Book Review: Six of Crows, by Leigh Bardugo

Six of Crows is one of those rare books that keeps you turning pages. Rich and dark, the story is full of moral dilemmas, magic, and clever twists. The setting exudes an exotic sense of history and solidity. The people are diverse and realistic—no cookie-cutter characters here!

And face it—how could I not be intrigued by a book about a thief + crows?? Six of Crows has a completely different feel to it than As the Crow Flies. The former is complex and dark, while the latter is a fun romp. I’m trying to picture Crow and Kaz Brekker facing off… How do you think that would turn out?

REVIEW of “Six of Crows”

At last! Something deep and rich and meaty! The story is action-packed, filled with wonderfully believable (and different!) characters, and colored with complex world-building. The plot is twisty and exciting. Everything meshes seamlessly for one thrill of a ride.

What’s not to like?? Well… In an otherwise clean book, there was the requisite and completely unnecessary f-bomb (but only one, if that counts toward anything). There were a couple of vividly gory descriptions. I did not feel that the characters behaved like teenagers at all. The “teen” label couldn’t/didn’t stick. I found the book dark and more *adult* than I expected from something supposedly geared toward teens and young adults. It doesn’t make the cut for Flinch-Free Fantasy.

Still, the author did a wonderful job making us care about the characters despite their status as criminals and their assortment of flaws. Artful flashbacks fill us in on their various histories, which made the reader more sympathetic to both their circumstances and their attitudes. I found it fascinating to see how these diverse characters all worked together, though each had their own reasons and agendas. Did it go smoothly every time? No, and I’m glad. Different needs and personalities occasionally clashed. And it worked beautifully. When I finished “Six of Crows,” I immediately hit the button to purchase the next book. Well done!

SUMMARY

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. 

Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist. Kaz’s crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction—if they don’t kill each other first.

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo returns to the breathtaking world of the Grishaverse in this unforgettable tale about the opportunity—and the adventure—of a lifetime.

This book is for you if you:

• Enjoy well-developed characters with moral issues
• Like your fantasy to feel like it could be a real place
• Are looking for a little dark fantasy

This book is not for you if you:

• Don’t like complex world-building
• Want more than a “mild” romance
• Are looking for Flinch-Free Fantasy

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