Hai Beautiful!
It’s about dang time I read this!
What an amazing novel!
I went into this novel with only the word of those who have raved about this book/ series/ universe on the internet since its release and subsequent conclusion. I’ve seen the special edition in my book store for months now, but with no real reason to purchase it, I always left the store with longing in my heart.
Until…
Eventually!
There was a reason to buy it.
In the month of Feb, some friends I have been chatting with on Instagram (whom I have mentioned multiple times in my videos), decided that our first buddy read as a group would be Six of Crows!
Goodreads 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 Kaz’s crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction—if they don’t kill each other first.
You bet I went straight to QBD and picked up the beautiful edition that I had been eyeing off for months, and you bet your ass that it took me a whole ass month to read even though I loved and savoured every. single. word of this dang book!
No Mourners, No Funerals.
★ Rating ★
I rated this book ★★★★★ (5/5 stars) because, why not?
Have you ever spoken to someone who has read this book? It is literally in everyone’s top reads and (much like Shadowhunters for me) always mentioned in just about all of their recommendations! I think this will happen for me from now on… So don’t be surprised if it does.
REVIEW!
I went into this book knowing nothing but the name and likeness of each of the main characters. I didn’t know their backstories, the storyline or why everyone loved Kaz as much as they do!
Let me tell you when I say that I was thoroughly disappointed to only start reading this series now so late in my youth… As you can probably catch on here, I don’t actually know how to talk about such a wonderful novel. I have images and scenes running through my mind but in the spirit of not recounting the entire narrative, I am going to focus this review on what I believe to be the strongest aspect of the novel – aka the best part of Leigh Bardugo’s writing style – the characters.
Kaz Brekker
There will never be a shortage of broody, good looking men with a tragic backstory in Young Adult novels. At this point, I feel like it’s a compulsory requirement for a main character. But alas, I don’t think anyone is more iconic than Kaz Brekker.
With revenge his main motivation in life and hands so quick one will not know their pockets have been picked until they need to check the time, Kaz is truly up there with Jace Herondale on the Would-Fuck-Marry-and-Kill-All-At-Once list (that totally exists and is not something I just made up then, coz I know you have thought the same thing).
Now, please don’t be mad at me when I say that I really didn’t like Kaz’s character until I learnt his entire backstory. I don’t know if that was the point, or if we were to really like the broody, angsty, murder-teenager and then feel bad for him when we learnt the truth. In all honestly, I found that not really liking Kaz until I found out his backstory (I respect the grind), made the story far more interesting to read!
Inej (yet another badass girl I have fallen in love with)
Along with Anna Lightwood (if you thought I’d stop at one shadowhunter reference, you are wrong), I have now found a soft spot for our darling Inej, a silent girl in a loud world.
Like with each of the characters, Inej’s backstory was so intriguing. Each of the characters made Ketterdam their home in such different ways and for such different reasons. Inej, although probably one of the most skilled and feared of the dregs members (and most protected because Kaz loves her but is in denial and I am so here for it!), has the most ‘ordinary’ backstory. In the sense that she didn’t want to leave her family and doesn’t want to be in the city.
Despite being silent, the team knows that she is there and look to her as the brains of the group, and when she isn’t there, there is an obvious hole in the group. A dynamic and productivity shift flows through the team, dropping to the point where they’d kill to save her/ get her back.
Matthias
Eh, look I don’t have so much to say about this boy. Hopefully, we get more of his personality – that isn’t tied to Nina or his homeland – in the Crooked Kingdom.
Nina
Not gonna lie, this woman was giving me the shits in the first few moments we met her. I was actually getting quite mad at her existence in the group until my friends, who were buddy reading this novel with me, told me that I’d come to like her later on in the novel. And I did!
Since I haven’t read The Grisha Trilogy yet, I haven’t had the whole exposure to Grisha people and what they can do, the extent of their powers, etc. It was really nice to have Nina as part of the group and have her views on the entire reason behind the heist.
I don’t have too many other strong feelings about Nina. Her and Matthias seemed to be a part of the team as a sort of convenience rather than family. As they grew closer and became more of a solid pair, they took a path that diverged from the main motives of the group and the overall story. Since I am not as attached to them as I am to ‘the main three’ aka Jesper, Kaz and Inej (but also Wylan), I don’t know how I feel about their change in motives… Unless it causes some interesting conflict.
Jesper (my love)
This man has disaster bi energy and literally reminds me of my other fav chaotic disaster bi, Matthew Fairchild! Agh.
I cannot express to you how much I love this boy! His humour and sassy comments at inappropriate times remind me of myself, plus he also has an air of awkwardness at certain times, which also reminds me of myself.
You can really see and hear his conflict in the chapters from his point of view. The way he is secretly – unknown even to himself – falling in love with Wylan, and I seriously ship it! He is one of those characters who you want to hug and protect with your life!
Wylan (yes, I ship him and Jesper because I want my boy to be happy, okay.)
Mercher boy. He is literally only a part of the group because Kaz somehow plans his heists months in advance; far before even knowing about them. He has other skills such as cartography, explosives, and making Jesper get all soft and mushy.
Honestly, I wasn’t expecting to like his character but I must have something for soft boys who are bumbling, naive and just eager to impress… Or maybe that’s just because they remind me of myself and I don’t see many boys who as awkward as myself.
Whelp! That was a long review and took me a dang long time to spit out all my thoughts but it was so worth it. I truly hope you enjoyed reading my thoughts on Six of Crows and if you’d read the book, drop a comment and share your own thoughts on the topic! I’d love to hear them!
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