Book Review: Six of Crows

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.

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo was definitely one of the highlights of my March Break vacation. Not only was it engaging and fun the first time through, I could never grow bored of rereading it, no matter how many times I read the same passage.

The book takes place in a fantasy world not unlike our own. Each country in the book is based on a real country - for example, Ravka is much like Russia, and Kerch mirrors the Netherlands. In this world, though, some people are born with special abilities such as manipulating elements or controlling bodily functions. They are called Grisha.

Things I liked:

• The world building.

It takes a lot of time to develop a realistic world, but there is no flaws in Bardugo’s. Sure, it’s based on our own world, but there are still many details she needed to think through in order to make it her own. Six of Crows was especially ambitious - each character comes from a different part of the world, so each needed a backstory that showed their country. This could easily have gone wrong, as Bardugo could have made the stories too generic or just never talked about them at all. However, she has clearly thought through the traditions and structure of her world, because each country is unique and well developed. I couldn’t find a single plot hole in the world, which, considering this is a fantasy novel, is rare. This book really does take you to another place.

• The pacing.

Of all the books I’ve read, this is one of the fastest paced. There’s no time for the reader to get bored after one action scene is done, because the next one starts only pages later. This may sound like a bad thing, since lots of action usually leaves no time for character development, but the way it is done makes it work perfectly. The action showcases the characters’ personalities, since they usually have to make a decision, and then the pages in between give us a bit more insight into who they are through a few lines of dialogue. It really works perfectly, and I can promise you will never get bored.

• The characters.

Every member of Kaz’s crew had a completely different backstory. No matter who you are, I can guarantee you’ll be able to relate to at least one of them - not only because they’re so diverse, but because they are all written so well and they feel like real people.

Their diversity is actually my favourite part of this book. First of all, they each offer a different perspective because they come from different countries and upbringings - Nina, for example, served in Ravka’s Grisha army, whereas Matthias is a specialized Fjerdan warrior and Wylan is a nobleman’s son from Kerch. This makes it hard for them to get along, and they do try to kill each other on multiple occasions. Seeing them interact makes the book much more interesting than if they’d all been the same.

They are also diverse in a different sense - they’re not all white, straight, and able-bodied, unlike the characters of many other books. Kaz, the main character, walks with a cane and has PTSD. Wylan is gay and has a learning disability. Neither Inej nor Jesper are white. Six of Crows is so much more realistic than many novels I’ve read, because it doesn’t pretend that people with disabilities or people of colour don’t exist - it gives them important roles and doesn’t stereotype them at all.

• Basically, I liked every part of it.

Thing I disliked:

• The first chapter is sort of boring. I promise it gets better in the second.
• I think there were a few minor plot holes, but I don’t remember what they are and they really weren’t important.
• The sequel, Crooked Kingdom, isn’t coming out until September 22nd, which is too long for me to wait.

Six of Crows is the second series Bardugo has written in her fantasy world. The first, the Grisha trilogy, focused only on Ravka and its Grisha army. Personally, I don’t think it’s anywhere near this book’s standard, but that just shows you how she has developed as an author.

In conclusion, I’d recommend Six of Crows to anyone, fantasy lover or not. It is truly one of the best books I have ever read.