Six of Crows

I’m going to let you all in on a tidbit of information about SIX OF CROWS: I finished reading it in October (of LAST YEAR). I know. I’ve been feeling a little unmotivated to review lately. Well, not to review but to WRITE reviews. I guess that’s kind of the same thing, but anyway. I have a list of books that I am really encouraging myself to review first thing in 2016, and SIX OF CROWS by Leigh Bardugo is one. Because true story? I love it more than the Grisha Trilogy. I do. Just sitting down to write this review is making me want to read it again. Like, REALLY BADLY. In SIX OF CROWS we get to experience a completely different part of the world of Leigh Bardugo’s Grisha Trilogy. We heard mention of the city of Ketterdam in those books, but SIX OF CROWS is where we really get all up in it, and it’s nothing like the Ravka we know. (Makes sense, since it’s a different place.) Ketterdam is a bustling port city built on canals, and the criminal underworld is composed of a bunch of gangs. One of them–arguably the best one–the Dregs, is led by the enigmatic, magnetic Kaz Brekker. When Kaz is approached by a wealthy influential member of the Ketterdam elite to steal something that’s basically two steps down from priceless, he puts together a team to get it. There’s danger, lies, death, feelings, and action all over the place. There are few things I enjoy more than a solid heist story, and Leigh Bardugo really knocks it out of the park with SIX OF CROWS. All of the members of Kaz’s team have their own talents that add value to their efforts, some of them are magical-ish, some of them are not. But this crew of young people–Kaz, Inej, Jesper, Nina, Matthias, and Wylan–are so varied, skilled, and complex that they create this unputdownable book. Seeing them “work” together, sometimes unsuccessfully, to reach their goal just gives me thrills. And if I haven’t mentioned it before, let me mention it now: I LOVE reading or watching plotting scenes. LOVE THEM. Like, after each of the members of the crew has gone out and done some reconnaissance and everyone meets back to up to share and plan…I can’t even. When things come together? I have no words. And because some of these crew members have pasts together or maybe futures, their interactions are full of sparks and attitude. SIGH. Of course, there would be no SIX OF CROWS, no Dregs, no anything without Kaz Brekker. He’s not the easiest guy to like, but UGH I LOVE HIM. He’s so intriguing and mysterious, and he has this shell that’s so hard to penetrate. He’s clever and confident and driven. But he’s also haunted by his own past and it’s shaped him so irrevocably and I just want to give him hugs, except he’s not into that warm fuzzy stuff, I think. He has a WONDERFUL relationship with Inej–INEJ! She’s amazing–that’s hard to describe but maybe not figure out. Does that even make sense. Not sure, but I loved them, independently and together. I also loved Nina and Matthias. GOD THESE TWO. So much hate and so much anger and despair and love and EVERYTHING. The sparks that these two set off are outstanding. One of the other great things about SIX OF CROWS is that it brings us to all these new places in the world Leigh Bardugo has created. Ketterdam, obviously, but also Djerholm, the capital of Fjerda, the frozen north. I love getting to explore the whole world and see the different cultures, a prime example of which is Fjerda. They have some really interesting rituals for their soldiers that, if I’m remembering correctly (October), are a little faith-based, but nothing like the faith we knew in Ravka. (Speaking of Ravka, I’m pretty sure Alina is mentioned, but I’m wasn’t sure while reading and can’t remember now when SIX OF CROWS takes place in relation to the Grisha Trilogy. I’m assuming also that this is not secret information and I’ve just missed it somewhere.) As often goes with heists, there are wrenches in the works, things don’t necessarily turn out how they are planned, and there are unexpected twists. SIX OF CROWS is fast-paced, character-driven, vibrant, and suspenseful. The way things are left make it so that I can barely wait another second for CROOKED KINGDOM. I miss these characters and these places so much.

This is going to be a very long review. I’m sorry ahead of time, but I knew it wouldn’t be a short review after I finished the book. Lots needed to be typed, but I promise no spoilers. Six of Crows is set in Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse, but this time readers will get to follow six different characters on a mission to pull off a very dangerous heist together. This book will pull you in different directions because all six characters get to tell the story from their point of view before, during, and after the heist. It’s crazy how Leigh Bardugo managed to keep up with all six points of view while building the storyline to this new epic adventure in the Grishaverse. Storyline/My Thoughts: First, if you read the Shadow and Bone Trilogy, then I will let you know now that Six of Crows doesn’t take place simultaneously as the trilogy. It’s set further in the years after the war has happened. Unfortunately, the Grisha are still treated horribly, and most are hidden or at Ravka helping the King rebuild, but this book is not focusing on that storyline. Instead, it’s focusing on six different characters, which each have a different personality and background. They are all supposed to be in their teens but come off as maturer in age. If you lived the way they did, then you would be much wiser in years to deal with the issues they have had to succumb. Readers will get to read some of their backstories when they tell their points of view in Six of Crows. (It’s amazing how authors can keep up with everything. I can’t even remember yesterday sometimes due to memory issues.) I’m going to try to break down what I liked about each character without going overboard. I loved how Leigh Bardugo wrote each character differently. This is one reason why I was interested in the book. Kaz Brekker has a heartbreaking back story, but he has managed to fight through everything thrown at him. He has a disability that requires him to have a cane, but he’s stronger than ever. He’s one scary character, even to his team, because he plans things that will put himself and everyone at risk. I enjoyed his character, especially after finding out what happened to him. He’s on a mission for revenge for what happened to him, and he will do anything to get that revenge. One thing that drove me crazy about him is his feelings for a particular character that he would rather deny than tell the truth. Just tell her!!!! Inej Ghafa is by far my favorite character of the six. She’s been through a lot too, and Kaz saved her from the life she had at the Menagerie. She became known as the Wraith since she’s able to sneak up on people. She’s a fighter. She puts Kaz in his place a couple of times, and only she can do it to him. I could go on and on about her character. I loved getting to read her point of view. Jesper Fahey has a secret that he’s unwilling to share with anyone on the team until he has to on the heist. He has a gambling issue, but he’s an excellent sharpshooter. I loved how even he questioned Kaz, but he also became friendly with another person on the heist. Nina Zenit is a Grisha Heartrender who uses her magic to survive the slums. Her abilities include controlling someone’s breathing, heart, and cells in their bodies. She’s one Grisha you don’t want to mess with, and in this book, she ends up putting herself at risk for everyone else to survive. Matthias Helva is a former druskelle and a Fjerdan witch hunter. Both Nina and he are dangerous together because he can’t stand what she is, and Nina is trying to make it right by Matthias. They have a complicated past and relationship that could put the others at risk. Matthias is one person you either could trust or not, and there were times I didn’t feel I could trust him with the group during the heist. Wylan Van Eck is someone that Kaz brings to the crew for leverage since the person who requested Kaz’s help happens to be Wylan’s father. Wylan, though, has his own tricks up his sleeve, and I hope I get to know him more in the next book. He fit right into the crew during the heist. All six are on a dangerous heist to break out a scientist from an impenetrable prison and put themselves at risk of being put in jail or, worst, being killed. (It’s all Kaz’s fault, but it was a deal that no one could turn down.) The heist reminded me of the movie Ocean’s Eleven, but much more risk to it, and instead of stealing money and gold, they have to steal a person. This person is someone everyone wants for themselves since they have created something that will change the odds. The thing that drove me bonkers about this book was how slow it started for me. It took me a while to gain my interest in the story. I’m used to reading multiple POVs, so that was not an issue. It was the issue of getting to the heist, going through everything, and then how it ended. It took a while to get through it all. I also was bothered by how Kaz did not get the revenge he wanted in this book. He had a chance but didn’t take it. He deserves revenge for what happened to him. He also didn’t share his feelings with a specific character that he should have in this book. I hope he starts sharing them in the next book. I know Kaz will be out for revenge even further in the next book, but for something else entirely. Overall, this book receives four stars from me. I think if the book would’ve grasped me from the beginning and not been slow to start, then I would have given it five stars. There was a lot to take in the beginning. Leigh Bardugo is a master at storytelling, though, and I can’t wait to see the Shadow and Bone and Six of Crows books be brought to life in the Netflix series. I already love the actors/actresses they chose to play the book characters. Now I need to make time to read the Crooked Kingdom because this book left me with a cliffhanger. Standalone or Part of Series: It’s part of the Six of Crows Duology. It’s also part of Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse. (If you read the Shadow and Bone Trilogy, then you will read about certain characters in this book from the current characters. There will be a moment of clarity of who Nina is and where she came from, and why she ended up with the crew. I don’t think you have to read the Shadow and Bone Trilogy to read this book, but I feel readers will miss out on some connections between the books.) Cliffhanger: Yes. Would I recommend this book? Yes. If you are a fan of YA Fantasy involving a dangerous heist with six different characters, you will enjoy this book. I also would recommend the audiobook if you enjoy listening to books. The narrators were fantastic at having the characters come to life when I listened to the book instead of reading it.

Holy crap! Where should I start with this review? I don’t know if I have the words to tell you how much I enjoyed the reading of Six of Crows. I fell in love with all the characters and the world building. The story is delivered in a way that kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. In this world we find regular humans and Grisha. The major problem in this story is that someone has devised a drug that makes the (magical) Grisha 100x more powerful. The trouble is that once a Grisha takes the drug, they are completely hooked and well on their way to dying. The drug could make a whole army of Grisha slaves, and the owner of that army the most powerful in the world. The object is to rescue the drug maker from prison. The stakes are high, but the reward will set the gang for life. Now they just need to get along and trust each other enough to pull it off. Okay, so we all get that this book is about a heist. The heist has low odds for success, but the price is right. In this story we see six outcasts come together and do the impossible. I have to point out that I have not read any of the Grisha Series, so if there were references to that world, I didn’t get them at all. Despite my ignorance, I had no trouble getting into this story and this world. The Characters: Kaz Brekker– criminal master mind, the leader of the gang, the guy with the plan. Inej– the “wraith”, an acrobat in her former life, excellent pick pocket, stealer of secrets Jasper– gambler, sharp-shooter, has a few secrets himself Nina– Grisha who can kill without touching, sassy, charming, former slave Matthias– former Gruskelle warrior Wylan– rich man’s son, bomb-maker, smarter than he looks We get 5 (third person) POVs in this story (everyone but Wylan). As crazy as it sounds, I had no trouble following this story. Each character who gets a turn has a good reason for telling their part of the tale. We get so much from the characters in this book. I fell in love with all of them. We get so much of the characters backstories, it is hard not to understand how they ended up on the wrong side of the law. They are all wonderfully flawed and completely lovable. There was no boring info dumping in order for us to get their back story either. Everything was given to the reader at just the right time, and just the proper amount. With the range of personalities in this story, there are bound to be conflicts. With the motivation being so much money, they get along enough to not kill each other. Inevitably I some shipping of certain couples in this story. Unfortunately, they have to overcome major issues for them to set sail. The only great thing I can say about the slight romance glimpses in this story is that there is a sequel, so I can still hold out hope. The Pacing: The pacing is so perfect in this story. I felt so much angst in the reading of this book. After initially getting to know the cast, they join together and head off on their heist. The whole group spends a lot of time in peril. They are really putting their freedom on the line to break into a prison and free someone. We don’t get to know much of the plan. As Kaz is telling people what to do, we are in the dark as much as the are. When the plan does come together, it is magical. The World Building: I could clearly see this locations for this book. Ketterdam has basically become a place I want to visit if I get a Genie to grant me a wish. It is basically a slum with a bunch of gangs but it also has a great nightlife which includes brothels and gambling dens. I would love to walk those streets, even if it cost me my wallet. We don’t stay in Ketterdam for this whole story though. No we go by ship to a place called The Ice Court where this heist takes place. The journey is full of danger. The author has dreamed up a whole world for the reader to discover. The clothes, customs, and languages are all pure imagination. I couldn’t be happier with the descriptive details given in this book. There are regular people with stealth and wit. There is also so much magic in this world. Unlike other fantasy stories, there are also regular people without magic. The magic has certain rules and is easy enough for me to wrap my head around. In Conclusion: I couldn’t have liked this story more. This book met and exceeded my expectations. I cannot wait for the sequel (this is the first of a duology). I highly recommend this story to YA Fantasy fans!

REVIEW: Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo Published September 29th, 2015 by Henry Holt and Co. Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy Edition: Hardcover Source: Purchased Pages: 465 Rating: 5/5 stars Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price–and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can’t pull it off alone… A convict with a thirst for revenge. A sharpshooter who can’t walk away from a wager. A runaway with a privileged past. A spy known as the Wraith. A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums. A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes. Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist. Kaz’s crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction–if they don’t kill each other first. From the moment I heard the description of this book, I was intrigued. A band of thieves attempting to pull off a huge heist? Sign me up! I was counting down the days till it released. I had such high expectations for this book. And believe me, they were met. I couldn’t put this book down. I loved every minute of it. Now, it is one of my favorite books of all time, and I’ve read a lot of books. I titled this “review”. In a review, you usually find criticism of the book. But since I loved this book, it’ll mostly be me gushing about all my thoughts. I just want to run up to people, shove this book in their face, scream “READ IT”, and then go and reread it by myself. the plot It was so interesting! I loved the whole heist. Something was always happening, and it was always interesting. It kept me surprised: PLOT TWISTS! the characters The characters were probably my favorite part of this book. We meet six that, by the end of the book, I had come to love. They’re all so unique. I loved reading from each perspective, that way I got to know the characters a lot better. “No mourners. No funerals. Among them, it passed for “good luck.” Kaz- The leader. “Greed is your god, Kaz.” He almost laughed at that. “No, Inej. Greed bows to me. It is my servant and my lever.” “A liar, a thief, and utterly without conscience. But he’ll keep to any deal you strike with him.” Nina- She’s so brave, snarky, funny, and just an amazing strong female character. I loved that we had a Grisha in the group. Inej-MY FAVORITE. She’s an ex-circus performer who now is a spy known as The Wraith. She struggled between her dedication to the gang and her desire to see her family again. “Besides, she was the Wraith-the only law that applied to her was gravity, and some days she defied that, too.” Jesper- the sharpshooter, who added so much to the story. The chapter told from his point of view are really great, because you see the other characters how he does, and I think he sees them how they truly are. “Take good care of my babies,” Jesper said as he handed [his guns] over to Dirix. “If I see a single scratch or nick on those, I’ll spell forgive me on your chest in bullet holes.” Wylan- He was this adorable, innocent, little boy at first. But his character changed/revealed as the story went along, and I LOVED it. I wished we could have gotten chapters from his POV, but Leigh said there will be in the 2nd! “Always hit where the mark isn’t looking.” “Who’s Mark?” Asked Wylan. Matthias- I loved how he struggled with loyalty to his country and his love for Nina, and I also loved seeing the backstory of how him and Nina met. “And what did you do, Matthias? What did you do to me in your dreams?” “Everything,” he said, as he turned to go. “Everything.” the romance! I loved how the story was not overpowered by the romances in this book. It was a side plot that made the story more interesting. It wasn’t as prominent as the action part, but it was there. And it was amazing. I won’t spoil anything, but let me just say, I have 3 new OTPs just from this book. the setting In Bardugo’s previous trilogy, which I loved, we get to know the world a little, but it’s mostly set in Ravka, one country. Six of Crows was in a different country in this world, Kerch, and the group travels to a new country, Fjerda. I loved getting to know this world better. Also, the characters are from different countries so we get to know their view on their country and the others. the writing Her writing, like always, was incredible. It flowed beautifully. Some people have said it starts out slow, but once you pass the first 100 pages, things start picking up and getting really interesting. (I was interested the whole time, of course. I loved it from the very beginning.) But if you’re not enjoying it as much, I’m begging you. Keep trying. It’s SO worth it. There’s so many amazing quotes! I literally have notes and notes full of them. This book is funny! It made me laugh out loud a lot (and I was in public, so people stared at me.) “Jesper knocked his head against the hull and cast his eyes heavenward. “Fine. But if Pekka Rollins kills us all, I’m going to get Wylan’s ghost to teach my ghost how to play the flute just so that I can annoy the hell out of your ghost. Brekker’s lips quicker. “I’ll just hire Matthias’ ghost to kick your ghost’s ass.” “My ghost won’t associate with your ghost,” Matthias said primly, and then wondered if the sea air was rotting his brain.” This book is so gorgeous! The cover is beautiful, but my absolute FAVORITE thing about it has to be the black edged pages. And the maps!! There’s two beautiful maps. TWO! what I didn’t like I honestly can’t think of anything I didn’t like in this book. I tried to come up with something, but I loved it too much. I highly, HIGHLY recommend you check this book out. It brings all the feels. I need the second book, Crooked Kingdom, NOW. Also, if you haven’t read Bardugo’s Grisha Trilogy, you should. A lot of people have asked me, “Do I have to read the Grisha Trilogy before Six of Crows?” My answer has been: No, you don’t have to. Of course I would recommend that you do, as it is one of my favorite trilogies. If you don’t, you might be a little lost in the world, and there are some characters mentioned in here from that trilogy that you wouldn’t understand, but you could understand the story. There are minor spoilers of the end of Ruin and Rising in Six of Crows, but there is also some misleading. If you read the Grisha trilogy, you learn more about Ravka, where Nina is from, which helps you understand her better. Plus, it’s just an amazing trilogy. You SHOULD. But no, you do not have to. Okay, I’ll just conclude my ramblings now. Go read this book, please. This review took so long to write, because I had so many good things to say, and I reread Six of Crows while writing it. Ava Bookishnessandtea.wordpress.com

SIX STRONG POINTS 1.) Setting・Worldbuilding: Ketterdam and Djerholm, the two main cities where she sets the story, come to life in scene. Description only goes so far, but Leigh brings her world to life by the actions, reactions, and customs of groups: the gangs and merch of Ketterdam with their cleverly named gambling parlors and brothel houses, the initiation rites of the Fjerdan drüskelle, and the magical powers of the Grisha. The world unfolds never in an info dump or description binge, but rather gradually and generously through vivid scenes, where characters interact with the clash of cultures that is Ketterdam. 2.) Dialogue: The dialogue is both witty and revealing without ever seeming pedantic, over-the-top, or on-the-nose. The retorts the main characters use to poke fun at each other’s vices made me laugh as I learned new barbs. Most of the banter had a purpose, which meant even the funniest insults carried a side of seriousness or truth vital to the plot or matter at hand; it was never just talk to pass the time, but rather verbal jousting that advanced the plot. Furthermore, Leigh Bardugo creates her own slang native to the Grisha universe, with its own curse words and turns of phrase, but the foreign terms always come with enough context or explanation, without ever seeming forced or excessive. 3.) Voice・POV: The story is told from the third-person limited perspective of five of the six main characters and a couple of side characters at the beginning and end. Normally, head jumping can be confusing for the reader, but Leigh pulls this off masterfully because of how unique the characters sound. In short, Six of Crows is a clinic in filtering, a textbook on how to reveal character and conceal plot and backstory through third-person perspective. Kaz’s dry humor and pragmatic efficiency. Inej’s search for meaning and inner tenderness, coated with a tough exterior. Nina’s shameless flirtation and effervescent energy. Matthias’ modesty and soldier honor. Jesper’s carefree thirst for action and danger. (Sheltered Wylan doesn’t receive a POV chapter.) Every character imbues his or her dialogue with a unique, distinctive style and way of speech or viewing the world, that reading the story, told from different perspectives, with little to no overlap in time, was a joy in and of itself. This experience was so good it convinced me to try writing my own fiction from multiple third-person limiteds. 4.) Characters: Each of the six main characters has some redeeming quality that makes his or her vices all the more realistic, tolerable, and relatable. Kaz is a merciless demon content to treat his team members as investments or pawns, but it is his sentimentality - which proves to be a weakness - in the book’s final act that redeems his ruthless pragmatism. Moreover, he is just a cool customer, never blinking or showing any weakness through the early scenes. Matthias, too, is hardened in his ways and outlook on life, but as Nina and the others save his life time and time again, he begins to question his own upbringing and soften up. The bonding and trust that characters form with one another - but always with the edge of the task at hand, and the threat of betrayal from muddy pasts - give the entire story a positive, redeeming vibe despite the prevalence of vice in the characters’ pasts and world looming as a possible excuse. Each character has a volume of backstory, but the author never dumps it on the reader; instead, she parcels it out in flashbacks throughout the plot, interleaved skillfully between as interludes between the action. Only Wylan and Jesper don’t reveal much backstory in this book, but their pasts receive ample attention in Crooked Kingdom. 5.) Plot Twists: In a world where loyalty changes as quickly as money changes hands, it is remarkable that the six characters collaborating on the heist actually grow closer as the plot unfolds. So much betrayal and surprise happen from page 1 — and even before, with Matthias and Nina’s past — that it isn’t always a given that the characters have any virtue or loyalty. Like a house of cards, every single character experiences a moment — sometimes several — where a well-timed betrayal could end the heist then and there. We learn through early plot twists that anyone could be a traitor, and anyone can be bought or bribed with money. These loyalty plot twists set the stage for a different level of plot twist on the heist, when unforeseen obstacles force the characters to trust each other to stay alive. Finally, the plot twists crescendo toward a final betrayal in the end, further layered with the protagonists’ own counters. In brief, everyone in the story is always trying to stay a step ahead of his peers and rivals, and often that level of gamesmanship - thinking two or three plies ahead - thrills the reader when they are revealed in rapid succession. 6.) Action: The action scenes are surprising and well-paced. Not a single character is spared any blood or challenge; everyone faces a demon at some point, and it is those difficult moments of action where the characters truly come to life. Even our introduction to Kaz, where he encounters a rival gang, rings with vivid action, complete with a surprising betrayal and moments of doubt. What Leigh does particularly well is keeping the outcome in suspense: We’re not always sure who will win the battles, and Kaz or one of his characters must often improvise despite maniacal preparations. The amount of stabbing, gunfire, punches, eyeball-ripouts, and Grisha magic (a well-conceived system) rarely seem gratuitous, but they convey the mortal danger these characters face around every corner, and their reactions build character and bring us closer. NEGATIVES Besides the obvious complaint of Wylan’s lack of chapter time — remedied in Crooked Kingdom — I would say the book is like many of its characters: seemingly incomplete and unsalvageable on the outside, but truly substantive and attractive in the middle. Unlike many other books, which are the opposite in how they operate, Six of Crows doesn’t begin with as much relevance, or close with as much closure as I would have liked. Most if not all of the prologue characters never play a tangible role in the rest of the story; they certainly don’t appear in the flesh, only as bits of conversation. Though the beginning sets the stage of the prized drug jurda parem, the characters that first dance on that stage never see the spotlight again. Likewise, the ending, after a sequence of breathtaking plot twists and grand reveals, leaves the protagonist group of six separated, without any sense of closure or accomplishment. Two of them falter, leaving their relationship at a low point, while a third is kidnapped, and the book ends without any firm resolution or plan, although we sense comeuppance is on the horizon. Fortunately, the second book resolves those loose ends and brings much more satisfying closure. Like many of her characters, Leigh Bardugo more than makes up for this by the strength of the novel’s interior. When I started reading, I wasn’t sure how badly I’d want to follow Joost, or when I’d see Anya again, but the farther I read, the more the true main characters came to life, and once I got past Chapter 2, I knew I was experiencing something special. In that sense, the novel itself is like a lesson to look beyond the surface, at the interior, because sometimes the beauty of a person (or book) is in the redeeming qualities inside. As a writer working on my craft, I can't think of a better paragon or more inspiring read to offer hope -- much like hope for Kaz, Inej, Jesper, Wylan, Nina, and Matthias -- and affirmation that this market still has room for a story well-told and prose well-written.

“The heart is an arrow. It demands aim to land true.” ― Leigh Bardugo, Six of Crows (4.5/5⭐️) Kaz Brekker is somewhat of a criminal prodigy on the streets of Ketterdam. He’s seemingly untouchable, until a rich merchant captures him and offers him the deal of a lifetime—more krug than he knows what to do with. The catch? He must break into a notoriously impossible prison and free a man whose recipe for a new drug has the power to rip the Greshaverse apart. What Kaz needs is a band of misfits. Who better than his right-hand-man sharpshooter Jesper, his Wraith Inej, a boy with a tendency to blow things up, Waylen, an ex-witch hunter, Matthias, and a Grisha woman with healing powers, Nina? Together, this band of six must pull of an unthinkable heist. But what happens when the person they find isn’t the one they expected? And what happens when the deal goes sour? Can Kaz hold his band together? Is four million krug really worth their lives? What an excellent introduction into the Greshaverse! Leigh Bardugo fills the pages with characters that are unique, memorable, and full of flaws. Her portrayal of Ketterdam was rich and descriptive. She swept me away into a world that was easy to follow and took very little adjustment. The streets of Ketterdam are brutal. You could feel it in the writing, in the struggles and pasts each character portrayed. I loved the way she handled the plot. You see each character in his/her current state, yet, their obvious flaws make it clear that there’s more beneath the surface. Bardugo is excellent at showing small glimpses into each character’s past as the story progresses. You see just enough to leave you desperate for more. The longest flashbacks didn’t happen until the second half of the book, during much of the action. But I didn’t even care that the action was interrupted because I was so invested in each character. My favorite was Nina. I felt that her past was more tortured than many, though each had his/her own struggles. She made some heart wrenching decisions, yet, she was capable of forgiveness and able to look past the flaws of others. Yet, all the characters were incredible. “When everyone knows you’re a monster, you needn’t waste time doing every monstrous thing.” Kaz has so many demons. He’s morally gray, yet, you understand each of his decisions. You realize that beneath his stony exterior, there’s someone hurting. It takes him an entire book to work out what he really wants, and even then, he doesn’t fully succeed. “No mourners. No funerals. Among them, it passed for 'good luck.” Now, I’d love to get deeper into the world building. The streets of Ketterdam were so rich with description. Yet, I never felt overwhelmed. Bardugo had a way of sprinkling the right information at the right time. I learned about paintings, and gangs, and establishments, and locations, and...you get the point. All of these detailed facets of the city that might be unnecessary in some books was critical in helping me understand the lives that these six misfits were a part of. Why they did the thing they did. Why they were the way they were. It was excellent! I considered giving this book five stars because it seems perfect in nearly every way. The only thing that it was missing was a certain riveting flare that keeps me thinking about a book even when I’ve set it down. For me, I try to reserve five stars for the books that consume me both while I’m reading, and while I’m not. You know, those books you can’t stop thinking about ALL DAMN DAY while you’re going about your routine? This one didn’t do that for me. While I thoroughly enjoyed it, I didn’t find it all-consuming the way other books have been for me. So I’m subtracting half a star, which seems a fair distinguished between the books that simply take you over the top. Do I recommend it? Hell yes! I can’t freaking wait to dive into Crooked Kingdom. This book has everything. Magic. Misfits. An impossible heist. Political intrigue. You name it. Go read it!

*May contain spoilers Six of Crows is one of those books that I could truly kick myself for waiting so long to read. Now that I’ve finally finished reading it, all I keep thinking is what a fool I was to deprive myself of one of the most original and amazing fantasy stories I’ve ever read. I feel like I’m not even going to begin to do this book justice, but hopefully, since I’m pretty sure I’m one of the last people on the planet to actually read it, you guys will all just nod your heads in agreement because you already know why Six of Crows is such a fabulous read. For those unfamiliar with the basic storyline, Six of Crows follows Kaz Brekker, a teenage criminal mastermind, who has been offered an opportunity to achieve wealth beyond his wildest dreams. How? By completing what can probably best be described as Mission Impossible. He has to break into the Ice Court, a heavy guarded military stronghold that has never successfully been broken into before. Once inside, his mission is to locate and smuggle out a scientist who is being held hostage there because he possesses knowledge on how to amplify and weaponize magic. Kaz knows enough about the dangers of the Ice Court to know that, without the right team, this heist is going to be nearly impossible, possibly even a suicide mission. Lucky for Kaz though, he knows exactly who the right team is: a deadly gang of young thugs, thieves, and runaways who are just desperate enough to agree to be part of this crazy mission. LIKES What I loved most about Six of Crows are the characters. Leigh Bardugo has crafted some of the most fascinating and unique characters I’ve come across in YA fantasy. I always enjoy stories that feature an anti-hero and with Kaz and his “Crows,” we have 6 anti-heroes! I love anti-heroes because they’re always such complex characters and these characters are no different. What each of the Crows have in common is that they have no family and they’ve each had to do some pretty awful things in the name of survival, including resorting to thievery and murder. Through flashbacks that give us backstory on each of the characters, however, Bardugo manages to make this gang of thugs so sympathetic that you can’t help but fall in love with them. I also liked the angle that each character seemed to have their own, sometimes selfish motives, for wanting to be a part of Kaz’s mission and it added an element of suspense at times, as I wondered if someone would sabotage the mission to serve their own needs. It’s hard to pick a favorite character because they’re all so badass, but Kaz is definitely near the top of my list. As I’ve already mentioned, he’s a criminal mastermind. Even though he’s a teenager, his reputation precedes him and he is feared by many in Ketterdam, the city where the story takes place. Kaz can be as greedy as he can be cruel, but he’s also so brilliant, brazen, and daring that you can’t help being drawn to him. Kaz is also haunted by events from his past that left him alone and destitute, and he’s highly motivated by the desire for revenge against the man he holds responsible for what happened. In addition to Kaz, there are also two badass female characters, Inej and Nina. Inej, known as the wraith, has a reputation for being somewhat of a ninja. Kaz calls her his spider because she can climb her way pretty much anywhere and can do so undetected, a very handy skill in their line of “work.” She’s also very skilled with knives and is perhaps the most murderous member of Kaz’s team. I just loved watching her in action as she cut down anyone who posed a threat to the team. What made Inej especially fascinating to me was the connection between her and Kaz. As much as Kaz tries to be all business, all the time and never show any emotion or weakness, it’s clear that he has a soft spot when it comes to Inej and her safety. It’s also pretty clear that there’s a good chance the feeling is mutual. Nina is what is known as a Grisha, which means she possesses magical abilities. For the purposes of Kaz’s mission, Nina can use that magic to do useful things like slow people’s heartrates down until they lose consciousness. She can also use her powers for healing purposes, also handy when you’re on a super-dangerous mission. As we learn from her backstory, Nina’s people have been persecuted for years because of their magic -- imprisoned, tortured, and even burned at the stake. Because the Grisha are the ones whose magic would be weaponized, Nina has personal reasons for wanting to take part in this mission. Matthias is one of the characters that intrigued me the most. At first, I couldn’t stand him, but the more I got to know about him, the more I just grew to adore him. Kaz recruits him by breaking him out of jail and offering him a pardon for his crimes in exchange for his help with the mission. Kaz sees Matthias as one of the biggest assets to the team because he used to work in the Ice Castle and can therefore give them the overall layout of the place, how the security works, etc. Matthias is torn because he knows he should be loyal to the Ice Castle, but at the same time, how can you turn down a chance to be pardoned so that you can get your life back? What makes the whole situation even more complicated is that he and Nina have shared history and he holds her responsible for his imprisonment. Tension, much? I swear I was convinced those two were going to kill each other for about half the book! Beneath all that hate they seemed to have for each other though, you could sense there was something more, an almost smoldering attraction for one another. Let me tell you – I’m not usually big on romance, but I was shipping the heck out of Nina and Matthias! Jesper and Wylan. While these two guys were clearly assets to the team as well with their knowledge of weapons and explosives, respectively, what I loved most about Jesper and Wylan was that they provided a bit of comic relief where the other characters were so intense all the time. Jesper and Wylan teased each other relentlessly and their banter was just hilarious at times. The world building in Six of Crows is also top notch. Bardugo paints a vivid picture of Ketterdam with its rival street gangs swarming around duking it out for power. It’s a dark and gritty world, as well as a dangerous one, filled with assorted thieves, predators, and traitors. It’s hard to know who, if anyone, can be trusted. The atmosphere definitely creates a sensation that all of the characters are vulnerable to attack by anyone anywhere so they have to be in survival mode at all times. The Grisha magic system is also well thought out and vividly drawn. I went into Six of Crows without having read the Grisha series, which was probably a mistake as I’m sure it would have further enriched my understanding of the Grisha magic and their history, but even without having read it, I still felt like I completely understood the magic and why it would be such a valuable weapon if it could be amplified and harnessed. Imagine practically indestructible armies of Grisha fighting on your behalf. You’d be unstoppable. Action, Action, Action! As I’m sure you can imagine just based on the details of their mission, Six of Crows is truly action-packed. There are endless twists and turns, obstacles that need to be overcome, enemies that need to be taken out, plans that fall apart and then need to be improvised. Although the novel starts out at a fairly slow pace as we are meeting each character and establishing the world of Ketterdam, once Kaz and his gang get started on their missions, it’s like jumping on a thrill ride that doesn’t stop until the final page. DISLIKES I can’t really say this is a dislike of the book, but it did take me about a hundred pages or so to really become invested in the characters and get sucked into the story. Again, I’m chalking up my slow start to needing extra time to understand the Grisha magic and how it worked because I didn’t read the Grisha trilogy first. Once I did get sucked in, however, there was no stopping me. It probably took me 3 or 4 days to get to page 100, but then I inhaled the last 300 or so pages in another day and a half. I guess my advice would if you are struggling to get into it, stick with it until they actually get started with the planning of their mission. It might be a slow build in the beginning, but it’s a wild ride from that point to the very end. FINAL THOUGHTS I truly loved pretty much everything about Six of Crows, hence why I’m kicking myself for having waited so long to read it. Up until now, Victoria Schwab’s Shades of Magic series has been, hands down, my favorite YA fantasy series. I have to say though, Six of Crows is seriously giving it a run for its money. RATING: 4.5 STARS

Good plot. Too many characters to keep up with, but so far its been a decent read. I listened to most of it on audible and the narrators were alright. Again, I think just too many povs and characters to really keep up with but otherwise it was good.

Es gibt kein gebündeltes Adjektiv für all die Gefühle, die in mir toben. Die Geschichte begleitet mich bei jedem Schritt. Ich liebte schon die Grisha-Trilogie und nun folgte dieses Buch, in welchem man schon vor dem eigentlichen Lesen war. Im Internet tummeln sich unglaublich viele Bilder der Charaktere und man will dieses Buch einfach nur lesen, in der Hand halten und lieben. Durch all die Zeichnungen kannte ich die Charaktere schon eine Ewigkeit, aber wusste ich dennoch nicht, wie genial sie und die Geschichte sind. Manchmal denkt man, es könne sich nicht steigern. Dieses Buch zeigt das Gegenteil. (Und ist einer der großen Sterne für mich, deshalb entschuldige ich, sollte jemand diese Rezension als zu schwärmerisch empfinden.) Nach Grisha hat Leigh Bardugo noch einmal einen sehr großen Schritt gemacht und man merkt, dass sie selbst sehr viel in dieses Buch gesteckt hat. Zeit, Energie, Liebe. Auch wenn es nicht immer zutrifft, so sieht man hierbei, sich viel Zeit für ein Buch zu nehmen, schafft einen ganz anderen Stil und Charakter. Obwohl wieder die gleiche Welt verwendet wurde, so war es nicht, dass sie es sich dadurch leicht gemacht hat. Wenn man mehr aus der Welt der Grisha erfahren wollte, den anderen Ländern, dann findet man genau dies in diesem brillanten und atemberaubenden Buch. Es wird nur sehr wenig der vorherigen Trilogie aufgegriffen. Eher wird die Welt noch einmal neu geschaffen und auf andere Art und Weise, erwachsener erzählt. Es ist wirklich faszinierend, wie Leigh Bardugo es geschafft hat aus auktorialer Sicht, sieben Hauptcharaktere spielen zu lassen. Kein Chaos entsteht in dieser unglaublichen Komplexität, sondern bringt es Spannung mit jedem Kapitel, was einen blättern und blättern lässt, das Herz hört nicht auf schnell zu schlagen. Der Schreibstil aller Kapitel, immer ein wenig auf den jeweiligen Charakter angepasst, verfließt ineinander wie Wasser und bringt dunkle, magische, romantische, liebevolle und amüsante Stimmungen durch bloße Worte mit sich. Bardugo weiß es wirklich, wie mit den Gefühlen des Lesers gespielt werden kann. Wie ich sagte, reizten mich schon vor Beginn die Charaktere und dies auch noch beim Lesen des Buches. Alle sechs waren so unterschiedlich voneinander und definitiv keine Stereotypen. Sie waren verschiedenen Geschlechts, Abstammung und vor allem ihre Geschichte, die ihre Person formte. Durch die Erzählweise erhält man eine gewisse Distanz zu ihnen, die nach und nach verschwindet. Man möchte nur wissen, was mit ihnen ist, wie sie denken. Langsam, ohne es richtig zu merken, schleicht sich die Vergangenheit von ihnen in die Erzählung und man stellt eine starke Bindung zu ihnen auf. Trotzdass man sie zu kennen scheint, überraschen sie einen jedes Mal aufs Neue. Es ist zudem ihr echtes Sein, das mich an sie band, und ihr realistischer und authentischer Umgang untereinander. Nicht jeder mag jeden, alte Verbindungen können noch tief in der Seele sein, Vergangenheit und Taten lassen sich nicht einfach vergessen. Das Buch ist nicht überzogen mit Liebesgeschichten, wenngleich man die Liebe spürt, wie die heiße Glut unter der dunklen Oberfläche einer Kohle, kurz davor hervorzubrechen. Es sind unausgesprochene Worte, die zwischen den Personen bestehen und man kennt sie, nur durch eine winzige Tat, es stimmt schlichtweg. Hier wird die Liebe der unterschiedlichen Ebenen aufgegriffen. Freundschaftlicher und romantischer Sicht. Es ist so schön Nina und Inej zusammen zu sehen, wie sie in dieser tiefen und vertrauten Art miteinander sind. Matthias und Nina, wie Liebe und Hass zu gleicher Zeit herrschen. Jesper und Wylan mit ihrem ganz eigenen Sein. Und schließlich Kaz und Inej, wie Grenzen fallen. Die Gruppe der Sechs harmoniert mit ihren Stärken und Schwächen, der Tiefgründigkeit. Mir ist jeder einzelne Charakter fest an mein Herz gewachsen, vor allem einer. Kaz Brekker. KAZ. Es ist schwer zu beschreiben, wie er eigentlich ist. Man fühlt es. Ebenfalls haben andere handelnde Personen ihre Tiefe und eine unausgesprochene und dennoch so gut bekannte Geschichte. Man könnte meinen, in Kaz, Inej, Nina etc. zu schlüpfen und ihre Erinnerungen und Gefühle zu ihnen zu kennen, sodass keine weiteren Erklärungen nötig sind. Sogar merkte ich mir sofort jeden der Namen, wenngleich sie gänzlich unbedeutend waren, was selten bei mir der Fall ist. Und so als würde die Zeit wie in der des Buches vergehen, treten andere in den Vordergrund und andere blendet man aus, sodass man wie die Dregs nicht mehr mit ihnen rechnet oder auch von ihnen getäuscht wird. Zu den außergewöhnlichen Charakteren kommt eine einzigartige Geschichte hinzu. Sie hatte ihre Ruhepunkte, aber bleiben bei mir die Aussetzer des Herzschlages, die Atemnot und pure Gefühle in Erinnerung. Es passiert wahnsinnig viel in diesem Buch, trotzdem ist es nicht zu schnell erzählt oder zu langsam. In den teils am wenigsten erwarteten Momenten, hat die Handlungen eine plötzliche Wendung, die man nie vorhersehen konnte. Man war hin und her gerissen und konnte nicht glauben, was gerade geschehen war. Das bedeutet jedoch nicht, dass man mit dutzenden Fragen zurückgelassen wurde, denn fügte sich alles zusammen. Aspekte, wie winzig sie manchmal waren, hatten ihre Bedeutung und einen nachvollziehbaren Grund. Nichts war nur eine zeitschaffende Aktion für mehr Seiten zum Lesen, eher wollte man mehr und mehr. Die „WTF“-Momente nach einem dieser Plottwists, rissen die Gefühle mit und warfen alles durcheinander, dabei waren sie immer bewegender. Und dann der Schluss. Warum? Ich konnte nicht mehr. Es war so zerstörend und erschreckend. Das Buch brach das Herz wie es eine Person normalerweise nur kann. Es löste ganz versteckte Gefühle aus, eine Sehnsucht und Liebe. Wer glaubt, dies ist ein typisches Jugendbuch, der irrt sich. Es ist eine Zusammenfügung aus den Gefühlen des Lebens auf erwachsene Weise erzählt und gänzlich extraordinär. Es ist wie die Sonne am Himmel oder der strahlende Vollmond. Eigentlich kann man es mit dem Himmel bei Nacht vergleichen, bei dessen Anblick man alles empfindet, eine gewisse Ehrfurcht aufgrund seiner Ausstrahlung und die Inhalte sind wie die einzelnen Sterne, einzigartig und nicht unterdrückt. Tiefen herrschen vor, die neugierig machen, doch auch Furcht auslösen und den Wunsch nach Ergründung bringen. Die Sterne blenden nicht, aber man kann sie nicht übersehen mit ihren Konstellationen. Ich kann nicht beschreiben, wie viel mir dieses Buch mit all seinen Worten, den sich einprägenden Zitaten verborgener Tiefe, bedeutet. Mich erinnert es an Red Rising in der geballten Gefühlsaufwirbelung und ebenso werde ich es nicht mehr vergessen können. Dazu muss gesagt sein, dass ich mir Monate dafür Zeit nahm, immer wieder eine kleine Dosis wie eine Droge zu mir nahm, aber trotzdem nahm es mir die Luft zum Atmen, jedes Mal, tränkte meine Träume. Wenn die Art es so zu lesen schon derart schön schmerzhaft war, ist alles zusammen ein Tsunami größten Ausmaßes in mir. (Ich beginne lieber nicht bei den Gedanken an Kaz Brekker und der Dregs).

Tenho a leve impressão de que nunca vou estar pronta o suficiente para resenhar esse livro. Nunca li nada parecido, ele realmente parece ter sido muito, mas muito estudado mesmo, criado nos menores detalhes. Talvez eu até esteja exagerando um pouco, dizendo que não dá para descrevê-lo, mas eu tinha as maiores expectativas e ainda me impressionei. Eu sabia que gostaria dele antes de ler, porque já sabia qual seria seu ponto alto: os personagens. É minha parte favorita de qualquer livro (ou, pelo menos, a que considero a mais importante). Mas a Leigh Bardugo ainda conseguiu me impressionar durante esse livro. Nunca imaginaria que era possível criar tanta história, tanta profundidade para tantos personagens em um livro só. Muitas vezes, na verdade, esse jeito dela de contar um pedaço da história deles no meio de uma cena me incomodou. Mas dá para ver a força que isso trouxe à personalidade deles e às decisões mais essenciais que eles tomariam dali para a frente. Dá para ver todos os milhares de detalhes que ela foi amarrando durante a trama perfeitamente. Acho que eu nunca tinha visto ninguém fazer isso tão bem. Mas, na verdade, até a metade do livro, eu ainda não sentia que ele entraria para a minha lista de favoritos. A autora - que, na minha opinião, já tinha escrito a trilogia Grisha muito bem, - subiu completamente o nível dos seus livros e do universo Grisha nesse livro. Ela fez tudo maravilhosamente bem, somente as informações necessárias nas horas certas, tudo conectado, sigiloso e intrigante na medida. Acho que nunca li um livro tão bem criado, tão meticuloso e desenvolvido com tanta maestria. Mas, infelizmente, isso não é o suficiente para fazer um leitor amar de verdade um livro. Quer dizer, alguém realmente ama de paixão Ulysses? (Até deve ter algum louco por aí, né?) E, mesmo assim, a genialidade dele é inegável. Até a metade do livro, eu sentia a história um pouco pesada. Tive vários momentos em que sentia uma ligação linda pelos personagens, mas não eram tão recorrentes quanto eu queria, em meio à tanta complexidade e tantos detalhes. Mas aí, passando da metade, tudo parece ter se intensificado. A história ficou mais rápida, os detalhes de histórias do passado dos personagens ficaram mais raros e logo passaram a ser inexistentes, mesmo assim provando sua importância nas partes mais cruciais. Aquela leve ligação que eu criei com os personagens só ficou mais forte e eu passei várias e várias páginas seguidas repetindo para mim mesma o quanto amo eles e a história. Aliás, passei várias dezenas de páginas sem nem olhar para o número delas (o que tinha acontecido muito antes). A primeira metade, que eu tinha me esforçado para ler, se transformou na segunda, que eu li em uma madrugada, com sono e dor de cabeça, porque me recusava a não terminar. A história fica emocionante o suficiente para você cancelar o resto do mundo só para ler. Aí, sim, percebi o carinho e o amor que desenvolvi pelo livro que lhe garantiam um lugar na minha lista de favoritos. Sem contar com um ritmo um pouco mais arrastado do que eu desejaria no começo (não se engane, não é que nada de interessante acontecia. É só o passado mesmo dos personagens que cortava um pouco os acontecimentos), só tenho uma única outra crítica para a história. Pode falar que eu não estou nunca satisfeita (apesar de que dou cinco estrelas se eu amar o livro, independente de ele ter defeitos ou não), mas em alguns momentos eu senti mesmo que o livro era um pouco perfeitinho demais. As peças encaixaram todas bem demais. Senti um pouco mais de falta de cuidado em alguns momentos (que tipo de crítica é essa?). Nem tudo precisava ser tão bem alinhado, sabe? Mas isso realmente é crítica de privilegiado, porque o livro é maravilhoso e nada é deslocado de propósito. O ponto alto, além dos personagens, é a relação entre eles. Meu deus, a amizade da Inej com a Nina foi maravilhosa. A última coisa que a Inej fala no livro pro Kaz foi maravilhosa também, o que ela pensa logo antes deveria ser ensinado em escolas para todo mundo - como se dar valor, não aceitar migalhas de atenção, como se amar primeiro. Jesper e Wylan me deixaram completamente curiosa para o segundo livro, me apaixonei pela relação da Nina com o Matthias logo no começo, a complexidade de todas as crenças dos dois e como eles as quebravam, mas as mantinham. Gente, que desenvolvimento incrível. Que capricho, sério! Até o Kaz, que não caiu tão bem para mim no começo (principalmente por aquilo da perfeição que falei, ele me parecia um pouco gênio demais de vez em quando), se mostrou digno de líder desses seis loucos desvairados que foram para o fim do mundo por luxúria e, vamos admitir, seus próprios sonhos. E o final, meu deus, não vou conseguir relaxar até ler o próximo livro, que promete ser ainda mais perfeito! Pelo menos, espero que seja, agora que a autora não precisa nos ensinar mais quem os personagens são. Aliás, um último comentário: a escrita da Leigh Bardugo nunca foi nem um pouco ruim, mas, como tudo nesse livro, ela subiu muito de nível desde a trilogia Grisha. Já sei que vou ler qualquer livro que ela escrever daqui para a frente.

Nice and neat

To be honest Quality was sooo good of the book and the storyline is just as good as the packaging. Worth money, price and time.

This book is so pretty! I'm obsessed! <3