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| Six of Crows |
Publisher: Orion
Genre: Fantasy
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Age Group: YA
Source: Amazon (purchased)
Review
If
you have read Leigh Bardugo’s Shadow and Bone trilogy first than the Six
of Crows duology is fantastic and a must read for those fans because it
delves even further into the Grishaverse world. We get to meet some exciting
new characters who allow Bardugo to cleverly develop the world further. The
first book or series is always the hardest to write for an author and even
though I loved the Shadow and Bone trilogy I definitely think that Six
of Crows is a much stronger book and showcases how Bardugo has become a
stronger writer. For me, Six of Crows is Bardugo’s strongest work so
far because the characters as individuals are for more complex and complicated
as well as their relationships too. Even though I personally read this book
after the original trilogy readers can still read the Six of Crows
duology without having read it. This is because the world of Grishaverse is
still explained and explored in depth to those new readers too. However, I
personally found reading Six of Crows a richer experience because
although the characters are new the themes and issues surrounding the Grisha
themselves is developed further for those that are already familiar with the
issues from the previous trilogy. Also, I loved seeing how Bardugo as an author
has developed, which for me was only possible through reading her work in the
order of when the books were written and published.
Six
of Crows is much darker in terms of its
violence and in some cases its themes too. In particular there is a scene of
torture that for some readers could be quite explicit and uncomfortable. But
importantly in the context of the book it makes sense why it is included and
necessary to the development of the individuals involved and the relationships
it impacts. This is a book written between six different perspectives and
each chapter dedicated to one of these characters is spectacularly incredible
because each one maintains their own individual voice and personality, not once
do you feel like you are reading from the same continual voice throughout.
To be able to create and maintain six individual voices is an incredibly
difficult task for any author but Bardugo does this splendidly and for that
reason allows readers to learn and interact with each individual without the fear that all the voices will jumble into one.
Although
each individual in Six of Crows is complex and faces their own
individual struggles for me the stand out character had to be Kaz Brekker. His
background is no more torturous than some of the other characters but his
personality is what drew me to him more than some of the others. If you love
a deflective sarcastic young man then look no further than Kaz. As already
mentioned there is a particular scene involving a rather detailed description
of torture and Kaz is that very torturer (but don’t feel too sorry for the
victim because he is no better and some readers may argue he had his punishment
coming). Kaz is a young seventeen year old thief and crook and the fact that
he can go from being capable of violent torture to nonchalant disinterest in a
heartbeat is terrifying for one so young but also so compelling for the readers.
After the torture I love this little scene between Kaz, Jesper and Wylan
because it shows just how easily Kaz is capable of switching between one
seeking vengeance to having a slightly sarcastic and light interaction with a
couple of friends:
‘Kaz turned to Jesper. “Fit Helvar with some shackles to keep him honest,” he said as he headed below. “And get me clean clothes and fresh water.” “Since when am I your valet?” “Man with a knife, remember?” he said over his shoulder. “Man with a gun!” Jesper called after him.’
Another character that stood out was Nina Zenik. This is because she is a young woman confident in her own body and enjoyment of food. In literature, including ya, I find that readers very rarely read about characters, especially female ones, that openly enjoy eating and share that enjoyment without guilt as well as being shame free for being a bigger woman. Early on Nina is described as ‘tall and built like the figurehead of a ship carved by a generous hand’, she is certainly not a stick thin or averagely built woman and she is much stronger and likeable because of this. There is nothing wrong with someone being thin or average but rather the problem is that most commonly these are the only kinds of female characters found in books. Although Nina is a refreshing character because of her ‘tall [and] generous’ body shape she remains a minority of the realistic women depicted in literature. Nina is a young woman who indulges on sweet treats unashamedly and I love her for that very reason. I can only think of one other character who equally indulges in food and remains unashamed and that is Celaena Sardothien in Throne of Glass. I leave you with the following quote and scene where Nina offers Matthais a toffee and he shares his admiration for her love of food:
“You don’t smell like roses anymore,” he said, then wanted to kick himself. He shouldn’t be noticing her scent. […] No, she smelled sweet, perfect like … “Toffee?” Her eyes slid away guiltily. “Kaz said to pack what we needed for the journey. A girl has to eat.” She reached into her pocket and drew out a bag of toffees. “Want one?” Yes. “No.” She shrugged and popped one in her mouth. Her eyes rolled back, and she sighed happily. “So good.” It was a humiliating epiphany, but he knew he could have watched her eat all day. This was one of the things he’d liked best about Nina—she savoured everything, whether it was a toffee or cold water from a stream or dried reindeer meat.’
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| Six of Crows |
Synopsis (From Goodreads)
This is a collector's edition with an exclusive letter from the author and six stunning full-colour character portraits.
Criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker is offered a chance at a deadly heist: break into the Ice Court - a military stronghold that has never been breached - and retrieve a hostage whose knowledge could change Grisha magic forever. To succeed would mean rich beyond his wildest dreams - but he can't pull it off alone . . .
Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist. Together they might just be unstoppable - if they don't kill each other first.
Key Quotes
“I trade in information, Geels, the things men do when they think no one is looking. Shame holds more value than coin ever can.”
‘Kaz was dizzy, and his limbs felt creaky from being trapped in the chair, but everything seemed sunnier with a weapon in his hand.’
“Really, Jesper?” she’d said, pulling up her hood. “If I want to watch men dig holes to fall into, I’ll find myself a cemetery.”
“A man doesn’t need a bed to get ideas, Nina.” Nina fluttered her lashes. “What would you know about it, Kaz? Take those gloves off, and we’ll see what ideas come to mind.”
“What’s the easiest way to steal a man’s wallet?” “Knife to the throat?” asked Inej. “Gun to the back?” said Jesper. “Poison in his cup?” suggested Nina. “You’re all horrible,” said Matthias. Kaz rolled his eyes.'
“Do you never doubt yourself?” “All the time,” she’d said as she slid into sleep. “I just don’t show it.”
Similar reads
Court of Miracles, The Raven Boys, Throne of Glass.
Afterthoughts
Although I
enjoyed the heist plot what really kept me intrigued and compelled to read the book was the characters because of their complexities, struggles, relationships and
interactions with each other.
Nina is also very comfortable with her sexuality as well as her enjoyment of food and self acceptance of her body, she's a fantastic role model.
Bardugo captures six individual protagonists that are all equally complex and developed, not a single individual is one-dimensional.
The issues faced by the Grisha is explored and developed in further detail. Also if you've read the original trilogy there are some fantastic easter eggs hidden in Six of Crows.
Have you read Six of Crows, what did you think? What books would you recommend to readers that loved this book?
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