Six of Crows: Volume 1

Leigh Bardugo's Six of Crows is a masterful blend of intrigue, suspense, and richly layered characters that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. Set in the vibrant, gritty world of Ketterdam—a city brimming with danger and opportunity—this novel introduces us to Kaz Brekker and his eclectic crew. Jesper, Inej, Wylan, and the star-crossed Nina and Matthias bring an electrifying energy to the story, each with their own secrets and agendas. The high-stakes heist they embark on is as thrilling

There had been a lot of hype in the book world about the Six of Crows duology, so I had to jump on this bandwagon and give it a chance after reading the blurb. Six of Crows is definitely a wonderful read, but I'm not sure if I would give it all the hype it created. Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying the book is bad. I'm just saying I enjoyed the story. It's a great story, but I don't think I'm going to put it in my top 5. Now, I may change my mind after reading Crooked Kingdom and I will let you know if I do change my mind. One thing I really enjoyed about this story is it didn't follow a character who was trying to save the world or a country. It followed six individuals who were damaged and just trying to survive. They were thieves and gang members who were after the biggest score of their lives. The chapters rotate being told from different points of view. I'm not talking two or three different points of view, but SIX unique points of view. And each character has depth and a distinct voice. Not only does Bardugo have a masterful talent when it comes to writing characters, but she is just as talented when it comes to creating fictional worlds. The Grisha world Bardugo has written is complex and adventurous. P.S. If you are like me and like to collect physical books, the hardcover copies of Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom are absolutely GORGEOUS!

I really enjoyed reading this book. Excellent world building and character development, coupled with a well written pov style. My only minor reservation is that as much as I love the story, there were parts that felt a little "Disney" for me wrt ages and plans, but I'll still definitely finish the series.