Review: Six of Crows | Leigh Bardugo

This review is spoiler free.

“No mourners. No funerals. Among them, it passed for ‘good luck’.”

Series: Six of Crows
Published: 2015, by Indigo.
Pages: 491
Format: Paperback
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Fiction, Adventure, Magic, LGBT, Romance
Contains: Violence, Anger, Death, Blood/Gore, Fire, Torture, Mutilation

‘Six of Crows’ follows criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker, who has been offered wealth beyond his wildest dreams. To claim it, he’ll have to pull off an impossible heist: Break into the notorious Ice Court, retrieve a hostage, and survive long enough to collect is reward. Kaz needs a crew desperate enough to take on this suicide mission and dangerous enough to get the job done – and he knows exactly who: six of the deadliest outcasts the city has to offer. Together, they just might be unstoppable – if they don’t kill each other first.

‘Six of Crows’ was the next book in my Bardugo reading list, and I was deeply excited for this one. I’d originally read this first instalment of the duology a few years ago, but was in dire need of a refresher. I’m so glad I did, having found myself with a better understanding of the world as a whole after reading the ‘Shadow and Bone’ trilogy.

Kaz Brekker was an incredibly fascinating anti-hero, making for a wonderful protagonist with his wits, smarts and charm. He was always thinking of another way around a situation, seeking refuge in the darkest of places and always knowing an escape route. He was deeply fascinating, and I can’t help but fall for his charm.
Nina was another favourite character of mine, loving her self-confidence and brains. She was ready to sacrifice herself for her cause at any point, and she never held back in a fight. She was an incredible protagonist, one who I admired from the start.
Wylan and Jesper are also worth the mention, being incredibly interesting to read about. Their dialogue and wit were entertaining, making for an all-round engaging read.
Admittedly, all of the characters in this novel were engaging to read about, finding their quirks addictive and their strengths and weaknesses understandable. I couldn’t help but turn to chapter after chapter, desperate to discover more of how these characters worked.

Bardugo’s writing deeply improves the further along her bibliography goes, creating more and more luscious language and engaging dialogue to keep you reading from beginning to end. It made for an incredibly quick read, and I loved that.

Overall, I loved this novel, even more so than I loved the ‘Shadow and Bone’ series, and I cannot wait to read the next instalment in the duology.

5/5