Review: ‘Six of Crows’ by Leigh Bardugo

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.

Kaz’s crew are the only ones who might stand between the world and destruction—if they don’t kill each other first.

[From Goodreads]

Book details

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Publisher: Henry Holt and Company

ISBN: 9781627792127

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Review

Six of Crows has haunted me on every single social media feed I have since its release date last September. You’d think that I would have gotten the message and read the bloody book before spoilers began to emerge, but (me being, well, me) I waited until the desperation to find out what all the hype was about nearly consumed me.

I expected a thrilling but relaxing break from reality that I could enjoy in five-minute bursts between writing essays for uni. What I got was a free-fall tumble down the rabbit hole, where I completely lost track of time and space, only to find myself in a reading slump so dark and deep only the sequel could airlift me out.

In other words, Six of Crows tore apart my life for the three short days I spent reading it (and that was because I forced myself away from my Kindle to attend to real-life responsibilities). I already struggle to find the time to sleep with all the work I have at varsity, and yet I voluntarily stayed awake all night on Wednesday to finish this book. That’s saying something. And I would gladly lose sleep over it again (I still am, actually. Thanks, Leigh Bardugo for destroying my sanity).

Six of Crows is the book that will change your perspective on reading, or at least make you feel as though nothing else you’ve ever read will ever live up to it. It’s magnificently crafted – I don’t think I’ve ever encountered a book with such intricate plotting. I lost my mind in the final fifty pages, simply because everything fitted together so beautifully and I couldn’t handle it. Don’t even get me started on the characters, because I could go on for days about how much I love them. Bardugo’s writing style is flawless, as well. I mean look at this:

“The heat of the incinerator wrapped around Inej like a living thing, a desert dragon in his den, hiding from the ice, waiting for her. She knew her body’s limits, and she knew she had no more to give. She’d made a bad wager. It was as simple as that. The autumn leaf might cling to its branch, but it was already dead. The only question was when it would fall.”

Incredible.

I’m going to stop now before I start blubbering like an idiot. You get the picture.

Rating: 5/5

Recommended to: Everyone. Just read the bloody book already.

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The Last Word

I’m so jealous of everybody that gets to experience this book for the first time all over again because it’s so perfect. There is no doubt in my mind that I’ll read it over and over again (until the sequel comes out and I combust), but I know nothing will be able to match the first time. It’s magical. It ripped my heart into ribbons and then set them on fire. In a good way.