I picked up Six of Crows yesterday when I felt completely drained- sick with a cold, tired of rewatching movies, and unsure if I even had the energy to focus on a book. I hadn’t read in a long time, even though I used to be an avid reader. I was nervous I wouldn’t connect the way I used to. But I couldn’t stop connecting once i was a chapter in- by the end of the day, I had finished the entire novel- not even stopping when a freaking spider landed on my book, i simply flicked it away in a manner that would make Kaz Brekker proud and kept reading till the end - something inside me had lit back up.
Spoilers ahead!
Set in the criminal underworld of Ketterdam, Six of Crows follows six outcasts pulled together for a heist that seems impossible. But the magic of this book isn’t the mission, it’s the people. The characters are multilayered, each scarred by their past, each navigating the world with complicated choices that reflect who they are and what they've been through. Bardugo doesn’t waste a single detail, everything serves a purpose, feels necessary for us to understand the characters and every flawed decision they make, the result is a story that feels urgent, intimate, and deeply human.
What struck me most was how hard this book resists easy moral categories. There are no pure heroes here, just people doing what they must to survive, often making questionable choices that make perfect emotional sense. As a reader, we instinctively try to sort characters into “good” and “bad,” but Bardugo challenges that impulse. Even the ones you root for carry darkness inside them. And even the villains and settings feel chillingly real- Tante Heleen, for instance, isn’t just evil for the sake of plot. Or even hellgate-they reflect real abuses of power that are hard to look at -and harder to forget.
Among a cast of unforgettable characters, it’s Kaz and Inej who have my heart in an chokehold and put my emotions through the wringer. Their bond is quiet, often unspoken, but filled with tension and understanding. As someone who relates to Kaz’s high emotional walls, I found it incredibly comforting to see that love can still slip through the cracks, that even if someone can’t name their feelings, their actions speak volumes. The scene where Kaz goes back for Inej, claiming it’s just because “she’s an investment,” hit me hard. His words are armor -but his choices reveal everything. And Inej, in her strength and clarity, sees him for who he is and still holds her own. They see each other. They feel safe in each other’s presence without needing to be fixed.
Nina and Matthias, in contrast, bring a fiery, complex dynamic. Their enemies-to-lovers arc unfolds with all the beautiful frustration that trope deserves, but what makes it matter is that both of them are wrestling with deeply ingrained biases. It’s not about changing for each other, it’s about confronting the stories they’ve been told and discovering the humanity beneath them. Their love is messy, flawed, and brave.
More than anything, Six of Crows reminded me why I loved reading in the first place. Beneath all the defense mechanisms and pain, it’s a story of survival, found family, and fragile hope in a brutal world. It doesn’t shy away from the trauma its characters carry, but it also doesn’t let that be the end of their story. They keep going. They make space for love, for trust, for change.
And maybe that’s what makes this book so unforgettable. Not the magic or the heist, but the quiet, fierce belief that even the most broken people can still choose to have in themselves, and in others.
The only thing I’m mad about is the cliffhanger-ish ending but I’m lying, because if crooked kingdoms is half as good, i will willingly hand over my whole heart again and wait for it to be put through the wringer. I would’ve started and finished it today if I had it - but Amazon assured me it would arrive tomorrow.
Until next time; No mourners, no funerals 🥹❤️
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Where the Grishaverse really takes off
enjoyed the first three books, but as many people have said before me, this is where the Grishaverse series really picks up. You can easily start reading this book first without any knowledge of the world because it starts in a new location with new characters, about two years after the events of the original trilogy. It’s an amazing and exciting ride from beginning to end. Just a note: Like the Shadow and Bones trilogy, this book was long and didn’t feel quite YA to me. Not all of the characters seemed that young and they were dealing with some pretty serious topics. In particular, the references to underage sex trafficking are frequent and a little hard to stomach, even though there is nothing explicitly described. But I loved the characters and their found family dynamic. Since I’ve seen the TV series now, I can really appreciate how great the casting is for them. I already loved Kaz, Jesper, and Inej from the show (and I love them even more now that I know more about them). I didn’t like Nina before but she warmed up to me in the book, but I hated Matthias even more. I don’t understand or like his relationship with Nina. She can do so much better than him. I liked the hint of queer representation with Jesper and Wylan, but I want more. It was a little weird that there are six main characters (even in the title!) but Wylan doesn’t get any scenes from his POV. He felt like a sixth wheel. (You know what I mean.) There was more screen time dedicated to Nina/Matthias and Kaz/Inej. The cliffhanger ending was a shocker so I will definitely read the next book soon. Pekka Rollins better get what’s coming to him! I can see why this is more popular than the original series because of the action, the diverse characters, and the extra humor. Lots of fun! LGBT+ representation: two of the main characters are queer, there’s a hint of queer romance.
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on May 12, 2025
- Reviewed in the United States on April 14, 2021Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
This is going to be a very long review. I’m sorry ahead of time, but I knew it wouldn’t be a short review after I finished the book. Lots needed to be typed, but I promise no spoilers.
4-stars: 'Six of Crows' by Leigh Bardugo
Reviewed in the United States on April 14, 2021
Six of Crows is set in Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse, but this time readers will get to follow six different characters on a mission to pull off a very dangerous heist together. This book will pull you in different directions because all six characters get to tell the story from their point of view before, during, and after the heist. It’s crazy how Leigh Bardugo managed to keep up with all six points of view while building the storyline to this new epic adventure in the Grishaverse.
Storyline/My Thoughts: First, if you read the Shadow and Bone Trilogy, then I will let you know now that Six of Crows doesn’t take place simultaneously as the trilogy. It’s set further in the years after the war has happened. Unfortunately, the Grisha are still treated horribly, and most are hidden or at Ravka helping the King rebuild, but this book is not focusing on that storyline. Instead, it’s focusing on six different characters, which each have a different personality and background. They are all supposed to be in their teens but come off as maturer in age. If you lived the way they did, then you would be much wiser in years to deal with the issues they have had to succumb. Readers will get to read some of their backstories when they tell their points of view in Six of Crows. (It’s amazing how authors can keep up with everything. I can’t even remember yesterday sometimes due to memory issues.)
I’m going to try to break down what I liked about each character without going overboard. I loved how Leigh Bardugo wrote each character differently. This is one reason why I was interested in the book.
Kaz Brekker has a heartbreaking back story, but he has managed to fight through everything thrown at him. He has a disability that requires him to have a cane, but he’s stronger than ever. He’s one scary character, even to his team, because he plans things that will put himself and everyone at risk. I enjoyed his character, especially after finding out what happened to him. He’s on a mission for revenge for what happened to him, and he will do anything to get that revenge. One thing that drove me crazy about him is his feelings for a particular character that he would rather deny than tell the truth. Just tell her!!!!
Inej Ghafa is by far my favorite character of the six. She’s been through a lot too, and Kaz saved her from the life she had at the Menagerie. She became known as the Wraith since she’s able to sneak up on people. She’s a fighter. She puts Kaz in his place a couple of times, and only she can do it to him. I could go on and on about her character. I loved getting to read her point of view.
Jesper Fahey has a secret that he’s unwilling to share with anyone on the team until he has to on the heist. He has a gambling issue, but he’s an excellent sharpshooter. I loved how even he questioned Kaz, but he also became friendly with another person on the heist.
Nina Zenit is a Grisha Heartrender who uses her magic to survive the slums. Her abilities include controlling someone’s breathing, heart, and cells in their bodies. She’s one Grisha you don’t want to mess with, and in this book, she ends up putting herself at risk for everyone else to survive.
Matthias Helva is a former druskelle and a Fjerdan witch hunter. Both Nina and he are dangerous together because he can’t stand what she is, and Nina is trying to make it right by Matthias. They have a complicated past and relationship that could put the others at risk. Matthias is one person you either could trust or not, and there were times I didn’t feel I could trust him with the group during the heist.
Wylan Van Eck is someone that Kaz brings to the crew for leverage since the person who requested Kaz’s help happens to be Wylan’s father. Wylan, though, has his own tricks up his sleeve, and I hope I get to know him more in the next book. He fit right into the crew during the heist.
All six are on a dangerous heist to break out a scientist from an impenetrable prison and put themselves at risk of being put in jail or, worst, being killed. (It’s all Kaz’s fault, but it was a deal that no one could turn down.) The heist reminded me of the movie Ocean’s Eleven, but much more risk to it, and instead of stealing money and gold, they have to steal a person. This person is someone everyone wants for themselves since they have created something that will change the odds.
The thing that drove me bonkers about this book was how slow it started for me. It took me a while to gain my interest in the story. I’m used to reading multiple POVs, so that was not an issue. It was the issue of getting to the heist, going through everything, and then how it ended. It took a while to get through it all. I also was bothered by how Kaz did not get the revenge he wanted in this book. He had a chance but didn’t take it. He deserves revenge for what happened to him. He also didn’t share his feelings with a specific character that he should have in this book. I hope he starts sharing them in the next book. I know Kaz will be out for revenge even further in the next book, but for something else entirely. Overall, this book receives four stars from me. I think if the book would’ve grasped me from the beginning and not been slow to start, then I would have given it five stars. There was a lot to take in the beginning.
Leigh Bardugo is a master at storytelling, though, and I can’t wait to see the Shadow and Bone and Six of Crows books be brought to life in the Netflix series. I already love the actors/actresses they chose to play the book characters.
Now I need to make time to read the Crooked Kingdom because this book left me with a cliffhanger.
Standalone or Part of Series: It’s part of the Six of Crows Duology. It’s also part of Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse. (If you read the Shadow and Bone Trilogy, then you will read about certain characters in this book from the current characters. There will be a moment of clarity of who Nina is and where she came from, and why she ended up with the crew. I don’t think you have to read the Shadow and Bone Trilogy to read this book, but I feel readers will miss out on some connections between the books.)
Cliffhanger: Yes.
Would I recommend this book? Yes. If you are a fan of YA Fantasy involving a dangerous heist with six different characters, you will enjoy this book. I also would recommend the audiobook if you enjoy listening to books. The narrators were fantastic at having the characters come to life when I listened to the book instead of reading it.
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Top reviews from other countries
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Michelle YolandaReviewed in Germany on October 30, 2016
Ein grandioses Meisterwerk mit vielen Gefühlen
Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase -
Laura MachadoReviewed in Brazil on September 3, 2017
Um livro impecável, épico e único
Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase - NatalieReviewed in Japan on October 16, 2024
The book is in excellent condition very happy with it.
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
