Review

“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.”

In short: I loved it.

I had seen this book pop up while searching for some satisfactory YA and I can honestly say that it lived up to the hype. The world Bardugo has created is dark and mysterious. Though there is magic and fantasies, the story is still realistic and relevant. The story is set in otherworldly Europe and told from the point of view of the six main characters. There was just the right amount of magic, and although there was romance, it wasn’t sickly sweet or substantial to the plotline of the novel.

The plot of the novel was brilliantly constructed, with just the right amount of suspense that will keep the readers on the edge of their seats. I absolutely loved how the plans were not revealed to us directly but would slowly unravel as they were carried out. Kaz formulated his plans down to the smallest details and made sure he had something planned for every single obstacle that could possibly arise. In some cases, the characters themselves did not know all about Kaz’s plan entirely, so the readers would not perceive what was happening until it actually happened.

The characters were interesting and had backstories and hidden depths that made them even more likeable. These characters were in no way “good people”, and in most cases would be regarded as the “bad guy”. But Bardugo does an amazing job at making these characters complex, and shows the readers the circumstances that caused the characters to develop into the cold individuals they are. The character development was natural and believable, and I almost felt like I was growing with the characters in these mere few weeks. To add to that, all the characters have a purpose and aspiration outside the heist, which is rare in most YA books.

Additionally, I loved how realistic the novel was. Unlike most fantasy YA novels, not everything was smooth and content in this book. The characters faced many barriers in their quest and were terribly injured in many cases. The heist did not go as planned and the team had to find a way to save themselves from the whole world seemingly against them. The book also highlights many issues that exist in the world today. Ketterdam is seen to be full of an imbalance of money and power, with rich merchants and a majority of people living in poverty. It showed how everyone- even the thieves and criminals- had their own struggles and stories, but no one would pay attention to them. Everyone paid their respects to the rich merchants and would blindly believe them over a bunch of ‘street rats’ from the slums. The novel also contains a convict who was falsely accused and refugees fleeing from a country bankrupt by civil war.

Lastly, the book had representation, which is an important aspect, mostly in today’s world. Alongside having characters from different ethnicities and backgrounds, the book contains characters suffering from mental disorders and physical issues. There are major characters who suffer from phobias, PTSD, dyslexia, and a physical limp. These make the characters more authentic and shows that these are not barriers to what someone can do or achieve.

All in one, I loved everything about this book. Although it is relatively lengthy, I finished reading it quickly and could not rest till I read the sequel Crooked Kingdom. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves fantasy, YA and a well-constructed heist. And even if you don’t, do yourself a favour and check this one out because it is so much more than just that.

'Six of Crows' book and a quote from the book, taken by Sharika Khan