The Grisha Trilogy introduced readers to the irresistible fantasy world of the Grisha - and now Leigh Bardugo brings us a new sweeping epic.

 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.





Below, you will find: (a) a three-part review that's about six paragraphs too long, (b) in which I reveal no spoilers, but (c) in which I make you incredibly hungry. I'd offer apologies, except I'm too busy re-reading Six of Crows right now and all the calls go directly to my voicemail. In lieu of an apology, I offer pictures. Proceed with hunger. And feast your crows eyes on this incredible, incredible beauty.






PART 1 - KAZ BREKKER IS BETTER THAN NUTELLA CAKE

 Fun fact about me: I hate the universe, umbrellas and compasses. No, wait, that's not right. I love the universe, umbrellas and compases (though admittedly I haven't had much use for the latter). But I do hate to give into universal, all-encompassing umbrella recommendations of EVERYONE IN THE WORLD NEEDS TO READ THIS. I don't believe such a book exists. And when it does, know that one of the utopian/dystopian realities we've been dreading is upon us.

Having said all this, Six of Crows is as close to a ubiquitous recommendation I will ever give. All the umbrellas! So it is my sincerest recommendation to STOP, DROP AND ROLL! Stop (what you're doing), drop (everything) and roll (to the nearest bookstore to pick it up)!

This is all presuming, of course, that you love good fantasy. I AM A CREATURE OF CAVEATS! If you favor crappy fantasy, move on. No Six of Crows and Nutella cake for you, because you don't like fun!

Why Nutella cake? I'm glad you asked! (It does, in fact, exist, and we should all rejoice!) I read Six of Crows on my birthday. By which I don't mean that this book's release happily coincided with the date of my birth. What I mean is I sneaked off to read this book during my birthday party! I FOREWENT NUTELLA CAKE FOR THIS BOOK! If that isn't a show of true devotion, I don't know what is. Kaz Brekker > Nutella cake. And I don't make these statements lightly. I take my chocolate very seriously!

Six of Crows, to whom it may concern, is the spinoff of Leigh Bardugo's Grisha trilogy. While it does take place in the same world as the Grisha trilogy before it, you don't have to read one to read the other. But do I recommend all of Leigh Bardugo ever? Yes. Yes, I do. Six of Crows in relation to the Grisha trilogy stands thus(ly):

  • If you enjoyed the Grisha trilogy, you will love this book.
  • If you hated the Grisha trilogy, you might still love this book.
  • If you haven't read the Grisha trilogy... read it. And then read this book.

Umbrella recommendation. I wasn't kidding.


PART 2 - THE PLOTTING AND THE PLOT

As far as the plot goes, Six of Crows is a heist novel set in the fantasy version of The Netherlands. And then Scandinavia. And also Russia. If you need a second to take in all the potential for michief, mayhem and debauchery this offers... take that second on the way to the bookstore. In Amsterdam Ketterdam, a band of anti-hero outcasts with dubious moral compasses band together to attempt to break into an impenetrable fortress in fantasy Scandinavia. For reasons which shall become known to you after you've arrived to the bookstore. But all of which can be summed up with treasure, glory, power, (dis)honor.

It goes a long way in depicting the kind of book you're in for when the first showdown in the first chapter between two rival gangs on neutral territory doesn't become a matter of outgunning one's opponent. It all comes down to outwitting them. "You may have the bigger guns," in short, "but I have already modified them so they shoot backwards. Go ahead. Call my bluff." And in case this introduction to a world of cross and double-cross isn't enough to make it clear what you're in for, then the writing will drive it home beautifully. Locks aren't broken/jammed, they are finessed open. These criminals are smooth, elegant masterminds and darn if they won't show it at every turn!


PART 3 - YOU'VE BEEN STRUCK BY SMOOTH CRIMINALS

These smooth, elegant criminal masterminds are also absolute squad goals! In the event of a zombie apocalypse, forget Rick Grimes. It's these six you want having your back! (As long as you've already emptied your pockets and you aren't looking particularly edible. I did heavily stress the anti-hero thing.) In fantasy-Amsterdam, where pleasure districts and casinos outnumber the humans who will see the morning sober, you come to expect questionable morals. But then Kaz Brekker, gang leader and the smoothest criminal of all takes the job at the center of this plot not to save the world (which needs it), but for glory and riches, and a chance for a slow destruction of his enemies.

In fantasy Amsterdam, dubious morals have you! (But then again, this is the author who brought us The Darkling.)

Check your introspection at the door, please. You're about to fall in love with a criminal prodigy, an acrobat spy, a sassy witch, a compulsive gambler, an escaped convict and a bomb-enthusiast. (Remember the Nutella cake. They are better.)

And while in the past month, many have wondered why this book is just everything one could ever ask for in a book, ever, I have deigned to put my caffeine-addled mind to work and bring forth an answer. An answer has thus been brought forth! Behold!

PLOT AND CHARACTERS. (What a mundane answer, you're thinking. Just you wait.) With most every series out there, fantasy or otherwise, one nearly always trumps the other. I said nearly. Six of Crows is why I said nearly. The tag line on the front cover of this book says: "Six dangerous criminals. One impossible heist." Characters. Plot. Fabulousness. The tag line on the front cover of this book got it perfectly right. Because these characters are so good that if they just sat around and talked, this would still be an entertaining book. This plot is so good that if a squad of cookie cutters attempted it, it would still be an entertaining story. (I mean... cookie cutters committing a heist would actually be a very entertaining story, but you know what I mean.)

But I'd much rather they didn't. This plot and these characters. They are everything.

P.S. Past a certain point the chapter titles are COUNTING DOWN HOW MUCH TIME IS LEFT. Holy pacing!

P.P.S. Clean out your OTP list. You're going to need extra room on there. *cough* For reasons.

P.P.P.S. Are you at the bookstore yet?




If you have made it this far, kind human, (a) I thank you, and (b) I shall assume that you are still here because you have already purchased Six of Crows are can therefore ignore to afford my attempts to rush you to the bookstore. Excellent. We are of one mind. Once we get the Crows on board, we can proceed to take over the world and make this book Required Literature. But in the meantime, please leave a comment and let me know how you enjoyed Six of Crows and what your favorite parts were. I routinely fangirl about it on social media, too. Not to mention my Tumblr.

* Also, while there were no spoilers in this review, I wish to give special thanks to my friend Dennis, who routinely spoils me with books, and who bought me Six of Crows for my birthday before the true obsessing even started. You know my soul, Dennis! And you're the best kind of a spoiler!