Review: Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Six of Crows
by: Leigh Bardugo
Six of Crows, #1
Publication Date: September 29, 2015
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult

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.

SPOILERS INCLUDED.

OH.MY.GOD! WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME? I don’t know how I lived so peacefully knowing this book has been released for months and not bothered to do anything about it. I was merely surviving before this. One may think I’m overreacting, but I am not. My reaction is completely justified. If you don’t believe me just read the book.

I am still hungover from it. Kaz, Inej, Nina, Matthis, Jesper, and Waylan were all amazing. I’m in love with each and every one of them. It was so easy to get sucked into this. Bardugo kept me hooked from the first page. Had it not been for life I would have finished this in one go. I felt anxious every time I had to put it down. I usually don’t re-read fantasy but this is an exception; I have an urge to re-read it already. IT IS THAT BEAUTIFUL. Urghhh I need my own copy now, and it will be painful to wait 6 more months. On the plus side, Crooked Kingdom is releasing a day near my birthday. (I know what I’m getting for my birthday :D)

I went into this book completely blind. I was awestruck with the cover, plus the hype around this book made me want to read it even more. When I found out my sister’s friend owns it I knew I couldn’t waste such an opportunity. I asked her if I could borrow it and she being the sweetheart she is let me.

From the writing to the plot to the characters to the setting, everything was marvellous. Usually having many different perspectives would have been a hassle, however, Bardugo annihilated it. Each and every perspective was important and it added a certain grace to the story. Half the magic is from the various perspectives. It was glorious reading one’s thoughts and then their actions through another’s perspective. I, especially, enjoyed Kaz’s thoughts vs. his behaviour.

Kaz narrowed his eyes. “I’m not some character out of a children’s story who plays harmless pranks and steals from the rich to give to the poor.”

Kaz is the perfect anti-hero. He is much more than just being just Dirtyhands. It was incredible reading his character unfold. Inej’s strength is admirable, after everything she’s been through she still has hope and belief in her religion. Jesper’s wit and sarcasm made me laugh quite a few times. He’s the perfect dose of lightness needed in such intense heists. Nina is bold, loud, and immensely loyal. Her loyalty may not always come across as loyalty, but her heart is in the right place. I love her unabashed nature. Matthias’ character development is definitely one of my favourites; the hate being replaced with logic and compassion. Wylan is someone you don’t think of much until later on and then he becomes a cinnamon roll that needs to be protected at all costs.

“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.”

I absolutely adored the unlikely team’s dynamic. They were an odd team but one that worked really well. I love how their trust and respect grew for each other. And their interactions never failed to amuse me.

“Jesper knocking 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 quirked. “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.”

I also enjoyed all the romantic relationships.

“What do you want then?”
The old answers came easily to mind. Money. Vengeance. Jordie’s voice in my head silenced forever. But a different reply roared to life inside him, loud, insistent, and unwelcome. You, Inej. You.

I adore Kaz and Inej’s relationship. I loved their partnership from the start (way before I shiped it romantically). Despite Kaz keeping a lot to himself there is a certain level of trust he has with Inej that he doesn’t with anyone else. She keeps him grounded – she’s his rock.

“He needed to tell her…what? That she was lovely and brave and better than anything he deserved. That he was twisted, crooked, wrong, but not so broken that he couldn’t pull himself together into some semblance of a man for her. That without meaning to, he’d begun to lean on her, to look for her, to need her near. He needed to thank her for his new hat.”

See what I mean. She means more to him than he anticipated and that terrifies him. When Inej was injured in the ambush Kaz’s worry broke me. It was the first clue to there being romantic feelings and I was a goner.

“I will have you without armour, Kaz Brekker. Or I will not have you at all.”

This is one of my favourite lines in the whole book. I love how strong Inej is and how she refuses to settle for less. She knows Kaz wants to be with her but she can’t let herself be with him if he’s always going to have an armour. As much as I want them together, I want them together fully not in some half-baked way.

“It’s not natural for women to fight.”
“It’s not natural for someone to be as stupid as he is tall, and yet there you stand.”

Matthias and Nina were really pleasant to read about. I enjoyed their banter and care for one another (even when they tried hiding it). I was really curious about their history, I had a few guesses but nothing came close to reality.

“I have been made to protect you. Only in death will I be kept from this oath.”

I loved how Nina showed Matthias there is more to the Grisha than the hate he had been taught and opened his eyes about the truth of what was happening to the Grisha. And, when he finally gave up the hate he’d been harbouring my heart melted. At the end of the day Nina was it for him as he was for her.

“Stay,” she panted. Tears leaked from her eyes. “Stay till the end.”
“And after,” he said. “And always.”
“I want to feel safe again. I want to go home to Ravka.”
“Then I’ll take you there. We’ll set fire to raisins or whatever you heathens do for fun.”
“Zealot,” she said weakly.
“Witch.”
“Barbarian.”
“Nina,” he whispered, “little red bird. Don’t go.”

My heart broke when Nina starting feeling the symptoms. I could feel Matthias’ helplessness and his love for her. I really hope they make it in the next book and get their happily ever after.

“Jesper!” I’m going to kill that little idiot. “What do you want?” he shouted down. “Close your eyes!” “You can’t kiss me from down there, Wylan.” “Just do it!” “This better be good!” He shut his eyes. “Are they closed?” “Damn it, Wylan, yes, they’re—” There was a shrill, shrieking howl, and then bright light bloomed behind Jesper’s lids.”

Jesper and Wylan were really cute. I love how Jesper would tease Wylan and how Wylan would continue to surprise Jesper (and the readers).

“Nina might not be able to put you back, you know. Not without another dose of parem. You could be stuck like this.”
“Why does it matter?”
“I don’t know!” Jesper said angrily. “Maybe I liked your stupid face.”

I love how despite their initial meeting and flirtation Jesper grew to have genuine feelings for Wylan.

I had a feeling the exchange would not be pleasant but I did not expect it to go down the way it did. Now that it’s over I don’t know what to do. I just really need the second book. Why must it release in about 6 months? If only it would release earlier.