Review: Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
“I have been made to protect you. Only in death will I be kept from this oath.”
The Basics
Title: Six of Crows (Six of Crows #1)
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Published: 2018
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company — Macmillan
Pages: 462
Format: Paperback
Genres: Fiction — Fantasy, High fantasy, Young adult, Young adult fantasy
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Book Synopsis
Thirty million kruge: the prize for breaking into Fjerda’s Ice Court and kidnapping one of its prisoners . It is no easy feat, as the Ice Court is heavily guarded with only a few ways in and out. For Kaz Brekker and his crew, however, the potential payoff outweighs the risk, but can they pull off this nearly impossible heist?
My Review & Overall Thoughts
TLDR: A dark, captivating fantasy with a brilliant cast of characters.
Between my disappointment with the ending of the Shadow and Bone trilogy and the massive amount of hype surrounding Six of Crows, I was more than a little apprehensive about picking it up. Would it be as good as everyone claimed, or would it underwhelm me like Ruin and Rising? Fortunately, the former proved to be true. From its cast of morally grey, complex characters to its engrossing and twist-filled plot, Six of Crows is a fascinating and highly entertaining read.
What elevates this book from merely entertaining to memorable though is its depth of character building. For each of the primary characters, we gain a thorough understanding of their personal histories, as well as current situations and aspirations. We also delve into their psyches and learn about their innermost thoughts and motivations. By the book’s end, the Crows feel lifelike. What’s more, each of them grows over the course of the book, so we get to see them change before our very eyes.
Besides their depth, another praiseworthy aspect of the characters is their complexity. None of the characters are wholly good or bad; they all fall somewhere in between. They are more akin to antiheroes, which in a book market saturated with the do-no-wrong heroes, is a refreshing change-up.
Kaz is a particularly interesting character. With his brutality and ruthlessness, he would be considered a villain by traditional standards, but in this story, he is one of the heroes. Apart from his moral greyness, he is noteworthy for his intelligence and cunning. He seems to always be several steps ahead of everyone else, and the plans that he devises would impress even MacGyver.
Nina and Inej are two other brilliant characters. Both are strong, not-to-be-messed-with women, who are integral – one could argue the most integral – members of the crew. I loved their respective relationships with Kaz and Matthias. Inej brings out a kinder side of Kaz, and Nina brings the laughs. Her banter with Matthias is hilarious; I often found myself laughing while reading their scenes.
The other Crows, Jesper, Wylan, and Matthias, are also great characters. In fact, there really aren’t any subpar characters in Six of Crows. Even the peripheral characters are well-penned.
Complementing the characters is a masterfully crafted and captivating plot. From the opening chapter, the story draws you in with a big reveal, and it retains your attention until the very end. The story is filled with suspense, twists, and turns. Just when you think that you have everything figured out, the book throws a curveball, and you’re left slack-jawed. I should note that the first quarter of the book is not particularly action-packed; rather, it is devoted to introducing the characters, laying the groundwork for the heist, and building anticipation for events later in the book. Once the Crows, however, leave Kerch, things start to pick up, and once they are actually carrying out the heist, the action and suspense get cranked way up. If you are anything like me, you will be glued to the book during these chapters.
Another highlight of this book is its expansion of the Grisha universe. We travel beyond the bounds of the Shadow and Bone trilogy to Kerch and Fjerda. We gain insight into those countries’ societies and cultures. I, for one, found it interesting to compare Kerch and Fjerda with Ravka, the setting of the Shadow and Bone trilogy. While we are on the topic of the original trilogy, I just want to mention that you do not need to have read it to read Six of Crows. If you want to delve right into Six of Crows, you totally can.
With regards to the writing, Six of Crows is notable for its multiple points of view and shifting timeline. The point of view alternates from one chapter to the next, and within each chapter, the narrative will typically jump from present day to the past and then back again. Initially, I was unsure about the shifting perspectives and abundance of flashbacks, but they grew on me. The further into the book I got, the more I learned to appreciate them, as they allowed me to gain a better understanding of each character. Additionally, the alternating points of view help to build suspense, as chapters will often end in such a manner that you are left craving more. Consequently, you will read several more chapters in order to get back to a given character’s storyline. Bardugo’s easy-to-understand and engaging writing further enhances the book’s readability.
The not so good
Interestingly, none of the chapters are told from Wylan’s point of view. I am sure this was intentional (perhaps there will be chapters from his point of view in the next book), but still, I would have liked to have gained more insight into his character.
Lastly, the ending leaves you hanging. As the sequel, Crooked Kingdom, is already out, this is not too big of a deal, but had I read Six of Crows before Crooked Kingdom was published, its cliffhanger ending would have left me chomping at the bit.
Overall
Six of Crows lives up to the hype and then some. I look forward to reading Crooked Kingdom and continuing the story.
Have you read Six of Crows? If so, what did you think – loved it, hated it, ambivalent? Share your thoughts below in the comments section below!
