REVIEW: Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Title: Six of Crows (Six of Crows #1)

Author: Leigh Bardugo

Format: Hardcover

Published: September 29, 2015 by Henry Holt and Company

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Reading Period: November 12-21, 2017

Rating: ★★★★★

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Synopsis:

Criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker has been offered wealth beyond his wildest dreams. But to claim it, he’ll have to pull off a seemingly impossible heist:

Break into the notorious Ice Court
(a military stronghold that has never been breached)

Retrieve a hostage
(who could unleash magical havoc on the world)

Survive long enough to collect his reward
(and spend it)

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.

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About the Author:

Leigh Bardugo is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of fantasy novels and the creator of the Grishaverse. With over one million copies sold, her Grishaverse spans the Shadow and Bone Trilogy, the Six of Crows Duology, and The Language of Thorns— with more to come. Her short stories can be found in multiple anthologies, including The Best of Tor.com and the Best American Science Fiction & Fantasy. Her other works include Wonder Woman: Warbringer, and the forthcoming Ninth House. Leigh was born in Jerusalem, grew up in Southern California, graduated from Yale University, and has worked in advertising, journalism, and even makeup and special effects. These days, she lives and writes in Los Angeles, where she can occasionally be heard singing with her band.

You may contact her thru: Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, and The Grisha Trilogy on Facebook . Also check her beautiful website

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Review:

Have you ever felt like that this book is something special? I mean, you have not read it or you’re not done reading it but you already like love it. Maybe over hyped? But no because you grow fonder in this certain book that each day you can’t help but love it. You preserve the words; you take your time to read it because you want those reading moments to be special. That’s how I felt with Six of Crows. Weird, but yes, this book became so special to me that early. Maybe because I’ve read so many great reviews about Six of Crows and heard so many great things about it. But regardless, I love it.

Honestly, I’m not familiar with Ravka or Grisha magic because I haven’t read the series since I decided to read Six of Crows. But, you can still read Six of Crows even though you have not read the Grisha series.

Kaz Brekker, thief and lieutenant of the Dregs. He was hired to an impossible mission. He hired Inej Ghafa, who is in debt to the Dregs. She is a Wraith and works at the Dregs as spy. Nina Zenik was choosen by Kaz as crew in a mission. She is a Heartrender, works at the House of the White Rose and the Dregs member. Another recruited crew is Jesper Fahey. He is a sharpshooter, has gambling issues and the Dregs member. Matthias Helvar was a drüskelle, one of the Fjerdan witchhunters. They hunt and execute Grisha. But because of some circumstances he was sent to prison. Last member of Kaz’s impossible mission crew is Wylan Van Eck, who claims to be the best demolitions expert.

I like the connection between the characters. I can’t fathom the words on how to describe Kaz and Inej chemistry. I can’t help but to feel “kilig” when they exchange words. Matthias and Nina are irresistible couple. They are so cute together. And I ship both Kaz and Inej, and Matthias and Nina. I like that the characters has different characteristics and personalities that they usually clash but at the same time respect each other. These characters experience different situations that made them strong and to keep fighting for their lives. Although they are known to be thieves and rats from the Barrel canal but they clever, fearless and wise enough to fight for different cause.

At first, I really do feel that Jesper has a hidden feeling towards Inej or maybe he is just making some move towards Inej so Kaz will wake up and confess his feelings to Inej. Apparently, I’m wrong. I won’t further explain why this theory is wrong because I don’t want to spoil you guys. Moreover, Six of Crows wouldn’t be exciting of there are no chaos and problems. What surprises me the most in this book is the end that really shocked me. The turns of events are also unpredictable. It always shocks me and I can’t help but scream every time I did not expect what’s happening.

On the other hand, this book has queer characters, characters with psychological disability and represents POC.

Six of Crows gives me different feelings. I feel thrilled, excited, hoped, “kilig”, broken heart, betrayed, loved, and so many other feelings. I’m happy that this book gives me different perspective in life, to widen my point of view.

I highly recommend this book if you love reading fantasy, adventure and if you like to feel different emotions.

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Quotable quotes:

“Shame holds more value than coin ever can.”

“Men mock the gods until they need them, Kaz.”

“You see, every man is a safe, a vault of secrets and longings. Now, there are those who take the brute’s way, but I prefer a gentler approach – the right pressure applied at the right moment, in the right place. It’s a delicate thing.”

“This is a dream. The strangest dream I’ve ever had, but definitely a dream.”

“Brum had warned Matthias that the world was full of liars, pleasure seekers, faithless heathens.”

“Sometimes the big ones didn’t know when to stay down.”

“There’s a difference between confidence and arrogance.”

“The heart is an arrow. It demands aim to land true.”

“Be decisive. You have to know where you want to go before you get there.”

“Many boys will bring you flowers. But some day you’ll meet a boy who will learn your favourite flower, your favourite song, your favourite sweet. And even if he is too poor to give you any of them, it won’t matter because he will have taken the time to know you as no one else does. Only that boy earns your heart.”

“Nightmare and fear and the delirium of hunger tangled together so that she stopped being certain of what was real and what wasn’t.”

“If you aren’t born with every advantage, you learn to take your chances.”

“Duping innocent people isn’t something to be proud of.”

“Better terrible truths than kind lies.”

“I’d rather face a thousand honest men with swords than one of those deceitful witches with unnatural powers.”

“How will you have me?” she repeated. “Fully clothed, gloves on, your head turned away so our lips can never touch? Maybe it was because his back was to her that she could finally speak the words. “I will have you without armour, Kaz Brekker. Or I will not have you at all.”

“Nations rise and fall. Markets are made and unmade. When power shifts, someone always suffers.”

 

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