CROOKED KINGDOM was, in a word, amazing. The followup sequel to Six of Crows, it delivers every bit of high-stakes action as its predecessor--but it also gives so, so much more. 
 The characters you've come to love in the first book are back in full-force, but this time you get more time with them and their backstories, with their relationships, and their motivations. And, of course, you get more death-defying action, and dizzying cons that will leave you spinning and grinning in amazement as Kaz Brekker unveils his perfect schemes. 
 What really shines through in this book is the heart of the characters. There are the obvious pairings of course: Nina and Matthias, Inej and Kaz, Jesper and Wyland. Each relationship takes slow steps forward (agonizingly so in the case of Inej and Kaz), but their sweet and gentle progress as the two people work to understand each other makes it all worth the wait. Each relationship is unique and develops at its own pace and in its own way, offering brief moments of respite from all the action as characters find a quiet moment with each other. And the bonds explored are more than these romantic pairings. All of the characters are split up into odd duos on the heists that are conducted throughout the book, so that all of the characters bond in more deeply than they did in SIX OF CROWS. Inej and Nina. Matthias and Wyland. Kaz and Jesper. And the group as a whole runs more smoothly; cooperates and banters and fights together as one. Their connections and subsequent banter and ease with each other are what makes this a truly enjoyable read; throughout all the action and excitement, there is real heart to this novel. 
 The reason I've given CROOKED KINGDOM five stars is because it left me in a constant state of anticipation. I felt like my heart was about to burst as the characters danced around each other, I leaned on the edge of my seat as they all participated in elaborate heists fraught with danger. As a reader, I was given most of the pieces of the puzzle, only to have Kaz Brekker place the final elements into place and reveal the entirety of the plot. I loved every second of it, and I couldn't wait to finish it so I could finally know what happened to all of these characters. 
 Suffice it to say, I loved this book. What really shone through for me was the way Bardugo balanced the action sequences with the emotional ones, to the point where I was kept on the edge of my seat for both, equally enthralled in all of these characters' lives. I loved the way it ended, and while some may clamor for a sequel, I don't want one. Maybe some short stories of the characters' adventures, but for now I like to imagine them all at peace, in their own way.