Book Review: Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo

Title: Crooked Kingdom

Author: Leigh Bardugo

Series/Standalone: Six of Crows Series (Book #2)

Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, 

Pages: 561

Publisher: Square Fish

Year Published: 2016

Format: Paperback Copy (Own It)

First Line:  "Retvenko leaned against the bar and tucked his nose into his dirty shot glass."

"Welcome to the world of the Grisha.

Kaz Brekeer 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."

My Rating: 5/5

When I was reading this book all I could think was, "People really think the first one is better than this one." I thought that this one outranked the first one in many ways, but this is also because I don't love books with journeys. I preferred the second one for this distinct reason. Between great characters, a fully fleshed-out city and the twists of a lifetime how could this not be a 5-star book. I adore this series and I can't wait to read King of Scars. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Title: Six of Crows

Author: Leigh Bardugo

Series/Standalone: Six of Crows Duology (Book #1)

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Pages: 465

Publisher: Henry Holt & Company

Year Published: 2015

Format: Paperback Copy (Own It)

First Line: "Joost had two problems: the moon and his mustache."

"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.

Kaz's crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction- if they don't kill each other first."

My Rating: 4.5/5

This book was such a fun read. At the request of a friend (and with her helpful purchase of a boxset) I finally started this duology. And it was excellent. Leigh Bardugo does such an excellent job of setting up character dynamics and giving each character their own distinct voice. It's something I love about her work. I also loved the premise of the story, where it fell a little short for me was the heavy leaning on a relationship that I liked when there was a trope with another relationship that I liked more right beside it. It's just a matter of preference. I do plan on continuing the series and I can't wait to see how the author takes the story after such a strong ending.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardguo

Title: Ruin and Rising

Author: Leigh Bardugo

Series/Standalone: The Shadow and Bone Trilogy

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Pages: 417

Publisher: 2017

Year Published: Square Fish

Format: Paperback Copy

First Line: "The monster's name was Izumrud, the great worm, and there were those who claimed he had made the tunnels that ran beneath Ravka." 

"The Darkling rules Ravka from his shadow throne.

Now the nation's fate rests with a broken Sun Summoner, a disgraced tracker, and the shattered remnants of a once-great magical army.

Deep in an ancient network of tunnels and caverns, a tweaked Alina must submit the dubious protection of the Apparat and the zealots who worship her as a Saint. Yet her plans lie elsewhere, with the hunt for the elusive firebird and the hope that an outlaw prince still survives.

Alina will have to forge new alliances and put aside old rivalries as she and Mal race to find the last of Morozova's amplifiers. But as she begins to unravel the Darkling's secrets, she reveals a past that will forever alter her understanding of the bond they share and the power she wields. The firebird is the one thing that stands between Ravka and destruction- and claiming it could cost Alina the very future she's fighting for."

My Rating: 4/5

This happens a lot for me in a series. The final book just isn't what I expected and while I liked this one, and thought that it made some really great plot choices, the final conflict resolution just wasn't what I wanted from the series. The characters were dynamic and interesting. I am so excited to continue reading Leigh Bardugo's backlist and I'm glad I started with this series. It was such a fun ride, and a great YA read without being too much of a throwback.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Review The Tailor by Leigh Bardugo

 Title: The Tailor

Author: Leigh Bardugo

Series/Standalone: The Shadow and Bone Trilogy (Book #1.5)

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Novella

Pages: 18

Publisher: Holt Children

Year Published: 2013

Format: Paperback Copy (At the back of 2nd book)

"New scene from Shadow and Bone told from Genya's point of view."

My Rating: 4.5/5

This was such a great insight into the first book and helps you to further understand Genya's motive for the action she takes in the first one. I really loved seeing her p.o.v. I can't wait to read more in the series.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo

Title: Siege and Storm

Author: Leigh Bardugo

Series/Standalone: The Shadow and Bone Trilogy (Book #2)

Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult

Pages: 435

Publisher: Square Fish

Year Published: 2013

Format: Paperback Copy (Own it)

First Line: "The boy and the girl had once dreamed of ships. long ago, before they'd ever seen the True Sea."

"Hunted across the True Sea, haunted by the lives she took on the Fold, Alina must try to make a life with Mal in an unfamiliar land. She finds starting new is not easy while keeping her identity as the Sun Summoner a secret. She can't outrun her past or her destiny for long.

The Darkling has emerged from the Shadow Fold with a terrifying new power and a dangerous p.an that will test the very boundaries of the natural world. With the help of a notorious privateer, Alina returns to the country she abandoned, determined to fight the forces gathering against Ravka. But as her power grows, Alina slips deeper into the Darkling's game of forbidden magic, and farther away from Mal. Somehow, she will have to choose between her country, her power, and the love she always thought would guide her-- or risk losing everything to the oncoming storm."

My Rating: 3.75/5

This really suffered from middle book syndrome for me. I felt that the start of the book had a few twists and actions, but as the book progressed I saw some of the things that were coming. Which lessened the entertainment value for me. I also didn't like the story that some of our side characters took. I am extremely curious to see how this trilogy originally wrapped up. I can't wait to see where the world goes. I look forward to watching the show and finding out where our characters go. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Title: Shadow and Bone

Author: Leigh Bardugo

Series/Standalone: The Shadow and Bone Trilogy (Book #1)

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy,

Pages: 358

Publisher: Square Fish

Year Published: 2012

Format: Paperback Copy (Own It)

First Line: "The servants called them malenchki, little ghosts, because they were the smallest and the youngest, and because they haunted the Duke's house like giggling phantoms, darting in and out of the rooms., hiding in cupboards to eavesdrop, sneaking into the kitchen to setal the last of the summer peaches."

"Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn into two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.

Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life- a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.

Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secret of the Grisha... and the secrets of her heart."

My Rating: 4.75/5

This was such a refreshing read. It was exactly what I needed to read this month. It really reminded me of the Young Adult fantasy that I used to read when I was younger, and why I started writing out my thoughts in the first place. I have so many thoughts on the characters, and I'm intrigued by the world as well. The plot was intriguing and the twists were so fun. I also enjoyed reading about the atmosphere and the training aspects of the story. Most of all I'm interested in the history of the world, and where this plot is taking our characters. 

Will I be buying the whole box set? Absolutely.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Spoiler: Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

 I've got a lot of thoughts so buckle up!

The plot of this book isn't anything ridiculously groundbreaking for a YA fantasy, we have our chosen one, we have a villain, we have multiple love interests. Need I say more? What is fun is all the twists and turns that the story takes throughout. I loved the way I wouldn't expect what moment someone would show up, or what was about to happen at all moments.

Atmosphere: The plot of this book really brought the world to life, it really reminded me of Russian folklore that I've read, or ideas just based on the weather, and the descriptions of the palace. Lovely!

Writing: Nothing ground breaking, but so addicting and fun to read. Capture the world and the thoughts of our main character so well. Addicting! I was intrigued and I thought that conclusions made logical sense.

Characters: I already know that I'm shipping the wrong people. I know that I"m supposed to hate the Darkling. I acknowledge he is fucked up, a bad person and clearly the villain but what I will say might be controversial, he's still HOT. Reading the first part of this book I was like woah, this Darkling guy is so sexy, and then he just had to become the villain. RUDE. Mal is fine, a great friend to lover plot. I get it. He's loved her since the start. But where is the passion? Alina is fun to read from, but she'd better get tougher quickly! I just feel like she's got a lot of work to do to hide from the Darkling. 

Can't wait to continue the series,

Sidny