A crew of clever outcasts pulled off the impossible, but the city of Ketterdam isn’t done with them yet. Leigh Bardugo’s Crooked Kingdom picks up the danger, banter, and high-stakes scheming exactly where things grew most desperate. It’s a propulsive return for readers who fell for these six sharp-edged misfits.
Get the Crooked Kingdom Audiobook on AmazonListen on Audible · also in Kindle & printWhat Crooked Kingdom is about
Crooked Kingdom is the second half of Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows duology, set in the gritty canal city of Ketterdam within her wider Grishaverse. After a job that should have made them rich left them cornered instead, Kaz Brekker and his crew of thieves, brawlers, and runaways find themselves hunted by enemies far more powerful and far better connected than they are. To survive and settle their scores, they’ll have to rely on the same tools that got them this far: misdirection, nerve, and an uneasy loyalty to one another.
Told through shifting points of view, the story braids together cons, rivalries, and slowly revealed pasts as the characters fight for more than money. Bardugo blends a fantasy underworld, morally complicated heroes, and sharp dialogue into a tense, character-driven payoff to the duology.
| Author | Leigh Bardugo |
|---|
Why Crooked Kingdom is great on audio
The Crooked Kingdom audiobook leans into the book’s strengths, with rotating viewpoints and quick, witty exchanges that come alive when performed aloud. The plotting is intricate, so having the story narrated can help you stay inside the rising tension without losing the thread. It’s a strong pick for commutes, long walks, or anyone who likes a banter-heavy ensemble cast.
Who should listen
Listen if you loved Six of Crows and want the conclusion, or if you enjoy heist plots, ensemble casts, and morally gray characters in a dark fantasy setting. It suits YA fantasy fans who like wit alongside real stakes. You might skip it if you haven’t read the first book, since this picks up mid-story, or if you prefer lighter, lower-tension reads.
If you like Crooked Kingdom, listen to these next
- Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
- Divergent by Veronica Roth
- One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus
How to listen to Crooked Kingdom
Crooked Kingdom is available on Audible and Amazon. If you’re new to Audible you can listen with a free trial, or buy the audiobook (also in Kindle and print) on Amazon.
Get the Crooked Kingdom Audiobook on AmazonListen on Audible · also in Kindle & printFrequently asked questions
Do I need to read Six of Crows first?
Yes. Crooked Kingdom is the second book of a duology and continues directly from Six of Crows, so start there to follow the characters and the stakes.
How can I listen to the Crooked Kingdom audiobook?
It’s available on Audible and Amazon. New Audible members can start with a free trial, or you can simply buy the audiobook on Amazon.
What genre and audience is Crooked Kingdom for?
It’s a Young Adult fantasy, specifically a heist-driven story set in Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse, with an ensemble cast and a dark, urban underworld setting.
Is this a standalone story?
Not really. It’s the concluding half of the Six of Crows duology and resolves threads from the first book, so it reads best as part of the pair rather than on its own.