No Mourners. No Funerals. Except for My Poor Heart.

Six of Crows
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Publication Date: September 29th 2015
Publisher: Indigo
~A copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review

The Grisha Trilogy introduced readers to the irresistible fantasy world of the Grisha - and now Leigh Bardugo brings us a new sweeping epic.

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.

Leigh Bardugo's writing has captivated readers since SHADOW AND BONE was published in 2012. SIX OF CROWS will take Leigh's fans back into the world they know and love. As gripping, sweeping and memorable as The Grisha Trilogy, this is perfect for fans of Laini Taylor, Kristin Cashore and Game of Thrones.

Let it be noted that, I read Six of Crows straight after Queen of Shadows, and it was not the wisest decision I have ever made. All. The. Feels. For. Days. And days. And days.

So I have a confession to make…I only read the Grisha trilogy for the first time a book before Six of Crows, and feel free to shot at me for waiting so long (and if you’re yet to read it, READ IT. NOW. GO. GO. GO.) because holy damn, I fell in love. But, you know the problem that enlists with that now, don’t you? How is a companion or a spin off series in the same world, going to beat the original? 

 For me, that answer is simple. 

They usually don’t.

Because you’re first introduced to that world and setting with those characters you love, it’s hard to beat it.

And yet.

Six of Crows does just that.

And that is down to the characters and the new setting, because it’s not set in Ravka, and instead Ketterdam, it has a whole new place to explore, and a new set of complete badass characters to explore it with. And to make it even better? The plot. You take six badass characters, who each have their own voice and backgrounds that they feel so real and are fierce and complicated and messy, and then you put those characters into an impossible heist on the Ice Court and make it possible, and it. Is. So. Damn. Good. 

As I said, the characters are complex and multifaceted, and you can feel their presence from the beginning, you learn each of their stories as you go along, and there’s these little clicks that once you get to it, you can understand how and why they act the way they do, and while they have a pretence, they use it as an armour, and you don’t get to really know what makes them tick until you’re invested.  Take Kaz, for an example, for any other book, if he wasn’t so developed the way he is, he would be very hard to like, he’s a bad guy, but he’s not a bad guy. I would say he was my favourite, but I honestly can’t choose. Inej, Nina, Jesper, Wylan and although I would say Matthias goes through the most outwardly growth through Six of Crows, they all are just so freaking easy to adore.

The romance is complicated but simple, and not overpowering yet strong, it doesn’t take over the story but its present all the time, and by that I mean, it’s in the decisions and actions the characters make, and it’s just in the friendships as well. AND I ADORE IT ALL. AND I SHIP THEM ALL. HOW THE HELL DID THAT HAPPEN?

If you loved the Grisha Trilogy, you’re going to love Six of Crows, with characters that are complicated and messy, but you can’t help but love, it’s always on edge, constant heart stopping action, and full of clever and trickery, and oh that trickery.

Rating: 5/5