Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo

Synopsis for Six of Crows (because the synopsis of Crooked Kingdom has spoilers for the first book):

Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price--and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can't pull it off alone...

A convict with a thirst for revenge.

A sharpshooter who can't walk away from a wager.

A runaway with a privileged past.

A spy known as the Wraith.

A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums.

A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes.

Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist. Kaz's crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction―if they don't kill each other first.

I just finished Crooked Kingdom a few minutes ago, and I have so many feelings. First of all, it was wonderful. Second of all, this duology was so stressful to read. I read it mostly during my breaks at work which are not long so I was constantly being left hanging and wanting to jump back in as soon as possible and I loved it. These books take place in the same universe as the original Grisha trilogy, which I also read enjoyed, but I think these are so much better. Which is not to discredit the original trilogy, but more to credit Leigh Bardugo and her progress and writing. This cast of characters and their dynamic is what makes the book. The story is told through an ensemble cast and multiple POVs, but it never feels overwhelming and each voice is unique. There's never a moment where you forget whose point of view that chapter is from. Ensemble casts can be incredibly difficult, but Bardugo does it beautifully. There also musltiple characters of color, one physically disabled character, and canonically queer characters. 

I wanted to review this book here even though it's not woman-focused because I really love the women in it and it does tackle important issues such as human trafficking. There are multiple wonderful female side characters, but our two main female characters are Nina Zenik, a Grisha Heartrender, and Inej Ghafa, a Suli acrobat and spy. 

Nina is an unapologetic flirt, a known glutton, and described as curvy multiple times, but none of this is used against her. Her flirtatious nature is never portrayed as untrustworthiness and instead she uses it to her advantage in heists and in every day life. She is what you would think of when you hear the term "weaponized femininity." While this is never explicitly stated, some read her as bisexual, and the author supports this reading vocally. Her love of sweets is also never derided and she is never made out to be lazy. Her friends will gently tease her about how strictly she keeps her cookie hoard, but it's never malicious and she laughs along with them. This teasing also only happens when it's relevant, rather than being a running gag for the group. She is fierce, loyal, and very powerful, but she is also allowed to love deeply and care deeply and these same things are true of Inej. 

Inej was brought to Kerch on a slave ship and originally sold to a pleasure house before making her way to the Dregs and becoming a spy. Inej is a woman of color and in our world would most likely be Indian or otherwise Southeast Asian. Her race is explicitly stated and her culture is very important to her. It is also the reason she makes such a valuable spy. She comes from a family of acrobats and flies across the roofs of Ketterdam and into buildings in order to gain information. Inej is also deeply religious and while other members of the gang do not believe things she does, this is never portrayed as weakness or naïveté. She, like Nina, is allowed to be strong and fearsome, but also emotional and ultimately hopeful. 

These women are incredibly multidimensional and they are also inspiring.