Six of Crows
By Leigh Bardugo
Genre: Young Adult / Fantasy
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.
Review by Coll
My Rating: 5 Coffee Cups!
I finished Six of Crows and immediately found myself missing Kaz and
his crew, which is a surefire sign that I just finished a book that I
absolutely loved. Kaz Brekker, criminal, gang leader, outcast, has assembled a
group of misfit criminals from The Barrel to pull off the crime of a lifetime, a
crime that even the most capable and seasoned lawbreakers would find nearly
impossible. But for a group of men and women who have nothing left to lose, the
impossible could be the one thing that will bring them salvation and the wealth
they need to start new lives. But before they can go about saving the world
they must first get past the secrets they are hiding, the resentment they hold
back, and the mistrust they feel towards one another, and focus on not getting
killed by the odds stacked against them.
I had been looking forward to reading this book since it was released
because there were so many tempting aspects to it: theft, magic, fantasy, so
many things that I love in a good story. Six of Crows is set in the same world
as Bardugo’s Grisha Trilogy but in a different land, with different characters,
and it is not necessary to read the other trilogy first. I felt like the story
got off to a slow start but after the first part of the book (it is divided
into several parts) it really picked up and I could not put it down. Once I was
halfway through the book I caught myself thinking about it all the time and
wondering what would happen next with each of the characters that I had grown
to love so much.
To tell the story, Bardugo switches each chapter to be from a different
main character’s point of view, but I felt she did it in a different and more
engaging way than I have seen it done by other authors in the past. The trouble I fall
into sometimes when reading a story that switches between characters is the
breakup of the storyline, since each character usually jumps to a different
time or location. Bardugo switches characters yet tells the story
seamlessly so that each chapter starts exactly where the last left off, but with
the point of view of someone new. So the story never breaks succession and
there is never a lull in the action. This way we learn the emotions, motivations,
and differing viewpoints of each character without the excitement of the story ever
getting interrupted.
The character development in the story is incredible and you quickly
begin to learn the talents and flaws of each character and feel as if you
know them personally and love each of them for who they are. Bardugo uses the
present, flashbacks, internal thoughts, etc. to teach you the history of each
character and give you a glimpse into why they have each become the person they
are. The storyline was very unique and often focused on special abilities that some
characters possess (the Grisha) which are incredibly interesting and a
different take on magic. Once you get about 100 pages into the book the story
really picks up pace and it is basically nonstop action after that point, done
in near flawless fashion. There were small things about the book that bothered
me, but these are rather insignificant details like the ages of certain
characters or odd interactions which took nothing away from the story at all
and were just little things that I noticed occasionally. Overall Bardugo told a
brilliant story and I loved every second of it.
I finished this book several days ago and I still find myself missing
the characters, Ketterdam, and everything about the story. It has been a long
time since I have read a book that tugged at my heart enough that it made me go
through a slight withdrawal and left me feeling a little depressed that I was
not still immersed in the world of the book and the lives of its characters. Six
of Crows has done that to me and the more I think about the book the more I
love it and I find myself already anticipating the next novel in the trilogy.
The book ends with a cliffhanger but not one that leaves you screaming in rage
at having to wait so long for the next book, but enough for you to feel eager with
anticipation as you patiently await book two. I look forward to the day where I
am back in The Barrel hanging out with Kaz and the rest of the crew as the next
part of the incredible journey takes place.
“When everyone knows you’re a monster, you needn’t waste time doing
every monstrous thing.”
Add on Goodreads
Buy links:
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1SsiHX7
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