Six of Crows Review (Duology)
image from goodreads.com
“‘I’m a business man,’ he’d told her. ‘No more, no less.;
’You’re a thief, Kaz.’
’Isn’t that what I just said?’”
Quick Overview
Would I read this book again? Absolutely. I can’t wait to forget the plot so I can enjoy it all over again.
What was my favorite thing about this book? The banter between characters. 10/10.
What was my least favorite thing about this book? That there are only two books in the series. But more seriously, I wish we got a bit more setting description and insight into the “mechanics” of each scheme.
What did I take away from this book? Be vulnerable. Be strong. Trust others. Keep your wits about you.
Was I generally satisfied by the book and the way it was written? The whole duology was a very satisfying read. While there are nit-picky things I would maybe want changed, it was an absolute page turner full of twists, turns, and plenty of action to keep you glued to the page.
Official Summary
Excerpt from GoodReads Six of Crows summary: “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...
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.”
Excerpt from GoodReads Crooked Kingdom summary: “Double-crossed and badly weakened, the crew is low on resources, allies, and hope. As powerful forces from around the world descend on Ketterdam to root out the secrets of the dangerous drug known as jurda parem, old rivals and new enemies emerge to challenge Kaz's cunning and test the team's fragile loyalties.
A war will be waged on the city's dark and twisting streets - a battle for revenge and redemption that will decide the fate of the Grisha world.”
Full Review
After a long reading slump, I finally got back into a reading groove thanks to A Court of Thorns and Roses (don’t judge) and Throne of Glass, and I decided to continue on the fantasy streak. I had seen the Shadow and Bone show, knew the Six of Crows characters, and had heard great things about the books, so I decided to give them a try. I was definitely not disappointed.
Before diving into my thoughts, I feel I need to make the disclaimer: I absolutely tore through these books (a testament to how enjoyable they are), and I only decided I’d begin this blog about 75% of my way through the series, so I have forgotten some details. Please feel free to correct me, or simply add to the discussion about this wonderful duology.
With that out of the way — my thoughts on the duology. To me, the indisputable best part of both books is the dialogue, more specifically, the banter between characters. I believe one of the clearest signs of good dialogue is that, if you were to give me a quiz with just quotes from the book, and I had to decide who said it, I’d have no trouble doing so. Each character had a distinct voice. Even better than the individual dialogue is the banter between characters. Their conversations and the one-liners spewed between them were believable and quite often hilarious. It genuinely felt like listening in on discussions between not just fellow gang members but a group of friends (even if Kaz wouldn’t call them that). Speaking of Kaz, he is one of those characters that just sticks with you. I loved them all, but Kaz is alone enough reason to pick up this book!
Both books were also full of on-your-toes action that kept me glued to the page. I think the resolutions to problems in the first book were a bit more predictable than the second (primarily because most of the first book takes place in one enclosed setting, so only so much could really happen). Still, I was satisfied (and often quite surprised in the second book) with the twists and turns. The author did a nice job dropping clues to make the twists believable without spoon feeding or patronizing the reader. That said, I do wish we got to see a bit more of Kaz’s thoughts and logic while plotting his schemes, as things sometimes felt a little bit too easy for him and the crew.
My biggest critique of the book is that I wanted a bit more description of the setting. The description that is there I think is done nicely. We see it through the eyes and doings of the characters rather than through long ramblings that are separate from the main action. But I still wanted a bit more. Maybe it’s because I read the books so quickly and didn’t linger long enough on the descriptions, but I did sometimes have trouble imagining what the setting really feels like.
I’ll also say that I almost wish the second book was split into two. I’ve seen some people say that the plot felt rushed and a bit “rinse and repeat,” and while I see where they’re coming from, it didn’t really bother me. It honestly felt kind of realistic to how (I imagine) these sorts of things would go in real life. That said, I wish we got to see more of the stuff behind the various heists and events in the second book. The characters pull off so many different things, and I would’ve liked to see more of the careful planning that must’ve gone into it. But it’s still a fantastic, fast-paced read as-is. And honestly, I kind of liked that the second book wasn’t focused on one big central heist like the first book. Would that not have felt “rinse and repeat” as well?
For anyone looking for a classic heist (first book) or web of different schemes (second book) set in an interesting, conflict-ridden fantasy world with a fantastic ensemble of distinct, lovable characters — this is the series for you. It’s dark and gritty but also funny and heart-warming. It feels intimate yet grand. I read the series through Kindle Unlimited, but I loved it so much I’m considering purchasing a copy. Go get one yourself — you won’t regret it!
