Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo ARC Review Worshipping + Soundclip

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Format: paperback ARC, 465 pages

Publisher: Henry Holt and Company

Publication Date: September 29, 2015

Buy it: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

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...

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.
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.

It may come as no surprise that I have given another one of Leigh Bardugo's books my highest rating. That is because she is AMAZING. If you don't think so, then I'm sorry but you're wrong.  If you haven't read any of her books, seriously, do yourself a favor and go read them now! One of the great things about Six of Crows is that you don't have to have read The Grisha trilogy to understand what's going on (although it's so much better if you did!). Although, those of you who have read it will love the mentions of some of our beloved characters. I audibly squealed at every mention of King Nikolai *drools.*

Bardugo's writing is so otherworldly that I want to study it. The way she develops her characters, her world, feelings, are just so breathtaking. While reading, I kept saying to myself, "WHOA! How did she do that?!" Her writing makes it difficult to read this book all in one sitting (at least for me) because I wanted to take my time to absorb, cherish, and savor all of the nuances that just bring her stories to life. I can confidently say that she is one of the best authors out there right now.

Although Six of Crows is set in the same world (but not country) as The Grisha trilogy, it is a different type of adventure. The story is told through six different POVs (this is brand new information, right?) and each character has their own distinct voice and backstory that seamlessly ties into the plot. The main cast is very complex and each character has an intense backstory. My personal favorites would have to be Kaz and Nina. I love all of the characters but those are the ones that I fangirled over the most.

Just like everything else in this book, the world-building is fantastic. Each culture is well-developed and has a specific identity. I can't even imagine coming up with all of these details, though Bardugo has pretty much thought of everything. Including details about the landscape, language, local legends, government, hierarchy, etc. Not to mention all of the details of the types of people that live in these areas. At the same time, I didn't feel overwhelmed with all of the information. In fact, the details were written in such a way that I felt like I already knew all of the details of the world and I was just remembering these places through the character's perspectives.

My one and only complaint: I have to wait a year and a half to find out what's going to happen next.

When everyone knows you're a monster, you needn't waste your time doing every monstrous thing.

Kaz leaned back. "What's the easiest way to steal a man's wallet?"

"Knife to the throat?" asked Inej.

"Gun to the back?" said Jesper.

"Poison in his cup?" suggested Nina.

"You're all horrible." said Matthias.

"We enter from the north as planned," Kaz said.

Jesper knocked his head against the hull and cast his eyes heavenward. "Fine. But if Pekka Rollins kills us all, I'm going to get Wylan's ghost to teach my ghost how to play the flute just so that I can annoy the hell out of your ghost."

Brekker's lips quirked. "I'll just hire Matthias' ghost to kick your ghost's ass."

"My ghost won't associate with your ghost." Matthias said primly, and then wondered if the sea air was rotting his brain.

"Why don't Fjerdans let girls fight?" she asked him one night as they'd lain curled beneath a lean-to, the cold palpable through the skins they'd laid on the ground.

"They don't want to fight."

"How do you know? Have you ever asked one?"

"Fjerdan women are to be venerated, protected."

"That's probably a wise policy."

He'd known her well enough by then to be surprised. "It is?"

"Think how embarrassing it would be for you when you got trounced by a Fjerdan girl."

He snorted.

"I'd love to see you get beaten by a girl," she said happily.

"Not in this lifetime."

"Well, I guess I won't get to see it. I'll just get to live the moment when I knock you on your ass."

Better terrible truths than kind lies.

Audible has provided a soundclip of the Six of Crows audiobooks for me to share with all of you so be sure to check that out!