First, I have to talk about how much I absolutely adored SIX OF CROWS. It was different than anything I've ever read and the characters and the dynamic they had with each other were glorious. So, needless to say, I had pretty high expectations for CROOKED KINGDOM, which might be why I liked the book but didn't completely love it. 
 Kaz was back at it again with his crazy and beautiful scheming, orchestrating insane strategies and always trying to be not one, but two steps ahead. However, and I mentioned this in the first book, I have a hard time with his plans sometimes as I was always wondering if it really made sense or if it was just conveniently written. Like I wanted there to be clues or hints at his plans so if you really paid attention or thought about it you could put two and two together. 
 I also think a lot of depth was missing compared to the first book. It might have been because we were trying to get to know the characters at the time, but in this one I feel like not many people actually developed any further. Also missing where Bardugo's other books delivered was Grisha power. There were a few mentions but it was disappointingly absent for most of the book. 
 For a fairly large installment, I thought the pacing was alright. There were some parts of the book that had a lot more time and writing dedicated to them than others, which was sort of odd when you compare the beginning and end. 
 Speaking of the ending, I actually had mixed feelings about how some things wrap up. There is a hint of an open ending in terms of one plot development, and I was not very happy with the conclusion of one character. It was unnecessary and seemed rushed. 
 Overall, there was nothing overwhelming good or bad about CROOKED KINGDOM, which was why after two weeks of reading it, I could barely recall what exactly happened in it.