Six Of Crows by Leigh Bardugo (465 pages)
Six people, one heist, and a kidnapping. What could go wrong in Six of Crows?
Kaz Brekker is well known on the streets of Ketterdam as a thief and criminal prodigy. Always able to escape even the most unlikely situations, he has created a solid reputation for himself as someone to watch ouv for. When an opportunity is presented to him to complete a seemingly impossible heist with a promise of great monetary reward, Kaz does not turn it down.
However, he quickly realises that a task like this cannot be completed solo, so he puts together a group of unlikely, morally grey misfits with unique backgrounds. From the outside looking in, they do not seem capable of completing such a daunting task. But Kaz believes they possess just the right skills for kidnapping. They do face one major problem: their relationship with one another is shaky at best, and may jeopardise the entire mission– cause the inevitable collapse of their world.
Stories From the “Grishaverse” Continue
After reading the Shadow and Bone trilogy by author Leigh Bardugo and finding out that she has more books based in the same universe, I knew I had to get my hands on them. Bardugo is a talented young adult fantasy writer and truly knows how to bring her fictional worlds to life. While set in a different time period than her first trilogy, Six Of Crows did not disappoint. This story about a heist made me think of modern- day movies such as Mission Impossible and Oceans Eleven–only set in a fantasy world cultivated for young adult readers.
Bardugo excelled at having diverse characters in this novel, not just in terms of race but also various body types, disabilities, and physical and mental abilities. She casts these differences in such a positive light, and beautifully portrays the strength of diversity in ways I did not realise at first. For example, one of the main characters appears to have a learning disability and, yet, he is part of this mission of a lifetime. His contributions are just as important as everyone else’s, despite the limitations he has.
The Bottom Line: 3/5 Brookie Stars
My favourite part about Bardugo’s novels has to be her unique characters. The chapters are told from the point of view of five very unique individuals, and they each have such distinctive voices and personalities. They are multi-layered, sensitive, imperfect people – which makes the characters that much more believable.
Each chapter is titled after a specific character, but the focus would sometimes shift to someone else, making it confusing. I often needed to refer back to the title of the chapter, which made the reading experience a little less enjoyable for me. While I appreciated getting a deeper understanding of the characters through the eyes of their comrades, it impacted the pacing of this otherwise action-packed novel.
Having said that, I will definitely be reading part two, Crooked Kingdom, as I need to know what happens to the gang. Also because Bardugo’s storytelling abilities are not one I wish to deprive myself of! If you are looking for a fantasy novel that has action, humour, and, of course, complex romance side plots, look no further than Six of Crows.
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Maiya Alismaili is a 34 year old bookacholic who currently resides in Ottawa. With a background in Human Resources and Psychology, you will often find her people watching. When she doesn’t have her nose in a book, she will likely be exploring the town for new bookstores, rewatching Gilmore Girls, or cleaning to 80s music.
Favorite Book: A Fine Balance By Rohinton Mistry
Favorite Brunch Spot: Cafe Cristal
