is due back on the 17th and someone else has it on reserve so I can't extend! Darn!
Not sure if I can finish it by then, but I'm going to try :o

[Brooke]

I just started this today!

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Part Two
I find I'm getting more into it now as I remember the characters and what it going on. (view spoiler)[ How annoying was Van Eck's wife?! :o I wonder if that is just an act and if she will come into the story more later?
And what is going on with the Shu being almost undefeatable and flying? Things are getting interesting! (hide spoiler)]

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Part Three
I'm just going to have to take a library fine and keep going (it is only 30c a day!)
(view spoiler)[ I've been getting a bit tired of the lovers tiff between Nina and Matthias. I hope now with the kiss we are passed all the angst.
Inej remains one of my favourite characters, but I like that we are learning more about Jesper and Wylan. Wylan's dad is such a $%^%$. I hope they are able to rescue his mum (hide spoiler)]

[Sully]

Up to Chapter 4: Inej (Loc 789)

I'm slowly getting up to speed with the characters and the plot again, though even with the hints sprinkled in my mind is a little fuzzy on what happened in the first novel. It's been so long since I read it and I remember I was a little disappointed when comparing it to the Grisha trilogy. My biggest question so far is do we know Retvenko from the first novel? I remember Wylan, Matthias, Inej, Kaz and Nina, but I'm drawing a complete blank on Retvenko.

While I'm not always a fan of Kaz and think his characterization is a little odd at times, I love this quote: "I'll tell you a secret, Hanna. The really bad monsters never look like monsters." (Loc 480) It works on so many levels when you compare it to real life, and to Kaz himself.

I also liked this little insight into Kaz's character: 'Kaz always spoke logic, but that didn't mean he always told truth' (Loc 634). After dealing with the election cycle here in the States, this sentence carried a lot of weight for me.

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

I think Retvenko was from the grisha trilogy. I found this online:
"Retvenko, the former Ravkan squaller of Councilman Hoede. Since the death of Hoede, Retvenko has been working to pay off his indenture and return to Ravka to get a pardon from King Stormhund."

[Imke]

I've started today and I've read part 1 and have just started part two. I like that the story starts immediately and with the plan to rescue Inej.

[Sully]

I kind of remember them travelling by sea in the Grisha trilogy but it's been a while since I've read the books and still not ringing a bell. Thanks for the insight though! :)

[Imke]

Just finished part 2 and loved the flashmob.

[Sully]

Up to Part Three (27%)

I'd kind of forgotten on this past part how annoying (view spoiler)[Nina and Matthias's relationship was. Their dialogue just doesn't feel natural in the way we fight - at least in the recent scene - so I'm hoping that's behind us for now (hide spoiler)]

The plot hasn't gripped me yet, but I will say that Inej's storyline is the most interesting. It's probably the only part that's really excited me much so far. The story feels very slow to start off, so hoping it picks up in the next part!

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

I agree Elise with Nina and Matthias. It annoyed me

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

I finished the book the other day and I've been sitting on this review because I still don't know how I felt about this sequel.
It just didn't have the pacing and "wow" of the first book. Quite a bit of time was spent on character back stories, which really should have been explored more in the first book. I also found the "Kaz is always one step ahead" a little unrealistic.
I still love Bardugo's writing, and the Grisha world, but I was ultimately not in love with this book.

[Sully]

Up to Part Four

I'm still having a hard time getting into the plot even though I'm about 50% done now. I think my fundamental problem is that the pacing is too slow. Like Karen mentioned above, it doesn't have the "wow" factor or the progressive pacing to move the story along. I would say the majority of the novel so far has been spent on backstory and character development. While I hate a story with no development, there's a thing to be said about too much development as well. So far, Crooked Kingdom doesn't have that balance of characterization and plotting yet.

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

*********THIS BUDDY READ IS BEING REVISITED!***********

Date to start reading July 6, 2018

[Tina ❣]

Thanks mods!

(Team Tonks)

[[deleted user]]

I will be participating! (Team Tonks)

[Eunice]

I’ll be participating too!

[Lexi]

I'll join too. (Team Lupin)

[Nicole]

Finished the first one yesterday & I loved it, so i'm looking forward to reading this!

[Alix]

I finished the first one a while ago and never read the second one, looking forward to finally reading it!

[Teri]

I'm in from Team Tonks-a reread but this is one of my all time favorite series

[Nicole]

Although I haven’t read the second one Teri, I foresee this being one of my favourite series as well! I loved the first book.
I also love the Shades of Magic series - have you read that one?

[Lexi]

I started a little early and am a fourth of the way through. I look forward to everyone's opinion. It has been a bit since I read the first one so it took me a little bit to remember who was whom.
(view spoiler)[ I am getting better at guessing what the twist in the heists will be but still enjoy the twists and turns, especially introducing the mechanica and Jasper's dad. There are also two addicts now. (hide spoiler)]

[Deanna]

I thoroughly enjoyed the first one, and am looking forward to finding out the rest of the atory. Oh, almost forgot Team Flitwick.

[Lexi]

So I finished it last night. I enjoyed it a lot though a little less than the first one since it was less of a surprise for the characters.
(view spoiler)[ It is definitely set up for more books in the world. I am mad that they killed Matthias. I didn't think that was necessary. It was also interesting that the last chapter was Pekka. I'm glad Wylan got such a happy ending too. (hide spoiler)]

[Nicole]

I’m half way through & loving it. Lots of emotional parts in this one from learning more about the characters backgrounds.

[Teri]

Nicole wrote: "Although I haven’t read the second one Teri, I foresee this being one of my favourite series as well! I loved the first book.
I also love the Shades of Magic series - have you read that one?"

I have not read it, I will look it up!

[Deanna]

Just started today and read part one.

The situation - (view spoiler)[I wonder how Kaz is going to be able to deal with all of the players now on the scene and still manage to protect Kurin and Inej. The different ships plus Van Eck makes for a much more fluid and complicated situation. (hide spoiler)]

Kaz - (view spoiler)[Seems the same as always. I wonder what his actual plan is. A straight forward rescue seems too simple for him. (hide spoiler)]

Inej - (view spoiler)[She is having a horrible time. I only hope she gets free in one piece. It seems less likely as Van Eck gets more desperate. (hide spoiler)]

[Nicole]

I just finished this one! Loved it just as much as the first. So many feelings! Jesper, Nina & Wylan; saints I love them so much ❤️

[Nicole]

I officially have a book hangover 😆

[Teri]

So good, I didn’t find this one as good as the first but still loved it. Glad you all enjoyed! I haven’t started my reread 0.o
I hope to get to it on vacation.

[Stacey]

Sounds like this one is getting positive reviews as well. Hoping to start early next week, so i'll be a little late.