Crooked Kingdom Review: A Duology Finale That Sticks the Landing

Is Crooked Kingdom a satisfying conclusion to Six of Crows? Here's a breakdown of the reception to Leigh Bardugo's finale — the twists, the character growth, and that Kaz and Inej dynamic.

8/18/20263 min read

Crooked Kingdom Review: A Duology Finale That Sticks the Landing

Closing out the duology following Six of Crows, this finale has earned some of the most passionate praise in the entire Grishaverse. Here's a breakdown of what reviewers consistently say about it.

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Quick Answer

Reception is overwhelmingly enthusiastic, bordering on reverent. Reviewers consistently describe the character work across all six POVs as some of the strongest in the genre, and specifically praise Bardugo's restraint in handling the central Kaz and Inej relationship realistically rather than giving readers an easy, idealized resolution.

What It's About

Continuing directly from Six of Crows, the Dregs face the fallout of their heist as new threats, betrayals, and complications emerge. With enhanced magical abilities, shifting alliances, and constant danger closing in from multiple directions, the crew has to fight to protect both their crew and the wider world from a lethal drug capable of weaponizing Grisha powers.

What Reviewers Consistently Praise

Managing six distinct POVs without losing any of them. This comes up repeatedly as the book's central achievement — reviewers note how rare it is for an author to juggle this many perspectives and still make every character feel individually realized and emotionally resonant.

Kaz's character finally coming into fuller focus. Reviewers note that while he can feel somewhat guarded or distant early on, the book gradually reveals more of his internal logic and motivations, keeping readers invested in what he's planning next without fully demystifying him.

Inej's continued strength under real strain. Reviewers describe genuine tension watching her character face real breaking points in this installment, admiring her resilience even while feeling authentically worried for her throughout.

Nina's arc through withdrawal and self-doubt. Her struggle with recovering from a dangerous drug and questioning her own powers is highlighted as a particularly affecting thread, with reviewers appreciating that her fierceness remains intact even amid genuine vulnerability.

Matthias's transformation. Multiple reviewers cite his arc as one of the most emotionally rewarding in the book, describing real growth that pays off everything set up in the first book.

Wylan's expanded POV. Reviewers appreciate the added perspective, noting it brings a grounded, raw element that strengthens the overall narrative.

Unpredictable, high-stakes plotting. Reviewers consistently note that just when the story seems to be heading toward an expected outcome, Bardugo pulls the rug out — explosions, shootouts, heists, and twists keep tension high throughout, without falling into predictable patterns.

Restraint in the central romance. This is one of the most specifically praised elements across reviews — rather than giving Kaz and Inej the fully resolved, idealized romantic ending readers might crave, the book stays true to the reality that trauma doesn't resolve as neatly as fiction often suggests. Reviewers argue this choice is what elevates the book from good to genuinely great, honoring the characters' complicated histories rather than sacrificing realism for a tidy conclusion.

Crossover appearances from the original Grisha Trilogy. Reviewers who read the Shadow and Bone trilogy first specifically enjoyed nods to familiar characters appearing in this world, describing it as a genuinely fun connective touch between the two series.

What Reviewers Note as Minor Weaknesses

A slower opening stretch. More than one reviewer notes the book's early pacing feels different from Six of Crows' momentum — a bit of a slow start before the plot fully takes off, though this is generally described as a small, temporary issue rather than a lasting problem.

A major character death that hits hard. Reviewers describe being genuinely caught off guard and emotionally affected by a significant loss in this book — difficult to read, but generally regarded as fitting the story's unforgiving stakes rather than feeling gratuitous.

What to Know Before You Start

Read Six of Crows first — this is a direct continuation, not a standalone entry.

Reading the Shadow and Bone trilogy beforehand adds extra enjoyment, thanks to meaningful crossover character appearances, though it's not strictly required to follow this story.

Go in prepared for real emotional stakes, including character loss and a romance that doesn't resolve as neatly as some readers might hope.

Who This Seems Right For

  • Anyone who finished Six of Crows and wants the payoff to match its setup

  • Readers who appreciate realistic, trauma-informed character relationships over idealized romantic resolutions

  • Fans of large ensemble casts handled with genuine individual depth

Amazon Link: Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo

Final Thoughts

Based on overwhelmingly enthusiastic reviewer consensus, Crooked Kingdom closes out the Six of Crows duology as one of the most highly regarded finales in the Grishaverse — praised for its unpredictable plotting, deep character work across six perspectives, and a central romance handled with more honesty than easy wish-fulfillment.