Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Jack | Biotechnology High School, Grade 10

Rating: *****

Ketterdam is the backwater capital of the trading island named Kerch. Six of the most talented slums of the city are tasked with an impossible heist: breaking into an impenetrable fortress and extracting the most valuable target in the world. If they succeed, they will become richer than any of them could fathom. If they fail, it could mean the destruction of the world as they knew it. Kaz Brekker, a crippled master thief, is the leader of this ragtag team. Other members include Inej, an acrobatic assassin, Wylan, a demolitions expert with a questionable background, Jesper, a sharpshooter, Nina, a Grisha with the ability to control the human body, and Mattias, a disgraced former warrior. Will they be able to put aside their differences to achieve the common goal, or will the world fall around them?

Comparable to Mission-Impossible and Ocean’s 11 in nail-biting excitement, the book features an elaborate plot, but also developing relationships to entertain a wide variety people. The impressive world-building rivals that of even J.K. Rowling, and will keep the reader completely enthralled until the book has been completed. The characters, although criminals, are incredible even with their flaws and imperfections, and will steal your heart as you see them progress. This is personally one of my favorite books and I could read it a thousand times without it getting old.

Julia | Allentown High School, Grade 12

Rating: *****

The story of Six of Crows follows a group of misfits on a deadly heist led by Kaz Brekker. Ketterdam is a bustling hub of trade and criminal activities. Kaz Brekker is an ex-convict with a few secrets and always gloved hands. When the gang is offered a chance of 3 million dollars for a job it is an offer they can’t refuse. Kaz’s crew must find the formula of the drug that is altering the powers of many Grishas.

For fans of the Grishaverse this book is a perfect continuation of other novels by Leigh Bardugo. I read the first part of this series, Shadow and Bone, a few years ago and have just recently discovered this next novel. I rate this book five stars out of five. I could not put it down once starting it because the characters are all so interesting and the writing amazing. This novel is written from multiple perspectives of all the characters involved in the heist which add more detail to the story.