Synopsis:

Criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker has been offered wealth beyond his wildest dreams. But to claim it, he’ll have to pull off a seemingly impossible heist:

Break into the notorious Ice Court
(a military stronghold that has never been breached)

Retrieve a hostage
(who could unleash magical havoc on the world)

Survive long enough to collect his reward
(and spend it)

Kaz needs a crew desperate enough to take on this suicide mission and dangerous enough to get the job done – and he knows exactly who: six of the deadliest outcasts the city has to offer. Together, they just might be unstoppable – if they don’t kill each other first.

(via Goodreads)

My Impressions:

About the Author:

Leigh Bardugo  is a #1 New York Times-bestselling author of Young Adult fantasy. In addition to The Six of Crows Duology, she has written The Grisha Trilogy–set in the same world of the Grisha as Six of Crows–along with a couple of kids books. According to her website, she has three more books in the works.

About the Book:

Six of Crows is about quick wit and devotion from a handful of people who must put their faith in a young man haunted by a tortured past. It blazes forward with the unrelenting energy of heist stories such as Ocean’s Eleven and Now You See Me, but is set in the early 1900s-esque fantasy country of Kerch. Here, profit is king and Kaz Brekker is a devoted follower. He and five other characters drive the story, facing increasingly dangerous situations and overcoming deadly odds in the pursuit of their collective and individual goals.

All of the characters are anti-heroes in their own ways–criminals, rejects, wasters, killers, and traitors, morally ambiguous to the last. But they are human; relatable, tragic, and beautiful. I love all of them, but my favorite is Kaz Brekker. He’s a Slytherclaw in personality (like me)–brilliant, ruthless, cunning, and one of the few main characters I’ve witnessed who has both a psychological and a physical handicap. The tale contains several other instances like this of breaking from your typical, cookie-cutter hero types. So if you, like me, are interested in fresh and creative characters, you should check this book out.

The Six of Crows Duology is technically a sequel to The Grisha Trilogy. A few characters from the trilogy are mentioned and some even make an appearance (squee-worthy for those of us who’ve read both), but readers need not have read about the Grisha to enjoy this story. Bardugo masterfully weaves their backstories in so newcomers will not be left in the dark.

This story takes readers on an emotional roller coaster of bated breath, joyous highs, and gut twisting plunges. Quick, heart-pounding, witty, and never dull.

Goodreads reviewers gives Six of Crows 4.45 stars, but I give it 5 stars. Highly recommended.