If you like: Ocean’s 11, fantasy, the Red Queen series, Victoria Schwab
“Kaz leaned back. ‘What's the easiest way to steal a man's wallet?’
‘Knife to the throat?’ asked Inej.
‘Gun to the back?’ said Jesper.
‘Poison in his cup?’ suggested Nina.
‘You're all horrible,’ said Matthias.”
Six of Crows follows six diverse characters—five of which have chapters written in their own perspective. All of them are fleshed out, full of strengths and flaws, and their ever-shifting dynamics with each other are what make the story so good. Lovers become enemies, unwitting accomplices become friends, and everyone gets super fed up with Kaz, the devious brains behind their operation.
The ragtag group of characters have to pull off an impossible heist. Impenetrable walls, deadly security systems, and an unforgiving enemy await them. I’m amazed at the innumerable moving pieces that Bardugo had to pull together to create something inviolable, then slowly break it down for Kaz and his crew.
Even with the large cast of characters and shifting perspectives every chapter, the storytelling is seamless. Bardugo has us hop from character to character, seeing their thoughts and motivations, but uses it as a device to conceal important pieces from the overall picture, keeping the reader guessing. While Kaz is considered the wiley one, there’s always enough room left for the others to drop a big surprise.
And yes, even though it’s a difficult choice, Kaz is my favorite. He’s that trope of a dark, brooding type, but a peek inside his chest doesn’t reveal a heart of gold. Everything Kaz gives is with an intent to receive. As an orphan, it was how he learned to survive, and as the leader of the The Dregs, it is how he and his community thrive. Kaz is the one who can be ruthless, who makes hard decisions, and who gets jobs done. But! I like that Kaz still has plenty of space to grow as a character.
It truly feels as if the trilogy that acts as a prequel to this story was all just practice for Six of Crows. In the trilogy, Bardugo built a detailed history full of war and lore, and it serves as a perfectly rendered backdrop for this new adventure. The Grisha who practice an interesting twist on magic, Small Science, are a driving force in Six of Crows, and call into question their world’s politics, racism, and class. Because of the fully imagined world, those things never feel contrived.
Six of Crows is full of surprising twists and turns. There are moments of gruesome brutality beside moments of soft, loving strength. While I’m sad that I was only able to follow these characters for two books, the story is perfect and complete, and is such an adventure that I use it as a barometer for other fantasy books I read.
"Six of Crows" by Leigh Bardugo; Henry Holt and Co.; 2015.
Comments