Crooked Kingdom: A Sequel to Six of Crows

Bardugo’s Grishaverse is loosely inspired by 19th-century Europe, with the small but affluent country of Kerch modeled after the Netherlands. The 1800s were a time of significant change and growth for the Dutch. After the Netherlands’ defeat in the War of the First Coalition, France occupied the country from 1795 to 1813. King William I, who ruled the Netherlands from 1815 to 1840, revived the economy after France’s withdrawal; the newly formed Netherlands Trading Society oversaw long-distance trade, and England returned control of the East Indies (now Indonesia) to the Dutch. Cash crops from the colony represented a significant portion of the Netherlands’ wealth. The Dutch economy also benefited from the advantageous locations of port cities like Amsterdam and Rotterdam. Although Ketterdam is fictional, the Netherlands’ history and geography influence the city’s distinctive identity. The city’s harbors provide the setting for key events, such as Kuwei’s escape to Ravka. Kerch is governed by the Merchant Council rather than a king, which emphasizes the importance of trade and commerce. Even the choice to fill Van Eck’s silos with sugar nods to Dutch history, as sugar was one of the most lucrative cash crops grown in the East Indies.

Bardugo based the nation of Ravka on the Russian Empire, which lasted from 1721 to 1917. During this time, conflict frequently erupted between the empire and its fellow European powers, including France and England, which took an economic toll on the country. Similarly, Ravka’s civil war and endless feuding with Fjerda drain the nation’s coffers. The Russian Empire eventually collapsed in 1917 after World War I devastated the economy and stirred the citizens to revolt. In Crooked Kingdom, the looming specter of world war hangs over Ravka. However, the Dregs manage to narrowly avert international conflict by convincing the Fjerdans, Kerch, and Shu that Kuwei died and took the secret of jurda parem with him.

The Industrial Revolution, which spanned the late 18th and early 19th centuries, played a pivotal role in Europe’s history and transformed its nations’ economies. The rise of industry brought prosperity to some but also contributed to social problems, such as exploitative labor practices. These real-world concerns reflect the tense socioeconomic divide in cutthroat Ketterdam, where men like Smeet’s clerk are considered respectable citizens even if they exploit those on the lowest rungs of the social ladder. In addition, the Industrial Revolution led to overcrowding and disease in rapidly swelling cities. Drawing on these historical realities, Bardugo made plague Ketterdam’s greatest fear. When Kaz is only nine years old, his brother dies in an epidemic, and the loss fundamentally shapes his character. Years later, Kaz and Nina leverage the city’s fear by unleashing a harmless but convincing contagion. By borrowing from Europe’s economic and military history, Bardugo lends realism to her fantasy world.