Hello everyone!
I have to admit that I was hesitant about Six of Crows because of the hype around it, but after reading Marie’s amazing review about this book, I decided that I HAD to read it. As soon as I started listening to the audiobook, I could not put it down!
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.
I loved the characters. Inej earned her nickname as the wraith among the Dregs: silent, deadly and to be feared. She was strong willed and independent, but loyal to her friends. Kaz was the leader of the Dregs. He was secretive, he carried a cane and hid his hands inside gloves. He told no one about his past. He was young but jaded with a conniving mind. I also loved the other characters, including Matthias, Nina, Jesper, and Wylan, who all had distinct personalities with strengths, flaws, and pasts that shaped who they became.
Despite working together to accomplish this heist, each character had their own agenda and not all of them aligned with the goal of the group. I loved watching the group dynamics evolve in this novel. Each character had fears and vulnerabilities which they would confront later in the novel. No one was perfect but that was what made them lovable. The fascinating characters were what kept me flipping the pages, wanting to find out what happens next.
I can’t stress how much I loved the chemistry in this book: between both the romantic and platonic pairings. I loved that the subtleties in the romantic couples- they were slow-burning and didn’t take over the entire book. I loved the dialogues between the characters, what they chose to say and not say, and the tension between them that made me want to keep reading.
The plot was nothing short of amazing. I loved the simple premise: six outcasts working together to accomplish an impossible heist. However the book was not without plot twists. Just when I think I made a correct prediction, everything turned upside down! I also loved the world which is similar to our own, maybe a century or two back- think merchants, ships, pocket watches- and a dash of magic.
The quick pacing in Six of Crows kept me engaged. Don’t get me wrong, this is not a short book. It was even kind of long by my standards. But it felt short and by the time I reached the last chapter I didn’t want it to end! Once it hooked me in the beginning, I didn’t want to put it down. The chapters didn’t necessarily end on cliffhangers but kept raising questions that wanted me to keep reading on.
I loved the audiobook. Different narrators were chosen for each character and they all did an excellent job. I tend to listen to audiobooks when I do chores, like cooking, dishes and when I walk my dog. I know I am listening to a good audiobook when I am actively searching for chores to do haha 🙂
The Bottom Line: 4/5 stars!
Six of Crows is a fast-paced character-driven YA fantasy novel that is hopelessly addictive. Once you start you will not want to stop reading until you finish this book (and the next one.)
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