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.

Series:

Six of Crows

Book 1

Book Type:

YA fantasy

Review: Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

In a whirl of mischief and thievery, violence and survivalism, a motley crew of misfits takes on an impossible job that promises to pay big — so bigthat atonement, revenge and freedom become achievable.

Bestselling novelist Leigh Bardugo extends the gritty world of the Grisha trilogy, taking us southwest of Ravka to Ketterdam — a dark, smoky and bustling city where gangs rule the underworld. Kaz Brekker, better known as Dirtyhands, is infamous for his strategic know-how, a prodigy when it comes to thievery and secrets. When an evolved type of magic threatens destruction, Kaz is challenged to break out a scientist from Fjerda’s ancient stronghold — the Ice Court.

“An impossible job, near certain death, terrible odds, but should we scrape it… we’ll be kings and queens.”

To surmount the insurmountable means Kaz would earn enough money to speed revenge plans for a man who destroyed his life. But first, he gathers the best, most cunning crew around.

We meet Inej, a Suli acrobat known as the Wraith, who longs for freedom after first being sold to a brothel, and then working for Kaz as a spy; Jesper, a sharpshooter intent on winning big; Wylan, a runaway with a privileged past who is set on making a name for himself; Matthias, who chases revenge after being wrongly imprisoned; and Nina, a Grisha who seeks atonement, who hopes her powers as a Heartrender can improve their chances at survival.

“Six people, but a thousand ways this insane plan could go wrong.”

Their sojourn is suspenseful and bloody with fascinating narrative twists and character interactions. Many of the characters are torn emotionally toward each other, keeping the dynamic charged and volatile. The threat of deceit, failing plans, murder among their own, all threaten their threadbare plan. In the end, however, Bardugo’s masterful plotting primes us for the next book in the series.

Six of Crows is a sultry, sweeping and picturesque novel that should not be missed. Its richly imagined world enlivened by a band of multicultural misfits makes it impossible to put down.

And then just wait until you get to the end …