A Mission Impossible Fantasy | Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Friday, March 26, 2021

 Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Publisher: Henry Holt & Company
Publication Date: 9/29/15
Pages: 465
Source: purchased


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 is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction—if they don’t kill each other first.
Kaz Brekker, turning into a proper thief, has made quite a reputation for himself in Ketterdam. When a Council member comes to him for help, Kaz knows it must be serious and something he can’t refuse—even if the mission may be impossible. Kaz and his gang of misfits must break into the Ice Court and kidnap a scientist who is working on building a deadly weapon. They may not survive the mission but the money will be good if they do.

Intense Right From the Start

  • I wasn’t sure what I was getting into. I’ve seen Six of Crows on Bookstagram, actually all over the web, and knew it was popular. After the read—this wild ride—it certainly lives up to the hype.
  • A book that can give you a reaction just in the first sentence is definitely the type of book you will love. I didn’t know what the book was about: I go into books blind these days, but how could I not laugh out loud with a first sentence like this: “Joost had two problems: the moon and his mustache.”
  • The writing is unbelievable, its flow and quotable nature can be compared to Renee Ahdieh (author of The Beautiful), who can make her grocery lists gorgeous (never having read Ahdieh’s grocery lists, I can’t rightly say but her writing is just so good—I’m sure there’s genius in every writing she does). Leigh Bardugo’s writing is beyond gorgeously visual—a masterpiece of fantasy. Also, you can tell that Bardugo is not afraid to kill off a few characters and shipwreck some couples. It’s absolutely fantastic in a refreshing sort of way. It makes for an unpredictable plot.
  • The world building was beyond enchanting. However, there were times that Bardugo would drop some term and you would just have to roll with it. I’m sure a lot of the world and terms are better explained in her Grisha trilogy (her series before Six of Crows) which I haven't read yet. Still even without reading the Grisha series, the farther you get into the story of Six of Crows, the more the world and terms begin to make sense. It is almost as if you’ve known the world all your life.
  • The maps in the book are extremely helpful. Also, the characters create one of the maps in the book so you are gazing upon the final creation of what you read in the plot, giving you a glimpse as if you yourself were a part of this group of thieves, a part of the story itself.
  • A lot of the plot is based on this plan to kidnap the scientist—to complete the mission, in its most basic sense. However, in Bardugo’s intense, gorgeous writing, she is able to keep us guessing what the true plan of action truly is. She rarely gives much away, leaving us in curiosity, piecing the puzzle of the plan together ourselves. It is pure genius.
  • Not only does the visual writing do wonders for the imaginative plot, the nonstop action makes it incredibly heart-stopping. Six of Crows would make a fabulous movie.

Real, Incredible Characters

  • Each chapter follows a new character but the multiple perspectives are neither confusing nor overwhelming. Each chapter builds upon the last, moving the story forward in a seamless way.
  • The dialogue is fabulous with sprinkles of humor at the right times throughout.
  • My love is strong for Kaz Brekker. He’s so intelligent, determined and most of all, real. He is the leader and mastermind of the group. His backstory is so perfect, beyond amazing.
  • The characters feel so real that I quickly shipped them off to one another as soon as I was introduced. Each twist in the plot, each turn weighs on your heart.

Overall

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo is definitely worth every ounce of its hype. It is a fantasy which hooks you after the very first sentence. Six of Crows leaves you wanting more with a cliffhanger, and calls for an immediate reread to see how Bardugo dropped all those plot bombs: surprising twists and turns. Crooked Kingdom, the sequel in this superb duology, better be sitting nearby or you may not be able to wait in acquiring it.



Six of Crows (9/29/15): 5 stars
Crooked Kingdom (9/27/16): TBA

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