HOW GOOD IS IT?
6.5/10
BASICALLY…
The synopsis of this book is surprisingly simple:
Grisha are people with inborn magical powers, feared by those who don’t possess the same abilities. One day, a drug is invented to enhance Grisha’s powers and make them into slaves. Problem? Grisha with this drug in their system might become powerful beyond control, destroy the world, and die in the process. Basically, this is something that shouldn’t have been introduced to the market.
Hence, multiple governments begin sending people to find this scientist — who is kept in the most secure prison in the world, guarded by the most ruthless armies – to take control of the drug formula he invented.
And our protagonists are one of those groups sent on this deadly mission.
Kaz – the seventeen-year-old gloved mob boss. He strategizes, lies, detects lies, and talks like a forty-year-old man.
Inej – the warmest and most innocent member of the gang. Inej was kidnapped and sold by slavers when she was a child. Later on, due to her unique acrobatic skills, she is recruited by Kaz. Her plan is to complete the mission, take the money and captain her own ship.
Nina – a Grisha.
Matthias – a soldier from Fjieda, raised to hate and hunt Grisha. Convenient for the romance, isn’t it?
Jesper – A secret Grisha, loves gambling, drops out of university for it, but can shoot really well.
Wylan – Hates his father, is in for the ride because he hopes to find another life and find out whether his dear father values him at all. Wylan is shy and is usually the one who has no idea what is going on until Kaz explains it.
This book takes place in a city inspired by 18/19 century-ish Europe.
SO…
3.5 stars.
Unique and addicting, but not without flaws.
A large part of ‘Six of Crows’ is devoted to the elaboration of its characters’ backgrounds. It is a different set-up from most novels. The story is also told from multiple perspectives. The main plot itself is straightforward enough — a heist — but we are constantly taken away from it to learn about these characters: why they are bitter, cautious, ruthless, or grumpy all the time.
Each of them is individually unique in their personality and joins the group with a different belief and goal, which creates the dynamic they have during their mission; because while they work together, they are in no way friends. Not yet.
This mission, though sometimes almost clichéd, is certainly gripping. The characters make mistakes, suffer, almost die several times. Some mistakes felt like they could have been avoided, but then these people are in their teens, so… OK.
And of course, as in most Young Adult books, positive messages are reinforced throughout, some are even spelled out in your face. The plot twists are well handled and keep you turning the pages.
Leigh Bardugo’s language is simple yet effective.
A few things that could have been better:
Firstly, what reduces the believability of this story is how the characters talk and think as though they were well beyond 35 in age, while all of them are 17 – 18 at most. Yes, it is their individual situations and the lack of parental care that force them to grow up faster than they should; still, the way they converse gives off the impression of a group of elite graduates with PhDs discussing world affairs.
There is also a serious lack of normal conversations. The interactions between these characters are full of dramatic exits/entrances, one-liners, and sarcastic banters. At points, they seem desperate to prove how clever they are, to remind us that they have tragic pasts, and that we had better sympathize with them.
All being said, Six of Crows is definitely enjoyable and a great addition to the Grishaverse.
SPOILER THOUGHTS
Like I said: SPOILERS.
Kaz and Inej – As of now, the latter might be too good for the former. But that is the point in the end: we have development to look forward to in the next book.
Nina and Matthias – Adorable. Keep it going. And please don’t let either of them die.
Wylan and Jesper – not exactly a reliable duo, but they kind of bring good luck to the whole crew with their accidental achievements.
Does Jan Van Eck just have too much time on his hands or what? Not caring about your son (Wylan) is one thing, Jan, but writing letters on a weekly basis to taunt him about his disability?
The most intense moment of the book? When Matthias pretends to betray Nina. If nothing Matthias has done by that point impresses you, his actions during this part certainly should. Brain, brawl, youth empowerment — all there.
END OF SPOILER
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Although both series take place in the same universe, you certainly do not have to read the Grisha trilogy before reading Six of Crows. This book is a complete standalone that only benefits from the prequel’s world-building.
Content Warning: Occasional gory scenes. Disturbing images of people dying in a plague. Detailed descriptions of violence (Kaz, eyeball, kneecap).
BOTTOM LINE
Six of Crows is certainly worth reading. If you pick this up and find yourself enjoying it, make sure you have the next book with you as soon as possible. Otherwise, well, good luck handling that cliff-hanger.