I think it’s pretty clear that I have an unhealthy amount of adoration for Leigh Bardugo and her words. I mean, I got a Six of Crows tattoo and she officially welcomed me to the Dregs. She’s feisty and fun and I almost lose my shit every time I see her. So it goes without saying that when I got the email from Macmillan asking if I wanted to be a part of the blog tour for Crooked Kingdom, I replied without reading the entire email.
But then it gets better…we were able to request the character we wanted to feature. It wasn’t a for sure thing, but it worked out for me because today I get to talk about Nina!!
And not only do I get to talk about Nina, Leigh has shared a bit of the behind the scenes about her as well. Before we get to all of that, let’s check out the book.
Title: CROOKED KINGDOM
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Release Date: September 27, 2016
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
Pages: 560
Get it: Macmillan | Indiebound | Barnes & Noble | Amazon | GoodreadsKaz Brekker and his crew have just pulled off a heist so daring even they didn’t think they’d survive. But instead of divvying up a fat reward, they’re right back to fighting for their lives. Double-crossed and left crippled by the kidnapping of a valuable team member, the crew is low on resources, allies, and hope. As powerful forces from around the world descend on Ketterdam to root out the secrets of the dangerous drug known as jurda parem, old rivals and new enemies emerge to challenge Kaz’s cunning and test the team’s fragile loyalties. A war will be waged on the city’s dark and twisting streets―a battle for revenge and redemption that will decide the fate of magic in the Grisha world.
Sounds good, right?
While I love all 6 of the characters, I love Nina the most. I’m a sucker for a bad ass who is really a big ball of mush on the inside. Nina is snarky and strong and I really want to hang out with her. Instead of giving 6 words to describe her, I decided to quote 6 scenes in Six of Crows that I think show the full spectrum of Nina.
Six sides of Nina:
One
Kaz leaned back. “What’s the easiest way to steal a man’s wallet?”
“Knife to the throat?” asked Inej.
“Gun to the back?” said Jesper.
“Poison in his cup?” suggested Nina.
“You’re all horrible,” said Matthias.
Two
“We aren’t here for the ambience,” Kaz said.
“Are you aware that I could waggle my fingers and make you wet your trousers?”
“Easy, Heartrender. I like these trousers.”
Three
A lump rose in her throat, and she felt the ache of tears threatening. She pressed a kiss to his temple. She knew that Kaz and the others were watching and that she was making an idiot of herself, but after so long he was finally here, in front of her, and so very broken. “Matthias,” she repeated.
“Nina?” His voice was raw but as lovely as she remembered.
“Oh Saints, Matthias,” she whispered. “Please wake up.”
Four
Nina snorted and lay down in the nest of pelts, propping herself on one elbow. “For Saint’s sake, drüskelle, what’s wrong with you? I just wanted to be warm. I promise not to ravish you in your sleep.
“I’m not afraid of you,” he said irritably.
Her grin was vicious. “Then you’re as stupid as you look.”
Five
“Do you ever doubt yourself?”
“All the time,” she said as she slid into sleep. “I just don’t show it.”
Six
Nina swallowed hard. She remembered those words and what they meant. I have been made to protect you. Only in death will I be kept from this oath. It was the vow of the drüskelle to Fjerda. And now it was Matthias’ promise to her.
She knew she should say something profound, something beautiful in response. Instead, she spoke the truth. “If we make it out of here alive, I’m going to kiss you unconscious.”
And now here’s what Leigh says about Nina:
“As bold as Nina is, she isn’t one of those characters who showed up fully formed and ready to start talking. She was pretty wobbly in the first draft of Six of Crows. When I began revising, I tackled the scene where Kaz visits her at the House of the White Rose first and I started really digging into her physicality. She was hungry. She was tired. Her shoes were too tight. All of a sudden I could see Nina kicking off her slippers and flexing her toes, talking with her mouth full. That was when I really fell in love with her.”
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Leigh Bardugo is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Grisha Trilogy (Shadow and Bone, Siege and Storm, and Ruin and Rising).
She was born in Jerusalem, grew up in Los Angeles, and graduated from Yale University, and has worked in advertising, journalism, and most recently, makeup and special effects. These days, she’s lives and writes in Hollywood where she can occasionally be heard singing with her band.
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Huge thanks to the lovelies at Macmillan for sending me this invite and making me scream like a lunatic. And all of the pie to Leigh for taking the time. Just in case you’re not already: check out her website, follow her on Twitter and Instagram, and add all of her books to your Goodreads TBR.
Definitely check out the rest of this tour for all sorts of insight from Leigh about the other Dregs.
Fierce Reads has put together a special giveaway! Enter to win a Crooked Kingdom prize pack full of US AND UK swag (including the coveted Crooked Kingdom socks) by commenting on all 12 blog posts by 11:59 PM EST Monday, October 3, 2016.
Now…what are you most looking forward to in Crooked Kingdom?
I love what Leigh says about Nina, and it’s just like she says you can totally like her character from that moment because you can start to see that there’s something about her, and she truly is special.
I <3 Nina! Love Nina's card!
Nina looks beautiful and deadly in that card. I love it!
I’m most looking forward to finding out what happens to Inej! I <3 the Wraith!
Nina is my favorite character , and she looks amazing in that card ! <3
Just started reading the Grisha trilogy and I’m so excited because of all the buzz around CK – cant wait to be all caught up!
Nina is so great! I’d say that she is one of my favorites, but I find it hard to have favorites between these six. :D The first scene you shared is one of my favorites! I want to reread Six of Crows now… again. *happy sigh* I can’t wait to read Crooked Kingdom!
Thank you, Stacee. =)
Alyssa @ The Eater of Books!
I haven’t read any of her books yet, and now I just can’t wait! I’m starting this weekend.
Nina is just amazing! ;_; I’m looking forward to seeing more of her and Matthias!
Nina is one of my favorite characters! I’m excited to read more about her and Matthias and am hoping she gets to eat those waffles with Inej!!!
I’m looking forward to Nina being alright, and getting those waffles they all deserve.
I want Nina to be my friend forever and ever. She’s one of my all time fav female characters. Also, I love the fact that she’s a soldier! As to what Im looking forward to in Crooked Kingdom, I think the better question is What am I NOT looking forward to in Crooked Kingdom? in which case, the answer is NOTHING. I need to know what’s gonna happen, cant believe it comes out so soon!!
I am not going to lie Nina was the first character that I fully fell in love with. She was strong and curvy. I was truly excited to read about her because most days you read about characters who are smaller in size and Nina was not one of those girls!
NINA!!! Ahhh, I’m so excited for this book! <3
Nina is such an inspiration to me. She’s my favourite. As a plus sized person, I’m always so self conscious about so many things and Nina’s confidence is incredibly inspiring. Also, I’m in school, and I often hear not-so-kind comments about my size and weight. I just really want to thank Leigh for writing Nina.
Nina is absolute perfection and definitely one of my favourite characters {though, to be frank, I’ll say that about every character in the series}. But seriously! Nina is AMAZING and I love her camaraderie with Inej!
Nina’s my favorite crow and I can’t wait to find out what happens to her I’m so. Nervous about it too!
I haven’t gotten around to reading this series yet but, I’ve heard so many great things about it! That Nina card is gorgeous though!
I haven’t gotten around to reading this series yet but, I’ve heard so many great things about it! That Nina card is gorgeous though!
I can’t wait to read Crooked Kingdom. It’s hard to pick a single thing that I am most looking forward to, because I just want to find out what happens to all of them! They were in a pretty precarious position at the end of Six of Crows…
OH MY GOD NINA. OKAY I was so in love with her to begin with but now.. JUST WOW.
I am looking forward to more of all of them working together! But especially Nina, Inej & Kaz
I love Nina! She’s exactly the kind of strong female character we need in literature. I’m so anxious to see how her story line plays out!
Nina is such an empowering character; and her relationship with Matthias is so lovely and genuine and funny! Extremely excited for Crooked Kingdom!
Honestly Nina is probably my favorite character in this book. And Matthais and Nina are my favorite ship! Like I need them to be together soooo bad. I can’t wait to see what happens in Crooked Kingdom. I have one preordered but it’s saying it won’t get here till October, so I’m gonna go to target and get that one. I already have two hardbacks of Six of Crows, why not have to hardbacks of Crooked Kingdom as well lol!
I love Nina!!! She’s such an awesome character
Nice post! I’m really hoping that everything works out okay with Nina. She deserves Matthias and some nice, warm waffles! ;)
anna | annaish
Nina and Inej are my absolute favourites and I adore them both so much!! Nina is bold and loves life and I simply adore her and I space ship her and Matthias so MUCH!!
And Leigh is simply AMAZING!! I’ve met her twice at BEA and she’s simply brilliant!!
I’m just looking forward to reading them all again. I love Nina the most because I feel like I could be as awesome as she is!
Nina is such a badass I love her
Yessss there is just something about Nina that you start taking a liking to almost immediately after you meet her!
Nina is awesome. I really love her and I absolutely cannot wait to see her fate in Crooked Kingdom! Please don’t take her away from us, Leigh! Really if Bardugo takes any of the six away from us I will be devastated and angry and upset and maybe accepting but mostly upset haha but either way I’m sure I will love it and I can’t wait to read more! #CakeForever
!!! idk how much longer i can wait to see what happens to nina. i need to know if she’s alright. she must be a l r i g h t. -meigan
I love hearing all this backstory on how the characters were developed. Nina is one of my favorites so I can’t wait to see how her character develops!
“Don’t poke the bear, Nina.” THREE DAYS!!!
Nina is stupidly awesome, I love her so much. It’s so weird to think that she was held at the orphanage by the Darkling in the Grisha trilogy!!
Nina is a waffle to my heart<3 with strawberries and whip cream of course!!
I — I really need to read the first book still, eeek.
Nina’s card is stunning!
Nina is one of my favorite characters in SoC, and I hope she gets her waffles. She efibirely deserves them!
Crooked kingdom in 2 days, super excited!!
I love the quotes you chose for Nina. She didn’t grow on me until later in the book, but my heart is hurting right now. I need to know the whole crew is going to be okay. Waiting for Crooked Kingdom is the longest time of my life.
Nina is a favorite character of mine!! I love how fierce she is!!
As much as Inej is my favorite character, Nina is the most like me. She’s even got cool powers! Hello?! I want those! But yeah, she is so strong despite everything that’s happened, and I really admire her for that.
I love Nina and how awesome she is! ❤️
Nina! She takes my breath away. (For real.)
Ah Nina!!! I want to be her in my next life
Nina is such a badass, can’t wait to read the next book!
I love Nina’s card. It captures her so well. The scene that Leigh described with Nina is one of my favorites of the story. It made me fall in love with Nina. She is so unapologetically herself, how can you not love her?
Nina’s such a great character! I can’t wait to see what happens to her and Matthias in Crooked Kingdom!
Cool card! Great overview of the character in six scenes!
Nina is incredible. Beautiful, witty, sassy… aka everything I wish I could be. I have this amazing Nina art from Fictograph on my wall and every morning I ask myself what would Nina do (really, what would Bardugo do) and it helps me get through the tougher parts of my day with a smile. I really want to see what happens with her and Mattias in CK, I think they are the couple I am cheering for the hardest.
I’m really looking forward to more of Kaz and Inej. Getting Waylan’s POV and well just everything!
Im looking forward to getting to know Kaz better
Nina’s back story with Matthias is the BEST! I love how human she is, and despite having this power that can destroy lives, she is so very filled with compassion. The fact that she’s made this life in Ketterdam just because she can’t leave Matthias behind?? Love her!!
NINA MY FAV OUT OF ALL OF THEM!!!! My beautiful, powerful, baby!!! I love her so much!!!! :DDDD Leigh Bardugo is awesome, and she shows that through all of her charcaters and how brilliantly she makes them!! AGH I CANOT WAIT FOR CROOKED KINGDOM!! A lot o people got their preorder swag, and I still haven’t… :/ *getting worried*, but hey thanks for THIS opportunity. Did you see the CARDS THO???? The Crooked Kingdom cards are to DIE for!!!
I love this post, Nina is my favorite from Six of Crows. I’m so excited to see what happens to her and everyone else in Crooked Kingdom!
It’s impossible not to love Nina. I’ve never read a character so dedicated to helping someone that she ‘knows’ is going to hate her once he’s saved. Yet she does. She basically sells herself into servitude for the mere chance of one day righting her wrong and saving Matthias from Hellsgate. There’s nothing so endearing as that self-sacrifice on her part. She could have just gone home and been safe, been welcomed back into the Second Army, been revered among them, but instead, she stayed and saved her friend.
Soooo excited for CK tomorrow!!
IT IS HERE TODAY!!!! *flails wildly*
I love this post, I loved that glimpse of discovering Nina that Leigh gave, and I love you!
IWLYMHFMHFTSTTMFSFMH!
I feel like Nina is such a complex character and one that we have barely touched upon in the first book. I can’t wait to learn more about her backstory and her relationship with Matthias!! <3
I love Leigh’s description of Nina in the post, and how well written she is in the books! She’s such an interesting character who I, at first, pushed to the side but I admire her quite a lot!
Ahhhhh! I can’t wait to read this! Also, the artwork on the cards is AMAZING.
Really looking forward to seeing what happens next in Crooked Kingdom!
I feel like the scene Leigh described is totally Nina. haha.
I got to read the first few chapters of Crooked Kingdom the other day, and I kind of love the whole Nina-trying-not-to-be-a-junkie thing. What a sacrifice she made. But she is so damn tough; I have high hopes for her making it through.
Ahhh Nina, she is basically goals! I hope she gets plenty of POV-time in Crooked Kingdom!
Nina is such a great character. She manages to be full of resolve in one scene and all flirty and light-hearted in the next. Not to mention her overwhelming confidence. I think everyone could learn a thing or two from her!
I can’t wait to read Crooked Kingdom and fall even more in love with Nina’s character! She is so great!
I can’t wait to see how everything turns out! Looking forward to getting to read about these awesome characters again :)
Nina is so awesome!
Nina looks absolutely epic in her card. Matthias approves.
Nina is such a likeable character, her wit and her snark are always entertaining to read and I love how relatable she is as a character! She also has such a strong will and determination which I strongly admire.
I adored Nina in SOC! She’s so amazing and I love that character card! I’m so excited to read CK soon!
Nina is soooo funny! She is just such a joy to read! I love how she does have some inner turmoil over what she has done and how it affects other people. Also her relationship with Matthias~~~
GUSH!
She is flirty and strong just like a women should be portrayed!!
Loved Six of Crows and cant wait to finish Crooked Kingdom. EXCEPT THAT WILL BE THE END….ARGGGGGG
Darn those cards are absolutely gorgeous. Kevin Wada is the man!
Really enjoyed the AUDIOBOOK format of this as well!
I don’t know why but I can’t connect with her fully :c But even then, I admire her as a strong character! She’s very capable by herself and that’s something I like a lot in female characters nowadays.
Eee :D Gorgeous blog tour post Stacee. <3 Gaaah. I love these books :D I love Leigh. <3 And I aaaaadore Nina. She's so fierce. And awesome. And I cannot wait to get to read about her more in Crooked Kingdom :D So excited to read it soonish. <3 I'm just nervous too, haha.
I forgot about some of these scenes, Nina is so great <3 Love Leigh's description of when she fell in love with Nina because that's the personality, on top of so many amazing parts of her character, that I love her for!
Nina is just so amazing and empowering and THE BEST I LOVER HER SO MUCH