Review: Six of Crows

I've heard nothing but great things about Bardugo's writing, so I skipped this one to the top of my TBR pile. So glad I did! Six of Crows sucked me in, starting with a bang and delivering nonstop action throughout. I didn't love Kaz, but I actually enjoyed reading about a not-noblebright MC. He was still intriguing, and Bardugo stayed true to his character even when it let the reader down a little. That's good writing right there, folks.

The Barrel is a fantastically fleshed-out melting pot of sin, with ruthless gangs battling for territory. Above them sits the corrupt and power-hungry merchant class, whose motivations are left largely open-ended in this first installment. Instead, we dive deep into the slums with Kaz and his cohorts, getting a taste of the brutal world that formed them before taking a heart-pumping heist ride into enemy territory with a whole lot going wrong along the way.

Inej was the most interesting to me, given her dark history, but I enjoyed every last one of the characters. Jesper's sarcasm, Wylan's hidden strength, Nina and Mathias' smoldering tension... All of it kept the pages turning, and I immediately added the sequel to my holiday wish-list, along with Ninth House and the Shadow and Bone trilogy. Can't wait to read more of Leigh's captivating work!