“Crooked Kingdom” is a fantasy novel written by Leigh Bardugo. It is the second book in the “Six of Crows” duology and is set in the “Grishaverse”; a fictional universe that Bardugo created where magic is real and anything is possible. 

“Crooked Kingdom” is about six teenagers who couldn’t beat the game of life, so they changed the odds. Kaz Brekker, a notorious criminal known as Dirtyhands, leads his crew of misfits to do an impossible heist in the first book. When they returned to collect their prize, they were double-crossed by a council merchant named Jan Van Eck. Van Eck takes Inej Ghafa as a hostage and this book focuses on trying to get her back and to get their money. 

This is quite literally my favorite book of all time. “Crooked Kingdom” tackles many different issues that most books seem to be afraid to talk about. One of the main characters, Wylan Van Eck, is dyslexic and is dealing with the loss of his mother and the betrayal of his father. Jesper Fahey, a sharpshooter, has a severe gambling addiction that he tries to work through. Inej Ghafa works on her trauma from sexual abuse in the past. Kaz Brekker works to be able to trust people again. Nina Zenik works to survive a world that hates her for just existing. And Matthias Helvar is working to get past prejudices so he can help the ones he loves. 

This book is the definition of a found family. These six misfits find a family in each other. Someone they know would look for them if they went missing. Someone to lean on and to know they can rely on them. “Crooked Kingdom” proves that family isn’t just those you share blood with, but it is the people that you choose to surround yourself with. Those who you know will never leave you behind, even if they have to crawl to get to you. And while this book doesn’t have the happiest of endings, it is still one of the best novels I have ever had the pleasure of reading. 

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who has ever felt like they don’t belong and to those who never stop fighting. I rate “Crooked Kingdom” 5 out of 5 cardinal heads.