(Six of Crows #1, By: Leigh Bardugo )

SUMMARY:

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.

Published September 2015 by Henry Holt and Company

REVIEW:

I gave this book 4 stars and wow was it fun to read - I blew through it in a couple of days. The depth of the world that Bardugo creates is on par with many of my favorite YA epic fantasies (if you haven't read her other Grisha series set in the same world, I highly recommend them!). The characters and plot don't disappoint and you will be left reeling for the second book in this duology. 

From the start of this book, you will notice there is a lot to keep up with. You swap between a new POV each chapter, and bounce between 6+ characters. The content is great, but it takes some active engagement to really dive into each character and keep their individual backgrounds straight. That said, the action also starts immediately, and each character is constantly driving the plot. I really enjoyed the entire premise of the story and how the heist developed. It was fun to follow along from the planning phase all the way through the execution.  

My favorite part of this book was the world that it is set in. Bardugo creates such a complex and detailed reality that you can't help but feel like you are right there with the characters, living in their world. The world is built upon a rich history with detailed descriptions and complex relationships all layering upon themselves to make it really stand apart. It was dark, twisty, violent and just perfect. 

I also absolutely loved and connected to the characters - especially Kaz and Inej. They were all unique and interesting characters that I wanted to follow around and figure out. However, one thing to keep in mind -since you are jumping between so many characters - is that a lot of the book is taken up with their history and backgrounds. While this is necessary, especially for the first book in order to really get to know the crew, it can slow the plot down in areas. I didn't mind this, because the background stories were often interesting and exciting on their own, but it did deviate from the main plot. 

Overall, I really enjoyed and highly recommend this book. Also, now that the crew has been fully developed, I can't wait to get into the sequel and continue along with them. Happy reading!

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