Leigh Bardugo – Six of Crows (Six of Crows #1)

Six of Crows
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Series: Six of Crows
Release Date: September 29, 2015
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company
Get it Here: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

Synopsis:

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.

Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist. Kaz’s crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction—if they don’t kill each other first.

Thank you Macmillan Children for hosting a giveaway for an ARC of this book!

If I had a noise to convey what I thought whenever this book is mentioned, it would be *PTERODACTYL SCREECH* as I throw the book into your hands. Six of Crows is deadly, mesmerizing, and impossible to put down. Despite the amalgam of characters present, I felt like I connected to each and every one of them. I understood their drive to do what they did and I thought they were incredible as a team. Leigh Bardugo paints a candid world where the thugs and thieves of the city join together in order to survive.

Each character had their own reasons to perform the “one impossible heist” mentioned in the blurb. The end result is money – lots of it – but everyone has their own reason for wanting it. This book is not for the faint-hearted. Our characters kill mercilessly; they are bastards; they are gamblers; they don’t give a crap on what you think of them. But all in all, they’re human (despite what some may think). On the outside they may seem tough and impenetrable, but all of them have their weaknesses – if not physical ones, then mentally. Bardugo writes them with such honesty, such frankness that makes it impossible to not like each and every one of them.

Not only does Six of Crows follow these characters’ adventures while they perform the heist, but we also delve into the past. How some of these characters met, and how others came to be the way they are. Those stories really helped in regards to understanding the characters’ motives and the way they act. I loved finding out about how Kaz became the way he is now, or the internal conflict Matthias had within him, or the addiction that Jesper couldn’t let go of.  It made them all the more relatable and human to me. This eccentric cast of characters is one that I won’t be forgetting soon. 

In the midst of all this action going on is also some swoon-inducing romances. Yeah, you didn’t think liars, criminals, and outlaws could have feelings? Think again. Praise the saints (Sankta Alina, ehehe) that there are no love triangles going on. The ships are very straightforward, although still full of angst. More importantly, these romances have the power to change people, to bring out the good parts of these outcasts. And you know how much I love character development with the aid of romance. ❤ While some characters may find it a weakness, others have their eyes opened. And I’m not gonna lie, there are some pretty heated moments in this book. *fans self*

Overall, Six of Crows met my expectations and more. We got non-stop action kicking its way through the pages, romances that make you want to get a fan out while reading, and characters that you just want to put into a box to protect them forever because they are flawed and vulnerable despite their tough exterior. (Although I’m sure Kaz will get them out in no time at all and then we’ll have to pay.) I absolutely cannot wait for the sequel to this book!