Brian Review: Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Six of Crows

Author: Leigh Bardugo

Published On: 9/29/15

Page Count:465

Synopsis: (Found on Goodreads)

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.

Kaz's crew are the only ones who might stand between the world and destruction—if they don't kill each other first

Overall Rating: 4.5 / 5

This was the first book I read in this world, though I knew going in that there were others in the same setting with some of the same cast. Now that I’ve finished it, I definitely feel the need to go find any other books that are tied in and read those as well. Six of Crows was excellent, after a somewhat slow start it kept me hooked all the way through. The characters were interesting and well developed, the story interesting and action packed. I can’t wait to continue the story in the next book.

Cover: 4/5

The cover fit the book pretty well. I liked the colors and the grittiness of the mixture, the pictures were good and I enjoyed the blending of buildings into the crow’s feathers. The font was a good choice as well, and fit the style.

Characters: 5/5

I loved the characters in this book. There are too many to do full descriptions on here, but here are some of my favorites.

Kaz: As close to a ‘main character’ as you can get, though this story revolves around several integral people. Kaz is a conflicted guy, in the same 5 minutes he can be a completely self serving, cold, manipulative jerk, and a fiercely loyal companion trying to help his friends. Often you can’t tell if one is just a mask for the other. I found myself re-reading lines and going back a page or two to make sure I read every piece of dialogue so I could get to know Kaz better. You do get to learn some things about his past, but he is always a bit of an enigma.

Wraith (Inej): Kaz’s trusted rogue / assassin / thief / eavesdropper / anything that requires being quiet and invisible. Wraith, like everyone in this book has a very interesting past that shaped her into who she is. Her skills are amazing but getting to know her character when she isn’t doing her job was just as interesting to read about. You can see her go through several changes throughout the story, and try to figure out just how she feels about Kaz as she watches his actions around their other companions.

Plot: 4/5

The story started off a little bit slow for me, but that didn’t last long. There were a lot of characters and even the city of Ketterdam itself to learn about, and very quickly the story picks up its pace and really starts to roll along as all of the planning turns into action. After the first few chapters I was hooked, and couldn’t put it down over the next day or two. It was interesting to see how a very intricate heist full of very real danger was managed in a fantasy setting with swords, sorcery, and an amazing cast.

Quotes:

“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.”

“Many boys will bring you flowers. But someday you'll meet a boy who will learn your favorite flower, your favorite song, your favorite sweet. And even if he is too poor to give you any of them, it won't matter because he will have taken the time to know you as no one else does. Only that boy earns your heart.”

― Leigh Bardugo, Six of Crows


~Brian