Six of Crows Duology
Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows duology picks up not long after the ending of her Grishaverse trilogy. We’re immediately plunged into the merchant kingdom of Ketterdam, a hub of international trade where anything can be bought for the right price. No one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. When offered the chance to complete the deadliest heist, a heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams, he can’t say so, but he can’t do it alone.
Six criminals. One dangerous heist that will push them all to their limits. It’s the perfect premise for Bardugo’s new series, and I absolutely loved the books. I was on the edge of my seat as the twists and turns kept piling on Kaz and his team. Although the books only spanned a few short weeks at best, Kaz and his crew were permanently changed by what happened to them. They bonded as they walked the knife’s edge. Friendships were questioned then solidified then questioned again. My heart raced every time a new challenge was thrown at Kaz. Could he get them out of the hole they found themselves in, or was this finally it for the master criminal?
One would think out of the six criminals Kaz was my favourite character and he certainly was tied for that position with Inej, also known as “The Spider.” These two had such a unique relationship in the first book and it grew even more interesting in the second. I loved watching these two dance around their feelings for each other and although they didn’t quite end up with a romantic ending, it was a start for them, especially for Kaz.
I had the privilege of seeing Bardugo on a panel at BookCon in New York in early June. When I heard her speak about Matthias and how his voice was the clearest to her when she first began these books, it really changed how I viewed him. Initially, I didn’t like Matthias much. He was stubborn, judgemental, and hateful towards Grisha. But after I heard Bardugo talk about him and I really got into the sequel, Crooked Kingdom, I began to love Matthias. He changed so much in the span of two books. His love for Nina helped him become a good, thoughtful man. He saw past his training that Grisha were evil. His ending, though, was one that broke my heart. When I catch myself thinking about it, it’s as if I’m thinking about the loss of a loved one. Not many characters have made me feel that way, so congratulations to Bardugo for making me adopt Matthias.
The action-packed books kept my heart racing, but one of the things I really enjoyed throughout was the banter. Jesper and Nina traded barbs and jokes that made me literally laugh out loud. Other characters would get in on it as well, but Jesper knew how to steal the show with his humour and wit. He lightened up the story where it desperately needed it.
It took me months longer to finish this series than I initially anticipated. I attribute that to how much I didn’t want to leave these characters behind. They became a family to me and I just didn’t want to have to say goodbye. This is one of the very few series I may read again, just to say hello to some old friends.
If you loved the Grishaverse trilogy but are hesitant to get into this duology, just dive in. You won’t regret it. You may even come out with a few new bookish friends.
Six of Crows Rating: ★★★★★
Crooked Kingdom Rating: ★★★★★
Six criminals. One dangerous heist that will push them all to their limits. It’s the perfect premise for Bardugo’s new series, and I absolutely loved the books. I was on the edge of my seat as the twists and turns kept piling on Kaz and his team. Although the books only spanned a few short weeks at best, Kaz and his crew were permanently changed by what happened to them. They bonded as they walked the knife’s edge. Friendships were questioned then solidified then questioned again. My heart raced every time a new challenge was thrown at Kaz. Could he get them out of the hole they found themselves in, or was this finally it for the master criminal?
One would think out of the six criminals Kaz was my favourite character and he certainly was tied for that position with Inej, also known as “The Spider.” These two had such a unique relationship in the first book and it grew even more interesting in the second. I loved watching these two dance around their feelings for each other and although they didn’t quite end up with a romantic ending, it was a start for them, especially for Kaz.
I had the privilege of seeing Bardugo on a panel at BookCon in New York in early June. When I heard her speak about Matthias and how his voice was the clearest to her when she first began these books, it really changed how I viewed him. Initially, I didn’t like Matthias much. He was stubborn, judgemental, and hateful towards Grisha. But after I heard Bardugo talk about him and I really got into the sequel, Crooked Kingdom, I began to love Matthias. He changed so much in the span of two books. His love for Nina helped him become a good, thoughtful man. He saw past his training that Grisha were evil. His ending, though, was one that broke my heart. When I catch myself thinking about it, it’s as if I’m thinking about the loss of a loved one. Not many characters have made me feel that way, so congratulations to Bardugo for making me adopt Matthias.
The action-packed books kept my heart racing, but one of the things I really enjoyed throughout was the banter. Jesper and Nina traded barbs and jokes that made me literally laugh out loud. Other characters would get in on it as well, but Jesper knew how to steal the show with his humour and wit. He lightened up the story where it desperately needed it.
It took me months longer to finish this series than I initially anticipated. I attribute that to how much I didn’t want to leave these characters behind. They became a family to me and I just didn’t want to have to say goodbye. This is one of the very few series I may read again, just to say hello to some old friends.
If you loved the Grishaverse trilogy but are hesitant to get into this duology, just dive in. You won’t regret it. You may even come out with a few new bookish friends.
Six of Crows Rating: ★★★★★
Crooked Kingdom Rating: ★★★★★