Six of Crows Duology

By Leigh Bardugo

I know not too long ago I posted about the Shadow and Bone Trilogy, so this may seem repetitive….but after I finished it I immediately tore through this duology also set in the Grishaverse. Prior to reading this I wasn’t actually planning to post, since it’s the same world/author, but after completing it I couldn’t let it pass without it’s own accolades.

Where S&B is more of a fast paced epic, Six of Crows is a next level heist. There are no good guys in this book, only bad guys who you are absolutely rooting for the entire time. It’s like ocean’s eleven + fantasy and it is 100% amazing. The only other heist-like book I can recall reading is the Artemis Fowl series (by Eoin Colfer) as a kid. There is a similar mischievous and magical vibe here, although quite a bit darker.

The story is set in Ketterdam - a trading city with it’s nice and not so nice parts, the latter being where our trusty gang (literally) of main characters resides. Kaz Brekker and the crew he puts together are tasked with the impossible, facing likely death or millions in rewards which could completely alter the course of their lives. A few familiar faces make appearances from S&B but really the story is focused on its own plot and cast.

Leigh Bardugo seriously steps up her game as far as character and world building; this duology leans on the Grisha world she created in Shadow and Bone, but the writing is completely elevated. She gives each character a rich backstory which pulls you directly into their world, and given the characters often less than pure or honorable motives this also helps you empathize and understand where they are coming from. Though only two books, this series is actually longer (by word/page count) than S&B, which speaks to the more intricate nature of the books.

Honestly this is one of my new favorites, and while I genuinely enjoyed the Shadow and Bone trilogy - I think these two books surpass it and now I am only more curious to see where she takes it next.