By: Emily Papleux

Six thieves with burdened pasts. A thrilling but deadly Heist. What could possibly go wrong? Find out in Leigh Bardugo’s award winning Six of Crows, where the Grishaverse takes a dark turn in the city Ketterdam. This YA novel ventures into different countries and follows stories of six outsiders that come together (or are black-mailed to come together) to steal from the Fjerdan Embassy for a handsome reward.
            We are introduced to six characters; Kaz Brekker, a vicious thief thriving in the barrel of Ketterdam; Inej Ghafa, a wraith that stalks in the shadows; Jesper Fahey, a comedic gun slinger; Nina Zenik, a saddened Heartrender; Wylan Van Eck, the leverage; and Matthias Helvar, the witch-hunter with a brave heart. This group not only struggles with trauma but also troubles in learning to love and trust one another in two simple interests. Money and freedom. Bardugo was laden with the backstories and how they all winded their way to the present to form inviolable bonds. “No mourners, No funerals” the sort of “good luck” phrase used by the crows. My love for these characters is simply and utterly interminable.
             I extoll this duology with every book recommendation asked of me. The know-hows and friendships leigh creates is mind-blowing, and her expansion of the Grishaverse was more than well done. In contrast to Shadow and Bone, her writing evolves into a more mature and descriptive nature. Kaz’s schemes are sometimes hard to follow, and re-reads of some pages were inevitable, but the bickering made up for it.
              I give this book a 4/5 stars, for purely being a Leigh Bardugo book (an instant buy) and for giving me new role models. “No businessman worth his salt bargains for what he can take”. The only set-back is the Kaz chapter that almost put me into a reading slump. Being new to the reading community, I needed simple and direct writing to comprehend, but Six of Crows definitely took it up a notch. Though a bit incomprehensible, it was an enjoyable read (though I would recommend reading the Shadow and Bone trilogy first)