I want to start off by saying that I haven’t read a book for enjoyment in a REALLY long time. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo was an interesting read that made me want to read the rest of her book series in the Grishaverse.
Before, we get to the book review and overview, I want to give out a few trigger warnings within the book. Despite fiction books being a form of escapism from the realities of our world sometimes those realities can be reflected in fiction.
Trigger Warnings
- Violence (graphic, torture, genocide)
- Addiction (gambling, drugs)
- Child trafficking
- Sex abuse & slavery
- Language (mild to moderate)
For my reviews, I will do my best to review the book without revealing spoilers to those who are currently reading, or have not read the book. Now, a look and mild breakdown of the six categories:
- PLOT: The story plot was overall consistent. Jan Van Eck offers Kaz Brekker a job to rescue a Shu scientist named Bo Yul-Bayur (who has the knowledge & formula to a deadly drug named jurda parem) from the Ice Court, a Fjerdan prison (think Alcatraz but with ice). By retrieving this man from a (near) impenetrable prison, everyone who completes their task during the heist job would get their share of a big payout win: thirty million kruge (the currency in the storyline).
- SETTING: The story’s main settings are the city of Ketterdam (in Kerch), Hellgate (also in Kerch), the Ice Court (in Fjerda), and (arguably) the ship used to travel to and from both locations. Additionally, the book references other locations in the Grishaverse and provides two maps at the beginning of the book: one of the Grishaverse and the other of the Ice Court.
- WRITING STYLE: Bardugo’s writing was wonderful – a balance of physical details, fast-paced action, and inner monologue. It is one of the books I was able to visualize scenes while reading the text. Chapters are written in different Character POVs (point of views): Kaz, Inej, Jesper, Nina and Matthias (except for the first and final chapters). The dialogue was the most humorous and enjoyable in the book – it reminded me that the characters tasked with this big heist are teenagers (aged 16-18). One thing I will critique is how slow-paced it is in the beginning as it builds up to the plot, and gathers the characters tasked with the heist. After the 100th page, the pacing moves rather quickly.
- CONFLICT/ RESOLUTION: Due to the story having the main cast of six characters, you get to see each character’s internal/external conflicts within their chapter POV. I rather not reveal any spoilers or distinct details in the story for others intending to read this book, but it was well-rounded in illustrating the small and big conflicts and their (eventual) resolutions.
- CHARACTERS: The primary characters are Kaz Brekker (criminal mastermind), Inej Ghafa (spy/ acrobat called Wraith), Jesper Fahey (gambling sharpshooter), Nina Zenik (Grisha Heartrender), Matthias Helvar (Fjerdan convict), and Wylan Van Eck (wealthy runaway). Like most heist genres, the main characters are a collection of eclectic and unique individuals with important skills to help pull off the heist. In addition, the minor characters in the story help the reader understand the main character’s motivations and personalities as well as the plot of the story.
- CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT: As a reader, I could already see some character development and growth (particularly in Part II and III). There was a lot of internal/external conflict in the main characters and how they changed from the beginning to the end – especially during the Ice Court Heist. In the book, the romance was wonderfully crafted to each characters’ internal/external conflicts – Bardugo translated the yearning, desire, and the pain of it all, which (again) reminded me that these characters are (still) teenagers within their dangerous world.
Overall Book Rating
It took me a week to finish Six of Crows (with some gentle coaxing of an audiobook) as I read after work hours and in the evening before sleeping. I’ve just been having a hard time collecting my thoughts together because I’ve been in a huge reading slump these past few years.
Six of Crows did not disappoint with plot twists and character growth; Despite not being entirely familiar with the Grishaverse, I understood and became familiar as I read along. The plot, writing style, characters (their development), and conflict/ resolution made the story enjoyable and enthralling!
However, it took me some time to immerse myself in the book, being patient with the story plot’s momentum, and understand the mechanisms of the Grishaverse world. Typically, I would give a half-star rating for the slow start, but the other components in the book make up for the slow pacing at the beginning.
Therefore, it’s a 5 Star rating for me! I’m looking forward to reading the second book, Crooked Kingdom, and I can’t wait to see what happens next!
Found Book Tropes
- Morally Gray Characters
- Found Family
- Group Dynamics
- Mutual Pining
- Love Epiphany
- Witty Banter
- Enemies-to-Lovers
- Cliff Hanger
Midnight Skies 