Part of my reading goals this year is to read more of the books I still haven’t read on my shelves. They’ve been giving me the stinky eyes. 🙂 Anyway, I’ve been meaning to read Six of Crows for a while and that’s the best decision I’ve made in a while because it was such a great read. Now, I do have a confession to make. Let me tell you more…
So before I give you my thoughts on this book, I did mention I had a confession to make. I’m all about honesty so here it is:
I’ve tried reading this book a couple of times before and for the life of me, I just couldn’t get into it. As much as I hate it, I had to DNF it. Why? I’m not so sure, but I felt it slow. There are moments in time where I’m not in a mood for a specific genre, and it may have just been that. I could not understand the buzz behind this book. Now, that thought makes me laugh.
So why did I decide to give this book another chance?
Last year, I attended the 𝟭𝟬𝘁𝗵 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲 gala in Los Angeles. I absolutely loved Shadow and Bones (book) and wanted to know more about this world. Also, I had just started watching the TV shows and really enjoyed it.
During her talk, Leigh Bardugo explained how the idea of writing Six of Crows came to her. She was in a car (with Holly Black) when she saw the billboard for Ocean Eleven. It caught her attention and she thought, “I want to do a heist.” I’m paraphrasing, but that is the idea. Anyway, the cast (actors who play Inej and Kaz) discussed their character and the filming, and I thought – I think I got this book wrong.
Well, you’ll guess it by now: I WAS WRONG… Big time. So let me tell you why, but before let me share the synopsis with you.
Synopsis – Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
Discover what comes next for heist trio Kaz, Inej, and Jesper — and the star-crossed Nina and Matthias — in the #1 New York Times bestseller Six of Crows, Book One of the Six of Crows Duology. This edition features exclusive cover art from the show!
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.
Book Review
This book surprised me in the best way possible. Once I gave the book another chance, I went totally in and let the story guide me.
This Grishaverse is such a wonderful world. There is everything there is to love: The magic system, the politics, the scenery, and the atmosphere among many other things.
This is the story of a group of thieves/misfits ready to put everything on the line for a mission that will open a world of possibilities to them. Let’s be honest here: The characters are morally grey on a good day. 😆 Some are better than others, but ultimately, you can’t help to root for all of them. The author managed to bring tension at all levels – internal, inter-personal and external.
This is a I-can’t-put-it-down book. I truly enjoyed the dynamic between the characters and how well they are developed. They all have their own personalities, motives and flaws.
What I really enjoy is the fast pacing after the story is established. It escalates rather quickly, and it’s a pleasure to read.
Now, I’m ready for the next book.
Rating:
About the author – Leigh Bardugo
Leigh Bardugo is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Ninth House and the creator of the Grishaverse (now a Netflix series) which spans the Shadow and Bone trilogy, the Six of Crows duology, the King of Scars duology—and much more. Her short fiction has appeared in multiple anthologies including The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy. She lives in Los Angeles and is an associate fellow of Pauli Murray College at Yale University.
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