Dickens & Rumi

book

Crooked Kingdom

Age rating, content warnings & parent guide

Leigh Bardugo · 2016

Is Crooked Kingdom appropriate for your child? See the reviewed age guidance, content cautions, positive themes, and supporting evidence below.

Explore the age guidance, content cautions, positive qualities, and supporting notes for Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo. This book is recommended for ages 14+; content notes include Death of a character, Frightening scenes, Violence; positive qualities include Creativity & curiosity, Courage & resilience.

Ages 14+Book 2 · Six of Crows DuologySource checked

Why this age? Content-guidance estimate derived from the complete published caution profile. It does not measure reading difficulty and is not a safety guarantee; family context may differ.

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10-second decision

Is this likely to fit your family?

Age guidanceAges 14+
Strongest cautionsDeath of a character 4/5 · Frightening scenes 4/5 · Violence 4/5
Strongest positivesCreativity & curiosity 5/5 · Courage & resilience 4/5
Series positionBook 2 · Six of Crows Duology
Recommendation4.3/5

Creativity & curiosity; strongest caution: death of a character.

This is the quick scan. Open the evidence and methodology below for the basis behind each rating.

Quick context

What parents should know

Content-guidance estimate derived from the complete published caution profile. It does not measure reading difficulty and is not a safety guarantee; family context may differ. Creativity & curiosity; strongest caution: death of a character.

Readiness snapshotAge guidance: 14+Main watch-out: Death of a character 4/5
Recommendation 4.3/5

Editorial rating

How this review was built

Dickens & Rumi editorial
Source checkedPublication method
18Scored categories
18Evidence notes
0Explicit 0/5 checks
Oct 18, 2026Last updated

Dickens & Rumi describes what is present; families decide what matters to them. Community reactions are kept separate from official content ratings.

How ratings workReport a rating or series issue
Review depth18 scored categories18 evidence notes
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At a glance

Recommended age14+

Strongest cautions

  • Death of a character4/5
  • Frightening scenes4/5
  • Violence4/5

Strongest positives

  • Creativity & curiosity5/5
  • Courage & resilience4/5
  • Diverse representation4/5

Reading order

Series progression

All known volumes are shown. Reviewed books include age guidance and cautions; books still being reviewed are clearly marked.

  1. Book 1 · Six of CrowsAges 15+
    Alcohol or drugs4/5Death of a character4/5Frightening scenes4/5Violence4/5Graphic injury3/5LGBTQIA characters3/5Romance3/5Strong language3/5Religious themes2/5Sexual content & nudity2/5Products & advertising1/5
    Starting point
  2. Book 2 · Crooked KingdomAges 14+
    Death of a character4/5Frightening scenes4/5Violence4/5Graphic injury3/5LGBTQIA characters3/5Romance3/5Strong language3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Religious themes2/5Sexual content & nudity2/5Products & advertising1/5
    Gets gentler

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What should you do next?

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Lower cautionsTry something gentlerLIGHTLARK SAGAOpen review →Similar fitCompare another titleTHE WAY I USED TO BECompare →Keep browsingSearch for another bookUse age, interests, vibe, or content preferences.Search →

Similar, with lighter cautions

Want something gentler?

These reviewed titles have overlapping age guidance and a lower total caution score than Crooked Kingdom. Open each review for the details.

LIGHTLARK SAGAAlex AsterAges 14+13 points lighter on published cautionsBOOKThe SingingAlison Croggon · 2008Ages 13+12 points lighter on published cautionsHADESAlexandra AdornettoAges 14+11 points lighter on published cautionsHALOAlexandra AdornettoAges 13+11 points lighter on published cautions

What’s in it?

Products & advertising1/5
Why this rating?

Not a commercial product; does not feature real-world brands.

Death of a character4/5
Why this rating?

Important characters die, and grief, sacrifice, and the emotional effects of loss are significant parts of the story.

Graphic injury3/5
Why this rating?

Injuries, illness, corpses, and some disturbing bodily details appear, but graphic gore is not the main focus.

Strong language3/5
Why this rating?

Criminal insults, profanity, threats, and harsh name-calling occur with moderate frequency.

LGBTQIA characters3/5
Why this rating?

A significant same-gender romance develops between Wylan and Jesper, alongside other queer representation and subtext.

Religious themes2/5
Why this rating?

Religious practices and fanaticism are referenced as part of the cultural world-building.

Romance3/5
Why this rating?

Several romantic relationships and developing pairings matter to the plot, though the criminal heist and character arcs remain central.

Frightening scenes4/5
Why this rating?

Dangerous criminals, imprisonment, torture, plague-related threats, deadly pursuits, and supernatural abilities create sustained tension.

Sexual content & nudity2/5
Why this rating?

Sexual exploitation and past brothel experiences are discussed, with some suggestive material, but sexual activity is not graphically depicted.

Alcohol or drugs2/5
Why this rating?

Drug use and addiction-related material are part of the setting and plot, including dangerous substances and their consequences.

Violence4/5
Why this rating?

Frequent fantasy action includes shootings, explosions, fights, torture, criminal threats, and dangerous schemes; violence has serious consequences.

What’s good in it?

Courage & resilience4/5
Why this rating?

Characters repeatedly confront violence, imprisonment, trauma, prejudice, and powerful enemies through determined, often self-sacrificing action.

Creativity & curiosity5/5
Why this rating?

Elaborate heists, inventive problem-solving, specialized talents, political maneuvering, and imaginative fantasy systems drive the narrative.

Diverse representation4/5
Why this rating?

The ensemble includes varied ethnic and cultural identities, disability, neurodivergence, class backgrounds, and LGBTQIA+ characters with agency.

Educational value1/5
Why this rating?

It offers incidental insight into prejudice, disability, exploitation, politics, and trauma, but is primarily an entertainment fantasy novel.

Kindness & empathy3/5
Why this rating?

Mutual care and cooperation within the Crows are central; characters support survivors and vulnerable people despite difficult circumstances.

Positive messages4/5
Why this rating?

Strong themes of loyalty, found family, resilience, and resisting oppression are balanced by morally gray choices, criminal activity, and revenge.

Good role models3/5
Why this rating?

The protagonists are morally complicated criminals, but they show loyalty, resourcefulness, persistence, and willingness to protect vulnerable people.

Family discussion

Talk about it

Conversation starters based on this title’s published content notes.

  1. What was the most imaginative idea in the story, and what would you add to it?
  2. How did the story approach death or loss? What helped the characters cope?
  3. Which choice in Crooked Kingdom would you have made differently, and why?
  4. Who changed the most in Crooked Kingdom, and what caused that change?
Discuss this title with other parents

Community perspective — separate from editorial ratings

What families noticed

Community signal

Community ratings and written reactions are a separate layer. They do not automatically change Dickens & Rumi’s official age guidance or content scores.

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These content notes are a starting point, not a guarantee. Review the evidence and use your own judgment before choosing a title.

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