Reviewed by: Noelle
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Bold, emotional and unforgettable, Six of Crows is a book I will recommend again and again. Worthy of all its hype and a five star rating. Welcome to Ketterdam, a city with an underworld as vibrant and wealthy as its legal counterpart.
I’m a big reader but for some reason I could never get into Six of Crows. I’d already read Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo and found the story immensely engaging even though it followed a pretty typical hero’s journey story arc. You can expect a review on that later on this year.
The uniqueness of the first chapter of Six of Crows was ultimately its downfall for me. Every time I borrowed it from the library, I’d read a chapter or two and put it down. So when I sat down this summer with the intent of finishing it after it had been recommended to me yet again; I was shocked how fast I read it. I couldn’t put it down and finished it in just a few days. So what kept me from reading this engrossing unique story for so long?
The first chapter.
Unlike any other book I’ve read and believe me I’ve read hundreds, the first chapter was from a character’s perspective that was completely irrelevant to the story. He had no connections to the main characters and to me an off putting personality. So why would the author take such a leap of faith? Though I don’t know her actual thought behind it, I can take a guess. It established the book’s setting (Ketterdam) from an ordinary civilian view and introduces an event that sets the main heist in motion.
As I look past the years the first chapter kept me from actually reading the book, I’m beginning to realize the genius of it. It introduces the setting, the multi POV style, even the uniqueness and harsh realities of the novel. It’s bold choices like this that make Six of Crows the sensationally popular book that it is.
Bold is the perfect word to describe the cast of misfits that make up The Crows, Kaz Brekker’s gang and the 5 characters from which the story is told. One of my only criticisms for the book is having such a large cast of main characters. It can be confusing at first. To help you follow the story line when you first open the book I’ve written out a description of each of them. Kaz is a mastermind thief, a force to be reckoned with in the underworld of Ketterdam. But like many others around him his past is shadowed with darkness. Inej, aka ‘The Wraith’ is Kaz’s spider who steals secrets, and sometimes lifes. She’s worried about going too far but at the same time she’s willing to risk everything for the freedom that was stolen from her. If not for Kaz she never would have had that chance.
Yet another member of The Crows is Jesper, a chaotic sharpshooter with a love for gambling. Bold and flirtatious, him and Nina have a few things in common. Nina is Grisha, specifically a hearttender and there is so much more to her than meets the eye. Matthias is the opposite of Jesper with his stoic and serious personality. A former soldier, he has a complex history just like the rest of the crew.
Sadly, Wylan isn’t a POV character in this book, meaning we never see the story directly from his perspective, even though he’s very completely one of the main characters. He’s the youngest of the crew and a bit out of place with a difference in up bringing to most of The Crows. He is courageous and compassionate and there’s a whole lot more to him than just an asset to be manipulated.
Because there are six main characters it takes longer to get a complete understanding and picture of what is actually happening but it’s worth it. Their distinctions in personality, culture, even history bring so much to the table creating a tapestry full of details, colours and many vibrant stories. The connections they create fulfill a found family trope and everything becomes more complicated as hidden pasts, romantic feelings and high stakes reveal themselves.
As for the plot? An impossible heist, to break into one of the most secure establishments in all of the Grishaverse. A deadly journey, elaborate disguise, intricate plans everything must be perfect to pull off this once in a lifetime mission. I love how high the author raised the stakes, creating friction and drama in almost every interaction. I breathed sighs of relief, gasped in shock, wanted to scream and laugh out loud. This is not the first time I will compare a book to a roller coaster but it certainly won’t be the last. I was continually sent on huge vertical drops, as Kaz’s plans were never quite revealed till the end. Masterfly crafted and uniquely cunning there is nothing quite like Kaz’s plans or his trademark scheming face.
How far will you go for freedom, for money, for revenge? How much are you willing to lose? And who at the end of the day do you want to be with? What are the tethers that hold you together?
Prepare to be unraveled by this one of a kind, extraordinary adventure, full of vibrant characters, complex heists and budding love. Prepare to be on the edge of your seat, prepare to be invested into a world that feels far from our own but somehow eerily similar to the struggles, joys and loyalties that follow us through life.
Six of Crows shows us that home isn’t always warmth and cozziness, it is what we do in difficult times, the people we trust and our ambitions to continue to strive for what we deserve, whether it be wealth, freedom, revenge or love.
Once you enter Ketterdam you’ll never be able to leave.
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